Issue 33, 2019

Anthracene-based mechanophores for compression-activated fluorescence in polymeric networks

Abstract

The recent attention given to functionalities that respond to mechanical force has led to a deeper understanding of force transduction and mechanical wear in polymeric materials. Furthermore, polymers have been carefully designed such that activation of “mechanophores” leads to productive outputs, such as material reinforcement or changes in optical properties. In this work, a crosslinker containing an anthracene–maleimide linkage was designed and used to prepare networks that display a fluorescence response when damaged. The pressure-dependent damage of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) networks was monitored using solid-state fluorescence spectroscopy, with increasing compressive forces leading to higher degrees of mechanophore activation. When a stamp was used to compress the networks, only the areas in contact with the raised portion of the stamp underwent mechanophore activation, resulting in the generation of patterns that were only visible under UV light. Finally, an isomeric “flex” mechanophore was designed and used to prepare networks that were compressed and compared to the previously described networks.

Graphical abstract: Anthracene-based mechanophores for compression-activated fluorescence in polymeric networks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
21 May 2019
Accepted
26 Jun 2019
First published
08 Jul 2019
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 7702-7708

Anthracene-based mechanophores for compression-activated fluorescence in polymeric networks

C. P. Kabb, C. S. O'Bryan, C. D. Morley, T. E. Angelini and B. S. Sumerlin, Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 7702 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC02487E

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