Researchers from the University of Huelva, Spain, and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have exploited the photochromic fluorescence switching of a fulgimide derivative to build and operate an all-optical D (delay) flip-flop device.

The D flip-flop device is widely used in silicon-based microelectronics. It takes an input D and after a short, one-clock-cycle delay, outputs Q, acting as a primitive memory cell. The development of a molecular equivalent that can be switched repeatedly takes us another small step closer to molecular electronics and specifically molecular optoelectronics.

• An All-Photonic Molecule-Based D Flip-Flop
  P. Remón, M. Bälter, S. Li, J. Andréasson, U. Pischel,
  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011.
  DOI: 10.1021/ja2100388