Acceleration of a photochromic ring-opening reaction of diarylethene derivatives by excitation of localized surface plasmon

Localized-surface-plasmon (LSP)-enhancement effect on one-photon photochromic ring-opening reaction of two diarylethene (DE) derivatives was studied using absorption spectroscopy. DEs were doped in polymer films and those were coated onto Au-nanoparticles-integrated substrates. Acceleration of the one-photon photochromic reactions was observed in the presence of Au nanoparticles. The origin of the behavior was attributed to an enhancement effect of incident electromagnetic field by LSP. An alternative mechanism, i.e., photothermal effect was also experimentally examined and discussed.

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► We have increased quantum yield of photochromic reactions of diarylethene using gold nanoparticles.
► The photochromic reactions were accelerated by an enhancement of an electromagnetic filed of incident light due to localized surface plasmon.
► Photothermal effects were also examined and denied for the present case.