Light induced properties of Chalcones correlated with molecular structure and photophysical properties for permanent optical storage device S.N. Sidharth 1,2,a , A.R. Yuvaraj 1,b , Tay Joo Hui 1b ,B.K. Sarojini 3,c , M.Y. Mashitah 1,d and Gurumurthy Hegde 1,e * 1 Faculty in Industrial Sciences and Technology, University Malaysia Pahang, Gambang – Kuantan:26300, Malaysia. 2 Department of Chemical Engineering, R.V.College of Engineering,Mysore Road, R.V.Vidyanikethan Post, Bangalore-560 059, India 3 Industrial Chemistry Division-Department of Chemistry, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri-574199, Mangalore, India bksaroj35@gmail.com a,c ,yuvaraj.chem123@gmail.com b ,syntheticstrategies@gmail.com d , murthyhegde@gmail.com e* Keywords: Photoisomerization, Chalcones, electron donating groups, Keto-enol tautamerism. Abstract. The photoisomerization effect on new chalcone derivative is reported. The synthesized chalcone was characterized by different spectral analysis such as 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, FTIR, LCMS and UV/Vis. It revealed the photoisomerization effect in solution, the E-Z isomerization occurred around 60sec, whereas Z-E isomerism occurred at 0min. This chalcone derivative is more useful in fabrication of permanent optical storage devices. Introduction The permanent optical storage device is a photonic display device, in which the data storage is by molecular alignment with respect to UV light. The stored data cannot be erased by any external aid. However, a field of research is growing steadily in photonics, in which the molecular orientation can be tuned by using UV light of suitable wavelength and intensity [1-3]. Tacitly, the heart of the phenomenon in such systems is the reversible photo -induced shape transformation of the molecules containing the chromophoric groups [2-4]. Upon UV irradiation (around 365 nm, corresponding to the π– π* excitation of the azo group), the energetically more stable E or trans configuration, with an elongated rod-like molecular form, changes into a bent Z or cis configuration. The reverse transformation can be brought about by illumination with visible light (in the range 400–500 nm, corresponding to the n– π * band). This latter change can also occur in the dark by a process known as thermal back relaxation [3-6]. Among all the organic compounds, chalcones are also the good candidates in creating optical storage device. The chalcones derivatives are noticeable materials in field of Optics. Because, they exhibit the light induced phenomenon. Generally, chalcones can be obtained from two sources. They are, (i) Extraction from nature and (ii) Synthesis from commercially available chemicals. These chalcones are well known compounds to study many kinds of biological activities [7-9]. However, chalcones derivatives were well reported in the different area of research, such as nonlinear optic property for optical communications and optical electronics, liquid crystal displays and photoalignment. Chalcones were considered as light sensitive compounds among various materials in nature, due to its photoreactivity with UV radiation [8]. Some of the chalcones undergo crosslinking each other with the illumination of UV light or electron beam, here α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups are responsible for polymerization [10]. Also, the photochemical reactions of chalcones with the irradiation of UV light, is an interesting phenomenon. Advanced Materials Research Vols. 1033-1034 (2014) pp 1149-1153 Submitted: 10.08.2014 © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Accepted: 11.08.2014 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1033-1034.1149 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 211.25.212.126-23/09/14,18:11:33)