R&D: Sub-Diffraction-Limit Dimension All-Plasmonic Optical Memory Using Non-Linear Photochromism

Advanced Science has published an article written by Shuichi Toyouchi, Mathias Wolf, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, Kenji Hirai, Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES), Hokkaido University, N20W10, Kita ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001–0020 Japan, Yasuhiko Fujita, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, and Toray Research Center, Inc., Sonoyama 3-3-7, Otsu, Shiga, 520–8567 Japan, Tomoko Inose, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860–8555 Japan, Beatrice Fortuni, Eduard Fron, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, Johan Hofkens, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, and Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (WPI–iCeMS), Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo–ku, Kyoto, 606–8501 Japan, Steven De Feyter, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, James Hutchison, Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany, Tsuyoshi Fukaminato, School of Chemistry and ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010 Australia, and Hiroshi Uji-i,Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001 Belgium, Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES), Hokkaido University, N20W10, Kita ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001–0020 Japan, and Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860–8555 Japan.

Abstract: “The development of compact, high-speed, and energy-efficient optical memories remains a significant challenge in photonic and plasmonic technologies. Conventional optical memories are inherently limited by light diffraction, restricting miniaturization and causing inefficient energy transfer. A promising strategy to overcome these limitations is using propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), enabling the confinement and propagation of optical fields along metal interfaces, and allowing photonic devices to scale down to sub-diffraction-limit dimensions. This work presents an all-plasmonic optical memory system based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) coated with photochromic diarylethene (DAE). By utilizing SPPs, reversible Write/Erase functions are achieved through multiphoton excitation, modulating the photostationary state of DAE. The refractive index changes regulate SPP propagation efficiency along the AgNW, with the memory state being read via plasmonic second-harmonic generation. The synergy between nonlinear plasmonics in AgNWs and the photochromic properties of DAE enables complete memory operations, including writing, erasing, and reading ON/OFF states. This sub-diffraction-limit system paves the way for ultra-compact, molecular-scale optical memory devices.“