OPTICAL SWITCHES

摘要

The specification identifies dithiolenes which give good performance as the critical region of an optical switch. The dithiolenes have the formula shown in Figure 1 wherein: (A) the R groups, any two of which may be the same or different, are selected so as to tune the absorption bands of the molecule for use at the operational wavelength and/or to act as bridges to join molecules together; (B) the X groups, any two of which may be the same or different, are selected from S and Se; (C) M is selected from Ni, Pt, Pd and Cu; (D) C = -1 or 0; and (E) (i) when C = -1, Y is a cation to render the molecule electrically neutral; preferably Y is selected from ammonium, substituted ammonium, Na<+>, Li<+> and K<+>, (ii) when C = 0, Y is absent (since the molecule is neutral there is no change to balance). The dithiolene may be diluted with an organic polymer selected from polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, such as polymethymethacrylate , polycarbonates, polyisobutylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polysiloxane.