Highly stretchable and stretch-induced fluorescence chromism self-healing materials based on boroxine and dynamic imine bond

Abstract

A new self-healing luminescent polymer called PDMS-DPBA-5000 was synthesized by combining the double covalent bond of boroxine with an imine bond. The formation of a boroxine bond will offer a luminescence center, while the imine bond not only connects polymers with luminescent centers but also offers self-healing ability. The polymer demonstrates high stretchability (elongation of 4200%) and stretch-induced fluorescence chromism from green to cyan (the emission peak a blue shift from 513 nm to 480 nm), and it shows outstanding self-healing properties within 20 min at room temperature. This polymer has a wide application potential in the field of flexible materials, such as flexible luminescence, luminescent coatings, and luminescent printing. Furthermore, luminescence and material toughness can be obtained by changing the molecular weight, which is helpful in the development of self-healing functional elastomers.