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Volumetric three-dimensional displays offer spatially accurate representations of images with a 360° view, but have been difficult to implement due to complex fabrication requirements. Herein, a chemically enabled volumetric 3D digital light photoactivatable dye display (3D Light PAD) is reported. The operating principle relies on photoactivatable dyes that become reversibly fluorescent upon illumination with ultraviolet light. Proper tuning of kinetics and emission wavelengths enables the generation of a spatial pattern of fluorescent emission at the intersection of two structured light beams. A first-generation 3D Light PAD was fabricated using the photoactivatable dye N-phenyl spirolactam rhodamine B, a commercial picoprojector, an ultraviolet projector and a custom quartz imaging chamber. The system displays a minimum voxel size of 0.68 mm 3 , 200 μm resolution and good stability over repeated 'on-off' cycles. A range of high-resolution 3D images and animations can be projected, setting the foundation for widely accessible volumetric 3D displays.

Spirolactam rhodamines are fluorescent photoswitches that are useful for single molecule localization microscopy, volumetric 3D digital light photoactivatable dye displays, and other applications. Measurement of the photophysical properties, particularly photoswitching kinetics and quantum yields, is challenging and a comprehensive understanding of how molecular structure affects these parameters remains incomplete. In this study, we have synthesized a series of N‐aryl spirolactam rhodamine photoswitches with fluorescent emissions at 585 nm and 518 nm. Extinction coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields of the fluorescent form of the photoswitch have been measured using excess trifluoroacetic acid to drive the equilibrium to the open form. A method to determine photoswitching kinetics and quantum yields was developed by monitoring the kinetics to reach equilibrium between the on‐state and off‐state and fitting this data to a rate equation for a reaction in equilibrium. Trends based on the electronic and steric properties of the aryl substituents were evaluated. Using this information, a proof‐of‐principle demonstration of 3D voxel formation was accomplished using a green (518 nm) emitting photoswitch, setting the foundation for a multi‐colour volumetric 3D display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Picture: Tuning the Photophysical Properties of Spirolactam Rhodamine Photoswitches (Isr. J. Chem. 3-4/2021) Keywords: Photoswitches; spirolactam rhodamines; 3D displays; photophysical properties; kinetics EN Photoswitches spirolactam rhodamines 3D displays photophysical properties kinetics 156 156 1 04/26/21 20210301 NES 210301 The cover art shows a fluorescent image of Peruna Mustang, the mascot of Southern Methodist University, demonstrating precise photoactivation of a spirolactam-derived photoswitch. Photoswitches, spirolactam rhodamines, 3D displays, photophysical properties, kinetics. [Extracted from the article]