Investigations of Photochromic Polypeptides

Abstract

Bacteriorhodopsin provides researchers with a vision of the possibilities for an engineered optical material. Photochromic polypeptides are synthetic materials that have similar potential applications as bacteriorhodopsin. The light-induced coil-to-helix conformation change can be used to develop materials having light-induced changes in birefringence. Recent investigations of light-sensitive polypeptides in solution and as thin films give increased knowledge of structure-property relationships. The behavior of bacteriorhodopsin-based optical materials provides a list of materials requirements needed to explore the feasibility of photochromic polypeptide thin film development. Major challenges include decreasing photofatigue, designing films with thermal back reaction half-life in seconds and large light-induced changes in refractive index.