Photochromism has been investigated extensively during recent years. The large interest for information storage in memory applications is associated with the bi-stable character of the photochromism phenomena. In molecular photochromics, two isomers with different absorption spectrum can be obtained according to the specific wavelength of the light exposure. This reversible transformation process can be considered as optical writing/erasing step of a memory. Here we first report the absorption spectra of solid-state films based on the blends consisting of PC molecules, the spirooxazine 1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[2H-indole-2,3’-[3H]phenanthr[9,10-b](1,4)oxazine] (PIII, Sigma-Aldrich, 32,256-3) and a polymer matrix host, poly(2-methoxy-5(2’-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV). The bi-stability in conjugated polymer matrix is studied by following the time evolution of the optical properties of the blends. Thereafter, the electrical performance of PC-polymer diodes is characterized and reported. While the PIII molecules in the blend bulks are switched to their low energy gap state, forming external energy levels above the valence band of MEH-PPV, the injected charges (hole-dominated) will be trapped by the low energy gap isomer of PIII and that leads to current modulation. PIII molecules can be switched between two energy gap states upon the photo-stimulation, and the I-V characteristics of the device can also be controlled reversibly via the photoisomerization. The retention time of the diode’s electrical switching fits quite well with the absorption characteristics of the blend films; this correspondence builds a good link between the film property and the device behavior. Furthermore, we observed a two-trap system in the blend diodes from the I-V curves, and a model is proposed which can explain the schematic concept of the trap-limited current modulation. To combine the knowledge and information from the investigations above, we tested a novel device design based on a bi-layer of the PC and polymer materials, and the promising result for future work is presented in the end.

<p>Photochromism has been investigated extensively during recent years. The large interest for information storage in memory applications is associated with the bi-stable character of the photochromism phenomena. In molecular photochromics, two isomers with different absorption spectrum can be obtained according to the specific wavelength of the light exposure. This reversible transformation process can be considered as optical writing/erasing step of a memory.</p><p>Here we first report the absorption spectra of solid-state films based on the blends consisting of PC molecules, the spirooxazine 1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[2H-indole-2,3’-[3H]phenanthr[9,10-b](1,4)oxazine] (PIII, Sigma-Aldrich, 32,256-3) and a polymer matrix host, poly(2-methoxy-5(2’-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV). The bi-stability in conjugated polymer matrix is studied by following the time evolution of the optical properties of the blends.</p><p>Thereafter, the electrical performance of PC-polymer diodes is characterized and reported. While the PIII molecules in the blend bulks are switched to their low energy gap state, forming external energy levels above the valence band of MEH-PPV, the injected charges (hole-dominated) will be trapped by the low energy gap isomer of PIII and that leads to current modulation. PIII molecules can be switched between two energy gap states upon the photo-stimulation, and the I-V characteristics of the device can also be controlled reversibly via the photoisomerization. The retention time of the diode’s electrical switching fits quite well with the absorption characteristics of the blend films; this correspondence builds a good link between the film property and the device behavior.</p><p>Furthermore, we observed a two-trap system in the blend diodes from the I-V curves, and a model is proposed which can explain the schematic concept of the trap-limited current modulation. To combine the knowledge and information from the investigations above, we tested a novel device design based on a bi-layer of the PC and polymer materials, and the promising result for future work is presented in the end.</p>