Single-molecule fluorescence photoswitching of a diarylethene-perylenebisimide dyad: non-destructive fluorescence readout

Single-molecule fluorescence photoswitching plays an essential role in ultrahigh-density (Tbits/inch(2)) optical memories and super-high-resolution fluorescence imaging. Although several fluorescent photochromic molecules and fluorescent proteins have been applied, so far, to optical memories and super-high-resolution imaging, their performance is unsatisfactory because of the absence of "non-destructive fluorescence readout capability". Here we report on a new molecular design principle of a molecule having non-destructive readout capability. The molecule is composed of acceptor photochromic diarylethene and donor fluorescent perylenebisimide units. The fluorescence is reversibly quenched when the diarylethene unit converts between the open- and the closed-ring isomers upon irradiation with visible and UV light. The fluorescence quenching is based on an electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor units. The fluorescence photoswitching and non-destructive readout capability were demonstrated in solution (an ensemble state) and at the single-molecule level. Femtosecond time-resolved transient and fluorescent lifetime measurements confirmed that the fluorescence quenching is attributed to the intramolecular electron transfer.