Functional mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles as host material to fabricate photo-switchable polymer films

Precisely nano-sized aluminosilicate particles (average diameter size 50 to 80 nm) with tailor-made internal surface polarity are suitable as host material for photochromic dyes of the chromene type in order to produce optical transparent photoswitchable polymer films. The sophisticated host material does accomplish two important requirements for a technical application, appropriate internal space for the light induced reversible switching process of the adsorbed dye and suppression of disturbing chemical reactions. The adjustment of the internal surface polarity of the host material was achieved by silane reagents which could be observed by means of specific solvatochromic probes.