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Updated: Sep 10, 2025

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Published on: October 31, 2019
Alternating Orthogonal Switching in a Thiophenyl-Phenyl-Bis-Azobenzene Switch
Dazhong Sun1, Nils Oberhof2, Kai Hanke3,4
1Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abstract:
To design efficient molecular information storage systems with multi-photoswitchable entities, orthogonal isomerization of the different switchable moieties is essential. Various challenges, like unintentional energy transfer, spectral overlap, and other energy dissipation channels, have to be addressed by intelligent molecule design. In this context, we took advantage of calculations to design a bis-azobenzene switch, which consists of a phenyl- and a thiophenylazobenzene moiety in meta-connection to reduce π-conjugation. Ultrafast spectroscopy and computational studies confirmed that this bis-photoswitch exhibits alternating orthogonal switching behavior when irradiated with light of different wavelengths. These results represent a significant advancement toward the development of efficient and adaptable organic multi-photoswitches for applications, such as information storage, molecular machines, or smart materials.
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