25th anniversary article: Design of polymethine dyes for all-optical switching applications: guidance from theoretical and computational studies.

Gieseking, Rebecca L; Mukhopadhyay, Sukrit; Risko, Chad; Marder, Seth R; Brédas, Jean-Luc · Adv Mater · 2014

review · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

All-optical switching--controlling light with light--has the potential to meet the ever-increasing demand for data transmission bandwidth. The development of organic π-conjugated molecular materials with the requisite properties for all-optical switching applications has long proven to be a significant challenge. However, recent advances demonstrate that polymethine dyes have the potential to meet the necessary requirements. In this review, we explore the theoretical underpinnings that guide the design of π-conjugated materials for all-optical switching applications. We underline, from a computational chemistry standpoint, the relationships among chemical structure, electronic structure, and optical properties that make polymethines such promising materials.