Photochromism and nonstationary conductivity of films of a copolymer of styrene and indolinospiropyran

1. The absorption spectra and the kinetics of the decolorization of a photochromic film of a copolymer of indolinospiropyran with styrene have been studied in the short-time region. The decolorization mechanism in the film differs significantly from the mechanism in solution, since only the most stable stereoisomers of the colored form are formed owing to the greater viscosity. 2. A correlation has been discovered between the decolorization kinetics and the decay of the nonstationary dark conductivity. It is most likely that the nonstationary conductivity is due to the equilibrium concentration of the charge carriers in the colored film of the copolymer, which is higher than in the original film.