This work included infrared dichroism and x-ray diffraction as well as refractive indices to elucidate the structure and molecular orientation of PPV, a potential host polymer. Additionally, work by the Furman group has clearly demonstrated that convenient means can and have been developed to covalently attach chameleon type materials to a variety of differing polymeric surfaces. Recent work has given us insight into mechanisms for coupling of the optical energies and thus a potential for using chameleon effects for optical information storage in fibers and films. Presently the work has not moved to the point where the research yields a true Chameleon fiber that can be tuned over a broad range but is on the brink of doing so. Once this is done significant characterization will need to be carried out and the new materials quantified in various polymer matrices.
Porphyrins have intense absorption maxima in the visible region.
The base frequency of the absorption can be altered by changes in substituents or by incorporating various metal ions into the cavity. As with our other chromophores, they are highly polarizable. New synthetic routes have been developed and enabled the construction of monomeric materials that have unique emissive properties in the visible spectrum. These molecules undergo significant changes in their polarizabilities, microstructure, or conjugation lengths dependent on the strength of the applied field. The proposed work will incorporate these materials into fibers and films imparting to them dynamic color change ability when exposed to either a static or dynamic electric field.