Rumaisa Wajahath
Research Mentor: Theodore Goodson III
Mentor Department: Chemistry, LSA
Author(s): rumaisa wajahath
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 123
Abstract
Azobenzenes, a class of organic chromophores, are widely known for their sensitive photoisomerization properties. The cis-trans isomerization of azobenzene is a reversible process that is triggered by light excitation at different wavelengths, enabling its use as a photo-induced molecular switch for biological applications. However, the excitation of the cis-trans isomerization in azobenzene chromophores with quantum (entangled) light remains unexplored. In this study, we report the photoisomerization behavior of azobenzene (AB) and Direct Red 23 (DR23) under classical and quantum light. We compared their responses to classical two-photon absorption (TPA) and entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA), both of which are critical for further potential biophotonic applications. Absorption, emission, and quantum yield measurements were performed to compare the responsiveness of AB and DR23 to both TPA and ETPA. The results reveal that DR23 exhibits significantly higher cross-sections for both TPA and ETPA compared to azobenzene, indicating enhanced responsiveness to light. The enhanced charge transfer efficiency of DR23 supports its potential for precise, light-induced molecular switching in biological systems and demonstrates azobenzene photoisomerization mediated by entangled light. These findings establish a foundation for leveraging entangled light to control photochemical reactions with reduced photon flux, offering new opportunities for quantum-enabled control of molecular processes in sensitive biological environments.
