Stable and reversible optoelectrical dual-mode data storage based on a ferrocenlylspiropyran molecule

A spiropyran molecule bonded with ferrocene (SPFc) was synthesized as data storage medium. Optical recording pattern was obtained through the reversible modulation of UV and visible light on the SPFc film, which exhibited good reversibility compared with the spiropyran without ferrocene moiety. In addition, the SPFc thin film also possessed reversible electrical switching property with high ON/OFF ratio, low threshold voltage, and long retention time. Accordingly, reliable, stable, and reversible nanoscale data storage was achieved on the SPFc thin film by scanning tunneling microscopy. The results will be significant to develop multifunctional molecule and reversible multimode data storage.