A photoswitch from conjugative aromatic polymers

By condensing two different functional monomers, highly fluorescent aromatic polymers were prepared to produce a conjugated- conjugated spacer-type copolymer or conjugated-non-conjugated spacer-type copolymer. As synthesized polymers were soluble in an organic solvent and showed significantly enhanced optical properties compared to its monomer. Variation in the monomer composition afforded polymers having multifunctionaility such as photochromic-fluorescent polymers. Transparent thin films of the polymer as a solid medium were prepared using spin coating method and fabricated as a photoswitch, which showed photo-induced conductivity switching properties depending on the core monomeric unit in the polymers.