Remarkable Electric Field Effect on the Absorption Intensity of a Molecular Aggregate of Photomerocyanine in a PMMA Polymer Film

Electroabsorption spectra of merocyanine (PMC) produced by an photochromic reaction of spiropyran (SP) in a PMMA polymer film have been measured. The intensity of the sharp absorption band assigned as an aggregate of PMC was found to be remarkably reduced by an external electric field. The photochromic reaction from the aggregate of PMC to SP is suggested to be markedly enhanced by an electric field.