All-optical processors by 3D printable photochromic materials.

Abstract

Developing new responsive materials whose physico-chemical properties can be controlled and tailored by external stimuli is fundamental for many modern technologies. In this framework, 3D-printable photochromic materials and systems for all-optical data processing might enable remote addressing, by optical control of their response with high spatiotemporal accuracy, thus supporting the development of new computing and sensing platforms with multidimensional fashion. Here, we introduce 3D-printable photochromic materials based on either a spiropyran molecular system or a diarylethene derivative shaped by digital light processing. Dynamically controlling transmitted light by the intensity and sequence of incoming signals, these materials exhibit robust photoswitching cycles, long-term optically-textured information storage, and are used in 3D printed devices capable of all-optical arithmetic and logic processing. These compounds and devices open a route to new 3D all-organic all-optical computing platforms, and to new schemes and architectures for advanced microscopy, sensing, and physical intelligence.