Electric-field actuated chromogenic materials based on molecules with a rotating middle segment for applications in photonic switching
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsXiao-An Zhang, R. Stanley Williams, Kent D. Vincent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between two stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.
Claims7
A bi-stable molecular molecular system having one rotor portion connected between two stator portions, wherein said rotor portion rotates with respect to said stator portions between at least two different states upon application of said electric field, thereby inducing a band gap change in said molecular system, wherein in a first optical state, there is substantial extended conjugation throughout said molecular system, resulting in a relatively smaller band gap, thereby forming a “red-shifted state”, and wherein in a second optical state, said extended conjugation is changed, resulting in a relatively larger band gap, thereby forming a “blue-shifted state”.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.