Photomemory effects in electrical and optical properties of photochromic dye in the non-crystalline solid state

Optical properties of photochromic dye, cis-1,2-bis(2,4,5-trimethyl-3-thienyl)ethene (CMTE) have been studied in its amorphous solid state. CMTE is found to form a stable amorphous solid state within the thin layer between two glass plates. The formed amorphous solid film showed clear photochromism upon light irradiation and also a marked change in photoluminescence intensity. Similar photomemory effects have also been observed in a CMTE-paper composite in which paper fiber stabilizes the amorphous solid state of CMTE.