Apparatus for three-dimensional optical data storage and retrieval

An optical data storage medium comprising:

• a substrate material wherein the substrate material is substantially flat;
• and
• a three-dimensional optical data storage media consisting of a molecular glass, the molecular glass consisting of a compound according to the formula,
• wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• and
• R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen atom, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, alkoxy carbonyl, alkylamino, alkylthio, alkylsulfonyl and alkylsulfinyl each optionally substituted with an alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, aryl and a heteroaryl group.

A molecular glass for three-dimensional optical data storage, the molecular glass comprising a polyaromatic compound containing at least one bisphenolic ether group, wherein the polyaromatic compound is a compound of the formula:

• wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl;
• and
• R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen atom, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, alkoxy carbonyl, alkylamino, alkylthio, alkylsulfonyl and alkylsulfinyl each optionally substituted with an alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, aryl and a heteroaryl group,
• wherein the molecular glass is capable of fluorescence after undergoing a photochemical change upon irradiation with light sufficiently intense to produce simultaneous absorption of two or more photons by the polyaromatic compound, and
• wherein the molecular glass has a pre-defined shape with a thickness of at least about 2500 nanometers and coated on a flat substrate selected from the group consisting of trehalose, inorganic glasses, high molecular weight sucrose benzoate, polyvinyl chloride, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene and polycarbonate.