title: Photoswitching of single association force between a pair of photoionizable spirobenzopyrans.
abstract: We have measured the single intermolecular force of a typical photoionizable molecule, spirobenzopyran, by means of atomic force microscopy, which has proven to be useful in measuring directly single molecular forces. The spirobenzopyran moiety was immobilized covalently on both Au-coated probe tips and substrates by use of a self-assembled monolayer of a hexanethiol derivative incorporating a terminal spirobenzopyran moiety, 1'-(6'-mercaptohexyl)-3',3'-dimethylindolino-6-nitrospiro-(2H-1-benzopyran-2,2'-indoline). Force curve measurements were carried out using the spirobenzopyran-modified probe tip and substrate under dark conditions and in situ UV light irradiation. The adhesion force observed in a polar solvent (i.e., ethanol) was increased substantially under in situ UV light irradiation, which caused photoisomerization of the spirobenzopyran moiety bound to both tip and substrate from its electrically neutral spiropyran form to the corresponding zwitterionic merocyanine one. Statistical analyses of the observed force by autocorrelation technique have revealed that the photoionization enhanced by UV light caused a remarkable increase in the single intermolecular force of the photochromic compound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University, Sakae-dani, Wakayama 640-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kado
authors.forename: Kaname
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura