Photochromic materials have recently attracted much attention in optoelectronic devices and optical storage systems because of their excellent reversible photoresponse performance. Among them, diarylethene has been widely studied for its excellent thermal stability, rapid photoresponsibility, robust fatigue resistance, and good performances in solution and solid states. However, one serious limitation to the application of such molecules is that the switch must be triggered by UV light, which shows great damage and low penetration to optical equipment and biological tissues. This review will highlight recently developed strategies that can be used for developing visible-light-activated diarylethenes, such as extended π-conjugation system, triplet sensitization, upconverting nanoparticles, multiphoton absorption, intermolecular electron transfer induced by supramolecular self-assembly, and intramolecular proton transfer. Such all-visible-light-triggered molecular switches will tremendously extend their applications for photoresponsive optoelectronics and photopharmacology in the future.

光致变色材料由于其优异的可逆光响应性能，最近在光电器件和光学存储系统中引起了广泛关注。其中，二芳基乙烯因其优异的热稳定性，快速的光响应性，强大的抗疲劳性以及在溶液和固态下的良好性能而被广泛研究。然而，对此类分子的应用的一个严重局限性是该开关必须由紫外光触发，这表明光学设备和生物组织受到很大的损害且穿透力很低。这篇评论将重点介绍可用于开发可见光激活的双芳烃的最新开发策略，例如扩展的π共轭体系，三重态敏化，上转换纳米颗粒，多光子吸收，超分子自组装引起的分子间电子转移以及分子内质子转移。此类全可见光触发的分子开关将在未来极大地扩展其在光响应光电和光药理学领域的应用。