lightswitchable

Lightswitchable refers to a phenomenon or characteristic of a system, molecule, or material that can be reversibly altered by the application of light. This change is often a physical or chemical transformation that can be switched back to its original state by another light stimulus or a different external condition. The key aspect is the reversible control afforded by light.

This concept finds applications in various scientific disciplines. In chemistry, it is employed in photoswitchable molecules that change their shape or electronic properties upon illumination. These molecules can be used as building blocks for smart materials, drug delivery systems, or molecular machines. For instance, a molecule might change from a more soluble to a less soluble form when exposed to a specific wavelength of light, allowing for controlled release or precipitation.

In materials science, lightswitchable properties can be engineered into polymers, liquid crystals, or nanoparticles. This enables the creation of materials that can change their color, transparency, stiffness, or conductivity in response to light. Such materials have potential uses in optical switching devices, data storage, self-healing materials, and adaptive optics. The ability to precisely control these properties with light offers a non-contact and often highly localized method of manipulation.