Sensitive Mechanocontrolled Luminescence in Cross-Linked Polymer Films

10 October 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Direct translation of mechanical force into changes in chemical behavior on a molecular level has important implication not only for the fundamental understanding of mechanochemical processes, but also for the development of new stimuli-responsive materials. In particular, detection of mechanical stress in polymers via non-destructive methods is important in order to prevent material failure and to study the mechanical properties of soft matter. Herein, we report that highly sensitive changes in photoluminescence intensity can be observed in response to the mechanical stretching of cross-linked polymer films when using stable, (pyridinophane)Cu-based dynamic mechanophores. Upon stretching, the luminescence intensity increases in a fast and reversible manner even at small strain (< 50%) and applied stress (< 0.1 MPa) values. Such sensitivity is unprecedented when compared to previously reported systems based on organic mechanophores. The system also allows for the detection of weak mechanical stress by spectroscopic measurements or by direct visual methods.

Keywords

Polymers
mechanochemistry
cross-linker moiety
mechanophore-containing polymer
mechanoresponse
Copper(I) complexes
photoluminescent complexes

Supplementary materials

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SupportingInformation KarimataKhusnutdinova ChemRxiv
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Supplementary Movie 1
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Supplementary Movie 2
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