Photochromism is the reversible phototransformation of a chemical species between two forms having different absorption spectra. During the phototransformation not only the absorption spectra but also various physicochemical properties change, such as the refractive index, dielectric constant, oxidation/reduction potential, and geometrical structure. The property changes can be applied to photonic equipment such as erasable memory media, photo-optical switch components, and display devices. This book compiles the accomplishments of the research project titled "New Frontiers in Photochromism" supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. The project focused not only on the above-mentioned classical subjects in photochromism, such as color changes, optical memory, and optical switches, but also on fundamental physicochemical studies and unprecedented application fields that have not yet been explored in photochromism. The latter topics include light-driven mechanical motion, photocontrol of surface wettability, metal deposition on solid materials, photocontrol of chiral properties, ultrafast decoloration dyes, and femtosecond laser experiments, among others.

When a photon meets a nanostructure, many interesting phenomena occur. This book aims at developing the theories and the applications of photon interactions with nanostructures. The contributors were all participants in the well-known Japanese national research project, "Near-Field Nano-Optics", which ran from 1997 to 2000. The book covers a wide range of disciplines in nano-optics, including the theoretical development of imaging-contrast mechanisms as a result of photon and nanomatter interactions, and discussions on different near-field nanoprobes. Applications of nano-optics to sensing, imaging, analysis, and the fabrication of nanostructures, such as molecules and quantum devices, are also discussed, with a collection of experimental examples.

Photochromism is the reversible phototransformation of a chemical species between two forms having different absorption spectra. During the phototransformation not only the absorption spectra but also various physicochemical properties change, such as the refractive index, dielectric constant, oxidation/reduction potential, and geometrical structure. The property changes can be applied to photonic equipment such as erasable memory media, photo-optical switch components, and display devices. This book compiles the accomplishments of the research project titled "New Frontiers in Photochromism" supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. The project focused not only on the above-mentioned classical subjects in photochromism, such as color changes, optical memory, and optical switches, but also on fundamental physicochemical studies and unprecedented application fields that have not yet been explored in photochromism. The latter topics include light-driven mechanical motion, photocontrol of surface wettability, metal deposition on solid materials, photocontrol of chiral properties, ultrafast decoloration dyes, and femtosecond laser experiments, among others.

A presentation of the most advanced application of optical near-field microscopy to studies of fine metallic structures and related surface plasmons.

A comprehensive review to the synthesis, properties, and applications of diarylethene-based molecular photoswitches Diarylethene Molecular Photoswitches: Concept and Functionalities provides the fundamental concepts of molecular photoswitches and includes information on how the bistable photoswitches of diarylethenes modulate the functions of materials and biological activities. Written by Masahiro Irie (the inventor of photochromic diarylethene compound), the book explores the reaction mechanism, photoswitching performance, photoswitchable crystals, and the myriad applications of diarylethenes based photoswitches. This book offers academics, chemists, and engineers an essential resource for understanding the molecular photoswitches and provides a guide to the development of new photoresponsive materials. The author explores the applications based on diarylethene and its dirivatives to Field-Effect Transistors, Metal-Organic Frameworks including nanoparticles, super-resolution fluorescence microscopies, drug release, and self-healing materials. This important book: * Offers a guide to diarylethene derivatives, the most widely studied compounds worldwide among the photochromic compounds * Includes the basic concepts of molecular photoswitches * Explores the myraid applications grounded in diarylethene and its derivatives * Presents an authortative text from the inventor of the photochromic diarylethene compound Written for materials scientists, organic, polymer, and physical chemists, and electronics engineers, Diarylethene Molecular Photoswitches offers an introduction to the topic and includes recent developments in the field.