Synthesis and characterization of azo-containing organometallic thin films for all optical switching applications

[Display omitted] ► Synthesis of organometallic containing azobenzene-based photochromic compounds. ► Fast all optical switching, with full reversibility and with neither saturation. ► The influence of ruthenium part on dynamics of molecular motions. Novel photoresponsive materials based on azo-containing bifunctional ruthenium-acetylides have been synthesized. All optical switching based on the Optical Kerr Effect in the organometallic thin films based on ruthenium(II) acetylides containing an azobenzene moiety as a photochromic unit in the main pi-conjugated system dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix has been observed. The excitation beam was delivered from a picosecond laser at wavelength 532nm while dynamics of induced sample birefringence was probed by a non-absorbed linearly polarized beam of cw He–Ne laser (632.8nm). The influence of ruthenium part on dynamics of molecular motions has been shown.