Switchable quantum dot photoluminescence across a broad spectrum with all-visible-light activated diarylethene photoswitches
Abstract
Precise and reversible photoluminescence switching is highly attractive for optical memory, bioimaging, and smart displays. However, achieving broadband photoluminescence modulation through a simple and general strategy remains challenging, while the ultraviolet light requirement of most molecular photoswitches limits practical applications. Here, we achieve all-visible-light activated reversible photoluminescence modulation of quantum dots across an ultrawide spectral range of nearly 500 nm from blue to near-infrared region using diarylethene photoswitches. In the ring-open form of diarylethenes, quantum dots emitting blue, green, red, white and near-infrared light remain in the photoluminescence on-state. Under 405 nm irradiation, diarylethenes undergo ring-closure through triplet sensitization by CdS quantum dots, resulting in significant photoluminescence quenching to the off-state, with the maximum efficiency of 99.6% and an on/off ratio up to 250. Green-light irradiation reverses the diarylethenes back to the ring-open form, fully restoring the photoluminescence on-state. Our approach further enables reversible multi-level data storage and near-infrared anti-counterfeiting, highlighting the potential for smart light-responsive materials and optoelectronic devices.
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BibTeX
@article{xi2026switchable,
title = {{Switchable quantum dot photoluminescence across a broad spectrum with all-visible-light activated diarylethene photoswitches}},
author = {Lin Xi and Kezhou Chen and Shuai Zhang and Taibin Wang and Tiegen Liu and Bo Albinsson and Lili Hou},
journal = {Nature Communications},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-78224-2},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78224-2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Switchable quantum dot photoluminescence across a broad spectrum with all-visible-light activated diarylethene photoswitches
AU - Lin Xi
AU - Kezhou Chen
AU - Shuai Zhang
AU - Taibin Wang
AU - Tiegen Liu
AU - Bo Albinsson
AU - Lili Hou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Nature Communications
DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-78224-2
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78224-2
AB - Precise and reversible photoluminescence switching is highly attractive for optical memory, bioimaging, and smart displays. However, achieving broadband photoluminescence modulation through a simple and general strategy remains challenging, while the ultraviolet light requirement of most molecular photoswitches limits practical applications. Here, we achieve all-visible-light activated reversible photoluminescence modulation of quantum dots across an ultrawide spectral range of nearly 500 nm from blue to near-infrared region using diarylethene photoswitches. In the ring-open form of diarylethenes, quantum dots emitting blue, green, red, white and near-infrared light remain in the photoluminescence on-state. Under 405 nm irradiation, diarylethenes undergo ring-closure through triplet sensitization by CdS quantum dots, resulting in significant photoluminescence quenching to the off-state, with the maximum efficiency of 99.6% and an on/off ratio up to 250. Green-light irradiation reverses the diarylethenes back to the ring-open form, fully restoring the photoluminescence on-state. Our approach further enables reversible multi-level data storage and near-infrared anti-counterfeiting, highlighting the potential for smart light-responsive materials and optoelectronic devices.
SN - 2041-1723
ER -