Photo-induced Conversion of Furylfulgide Single Crystal Under High Pressures

We have studied pressure effects on single crystal of photochromic furylfulgide for researching the possibility of photo-induced structural change. Pressure dependence of the absorption spectra was investigated up to 8.2 GPa at room temperature. Pressure-induced conversion to C-form molecules was observed at 8.2 GPa in single crystal composed only of E-form molecules, while at 5.7 GPa in single crystal containing small amount of C-form ones. Photochromic reaction was observed under high pressure as well as the ambient pressure. The dependence of absorption intensity due to C-form molecules suggests the possibly of cooperative structural change in furylfulgide single crystal at 5.5 GPa.