Bistable organic materials in optoelectrical switches: Two-electrode devices vs. organic field effect transistors

TL;DR

This paper reviews organic materials and device structures suitable for optoelectrical switches, focusing on photochromic molecular materials that change electrical properties via reversible photochemical reactions triggered by light.

Contribution

It provides an overview of organic materials and device architectures for optoelectrical switching, emphasizing the role of reversible photochemical reactions in photochromic materials.

Findings

Photochromic materials enable reversible electrical property changes.

Two-electrode devices and organic field-effect transistors are compared.

Reversible photochemical reactions are key to optoelectrical switching.

Abstract

The paper presents a short overview of research into properties of organic materials and structures that could be used in optoelectrical switches, i.e., switches in which changes in electrical properties are triggered by light of appropriate wavelengths. In particular, described are the structures acting by virtue of reversible photochemical reactions occurring in photochromic molecular materials.