Novel optical switches and devices based on metalloporphyrin/superconductor assemblies

Previous attempts to mimic photosynthetic processes have focused on the essential elements of energy and electron transfer reactions which occur in well organized molecular assemblies and polymeric arrays. Although much important fundamental knowledge has been gained from these important studies, only in a few cases have functional structures been assembled from artificially constructed photoactive systems. Recently, we have begun to explore methods that can be used to deposit organized dye layers onto the surfaces of high-T{sub c} superconductor thin film elements. These hybrid systems are found to be sensitive to the influence of light making them suitable for optical sensor applications. In analogy to the photosynthetic reaction center, these hybrid structures possess an array of dyes that serve as an absorptive antenna layer which funnels the light energy into the superconductor. Once inside the superconductor, the excess energy derived from the light disrupts the electron pairs (i.e. Cooper pairs) that carry the charge through the superconductor lattice with zero resistance. This interaction leads to a temporal weakening of superconductivity which is easily sensed through electronic means. Since these structures respond most strongly to those wavelengths absorbed by the dye, a variety of optical sensors can be engineered from the molecularmore » level to serve a number of different applications. This paper will focus on the design, construction and optical response characteristics of dye/superconductor assemblies.« less