title: Modulation of the refractive index by photoisomerization of diarylethenes: theoretical modeling.
abstract: Molecular polarizabilities of photochromic diarylethenes bearing different chemical groups as substituents have been calculated by density functional theory (DFT) simulations with the aim to obtain an estimate of the refractive index of a glassy matrix containing diarylethenes as active species. Simple models have been introduced in order to take into account the effects that occur in bulk materials. The results obtained show that the choice of suitable substituents enhances the modulation of the refractive index driven by the photochromic reaction; moreover, the trends predicted are consistent with the experimental data. This opens the way to use quantum chemical predictions on model molecules to foresee performances relative to the photoinduced modulation of the refractive index in bulk materials.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Callierotti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertarelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerbi