Aromatic Schiff bases belong to a broad family of molecular systems whose photophysics is determined by the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Their typical features, such as photochromism and the high photostability open the prospects of possible applications in optically driven molecular memories and switching devices. In our investigation we chose one of the simplest aromatic Schiff bases, the salicylidene methylamine (SMA) � we examined in detail the exact mechanism of the photo-transformation between its two photochromic forms.     In this communication we present the results of systematic theoretical study of photophysical properties of the isolated SMA molecule and its derivatives. We also analyze results of dynamic study of SMA photophysics obtained within on-the-fly approach. The conclusion emerging from the obtained results confirms that molecular systems based on Schiff bases should be considered as good candidates for optically driven, reversible molecular switches and sheds light on the direction in which particular molecular engineering efforts towards obtaining the efficient devices should be made.

Photophysics of a model aromatic Schiff base: Theoretical study on salicylidene methylamine and its derivatives in a context of molecular photoswitching

248th National Meeting (2014)

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