Photoresponsive transparent conductive metal with a photobleaching nose.

Smart materials that respond to a stimulus or their environment to produce a dynamic and reversible change in critical properties are in focus of actual research. [ 1 ] Among several stimuli, photochromism is receiving increasing attention because of its potential applications in molecular switching, lenses, and data storage among others. [ 2 ] In general, photochromic molecules can turn any composite into a smart material provided the host matrix is soft enough (e.g., a polymer) to let the molecule rotate upon illumination. The unique properties of these molecules can be even more benefi cial implemented into the devices whose optical properties are the matter of interest (e.g., optoelctronic devices) and to make them smart. In this regard, transparent conductors (TCs) can be a proper matter since their optical properties are crucial. Traditionally, indium tin oxide (ITO) has been widely implemented as a standard TC in different kinds of optoelectronic devices. However having phototunable optical transparency along with high electrical conductivity would be potentially applicable for novel smart optoelectronic sensors. During the course of last decades great efforts have been made to develop new kind of TCs to replace ITO. [ 3–5 ] In this regard, different materials and composites have been proposed and studied, including conductive polymers, [ 6 ]