Multimodal sensing in rewritable, data matrix azobenzene-based devices

Here, we exploited the UV light and thermal triggered E <-> Z photoisomerization of an azobenzene compound to fabricate multimodal readable and rewritable data matrix based devices. We first demonstrated that the UV light sensing capabilities can be simultaneously monitored by the change in optical, spectroscopic, and electrical properties. Then we exploited this capability by integrating tetra(azobenzene)methane crystals in a micrometric TAG whose information can be modified and repristinated by local UV treatment and thermal annealing. The system was characterized by polarized optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, conductive atomic force microscopy and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy.