Abstract: The invention relates to an optical storage medium comprising a substrate and a storage layer, wherein the storage layer comprises a compound of the formula (I) or (II) in which A and A′, independently of one another, are unsubstituted or mono- or di-halo-, -hydroxy-, —C1-C6alkyl-, —C1-C6alkoxy-, -cyano- or -nitro-substituted phenyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, furyl or thienyl, which can, if desired, be fused to a benzene ring, are halide, tetrafluoroborate or unsubstituted or with one or more halogen substituted C1-C6alkane-sulfonate, benzenesulfonate, C1-C6alkylbenzenesulfonate, C1-C6alkylsulfate or di-C1-C6alkyl-phosphonate of N—C1-C6alkyl-pyridiniumyl, or are unsubstituted or mono- or di-hydroxy-substituted C2-C6alkyl or C2-C6alkenyl, whose chain may be uninterrupted or interrupted by one or two oxygen atoms, B and B′, independently of one another, are 2 H, S, S2 or SO2, and n and n′, independently of one another, are each a number from 1 to 4.

Abstract: A process for the optical recording and storage of information in the form of bits by irradiating a recording material comprising a substrate coated with at least one layer of a pigment selected from the group of the dithiopyrrolopyrroles, dithioquinacridones, phthalocyanines or mixtures of several of these pigments as recording layer dotwise or linearly with laser light in the near infrared range (NIR range), which pigment (a) has a crystal modification having an absorption band in the NIR range, and (b) is in contact with a solid organic compound that changes the crystal modification of the pigment upon irradiation with laser light, so that (c) after irradiation the absorption in the NIR range is reduced, while the organic compound exhibits no absorption in the NIR range before and after irradiation.

Abstract: A coated material comprising a substrate which is coated with a layer of a pyrrolopyrrole of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be 4-pyridyl and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are O, said compound of formula I being at least partially in the form of a salt of a strong acid, is suitable for use as an optical recording material and, owing to its electrical conductivity and photoconductivity, as antistatically treated material, as sensor, photoreceptor and solar battery.

Abstract: A process for the optical recording and storage of information in the form of bits by irradiating a recording material comprising a substrate coated with at least one layer of a pigment selected from the group of the dithiopyrrolopyrroles, dithioquinacridones, phthalocyanines or mixtures of several of these pigments as recording layer dotwise or linearly with laser light in the near infrared range (NIR range), which pigment (a) has a crystal modification having an absorption band in the NIR range, and (b) is in contact with a solid organic compound that changes the crystal modification of the pigment upon irradiation with laser light, so that (c) after irradiation the absorption in the NIR range is reduced, while the organic compound exhibits no absorption in the NIR range before and after irradiation.

Abstract: A process for storing information in an organic recording layer which, when treated locally with an organic solvent in accordance with the input of information, is able to change its absorption spectrum and/or its photoconductivity such that information can be produced or stored at the treated areas of said layer, wherein the organic solvent is solid at room temperature and is present in the recording layer, or by decomposition of a solid organic precursor which is present in the recording layer, and said solvent is vaporized or melts by the action of laser beams in accordance with the input of information, or said precursor is decomposed by the action of laser beams in accordance with the input of information.The stored information can be read out with a photodetector in the visible or near NIR range or with a built-in electrode system.

Abstract: A coated material comprising a substrate which is coated with a layer of a pyrrolopyrrole of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be 4-pyridyl and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are O, said compound of formula I being at least partially in the form of a salt of a strong acid, is suitable for use as an optical recording material and, owing to its electrical conductivity and photoconductivity, as antistatically treated material, as sensor, photoreceptor and solar battery.