Controlling the photochromism of N-salicylideneaniline by mixed crystal formation

Abstract

Abstract The photochromic properties of N-salicylideneaniline (SA) are closely related to its molecular conformation. In this study, we demonstrated that the photochromic expression of SA crystals can be switched by precisely controlling the molecular conformation by embedding SA in template crystals of nonphotochromic benzylidene-4-aniline derivatives with various conformations.