Nanostructured solid-liquid compounds with rewritable optical functions

Photosensitive solid-liquid compounds were fabricated by filling nanoholes of alumina or polymer films with dye solution. Although these compounds can be handled as solid in device fabrication processes, the liquid phase inside 50–200nm holes provides a sufficient free volume for photochromic dye to change molecular structure. Nanoholes also prevent the solution to flow disturbing an optically written image. A function of the rewritable grating was demonstrated by bleaching a polycarbonate-based compound with various interference fringes of green laser.