Polymeric β-Dicarbonyl Compounds as Structural Basis for Intelligent Systems with Multifunctional Nature

Abstract

The development of new materials for application in high-tech technologies first of all will involve the design and synthesis of molecules which possess the aforementioned properties, followed by incorporating these compounds into supramolecular assemblies, in order to obtain ordered molecular systems. The role of organic materials in this field has become increasingly important with main emphasis on dyes and polymers as photoactive components. The potential of organic molecular devices in the field of nanotech-nology can hardly be exaggerated. This development is further stimulated by the notion that a large increase in information storage, theoretically to the molecular level, might be obtained. The multifunctional polymer systems, based on recent advances in new organic sensitive materials will beyond doubt play a key role in future (nano)-technology developments. These systems, with independent and different sensing, processing, and actuating functions, enhance performance capabilities. Such material systems are said to be ‘Intelligent’. One of the most important challenges in this field is the development of materials and techniques to place as much data as possible on the least amount of material. The ultimate goal would be to achieve information storage at the molecular or even at the atomic level, whereas processing of data should occur at close to the speed of light by the use of all optical switching devices. Future developments will aim at further increasing the rates of data storage and storage densities, for example by applying frequency doubled lasers, all optical writing/reading systems, and other materials.