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Related Concept Videos

Channel Rhodopsins01:11

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...

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An Electrochemical Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Device for Quick and Low-Voltage Color Modulation
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Published on: February 27, 2019

Mechanochromic photonic gels.

Edwin P Chan1, Joseph J Walish, Augustine M Urbas

  • 1Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8542, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. edwin.chan@nist.gov

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|June 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mechanochromic photonic gels change color with mechanical force, offering tunable optical properties. These adaptable polymer gels show promise as scalable, soft material sensors.

Keywords:
block copolymersgelsmechanochromismphotonic crystalsstimuli-responsive materials

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Polymer gels exhibit environmental responsiveness.
  • Mechanochromism, a color change induced by mechanical stress, is observed in some polymer systems.
  • Mechanochromic photonic gels possess tunable photonic stopbands reflecting specific colors under mechanical force.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss recent advances in photonic gels with strain-dependent optical properties.
  • To highlight polymer-based photonic gels fabricated via self-assembly.
  • To emphasize their potential as scalable mechanochromic sensors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advances in photonic gel research.
  • Focus on self-assembly fabrication methods for polymer-based photonic gels.
  • Analysis of material tailorability through diluents, solvents, nanoparticles, polymers, and external stimuli (temperature, pH, electric/strain fields).

Main Results:

  • Photonic gels can be engineered to display mechanochromism.
  • Mechanical forces tune the photonic stopband, altering reflected colors.
  • Material and optical properties are highly tailorable for sensor applications.

Conclusions:

  • Polymer-based photonic gels are promising soft material platforms.
  • Self-assembly fabrication enables scalable production of these sensors.
  • These materials offer significant potential for developing advanced mechanochromic sensors.