Rewritable organic films for near-field recording

Photochromic thin films were prepared for near-field recording. Acetyl substituted diarylethene were synthesized from 1,2-bis(2-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-3-yl)hexafluorocyclopentene in one step. Transparent and homogeneous thin films were coated on a substrate by vacuum deposition method. A colorless vacuum deposited diarylethene film turned to deep red hue upon exposure to a UV light. Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) was used to characterize nanoscale color change of the films. NSOM images showed distinct recording mark by 514 nm laser with mark speed of 30 ms. The records were completely erased upon excitation with a UV light, and rewritable with visible light (514 nm) on a UV activated colored film.