Supramolecular Oligourethane Gel with Multicolor Luminescence Controlled by Mechanically Sensitive Hydrogen-Bonding

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Controlling polymer conformation is key to tuning material properties.
• Developing mechanochromic materials with tunable optical responses is an active research area.
• Hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in the self-assembly and properties of soft materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel mechanically sensitive multicolor luminescent oligourethane gel (OUA-gel).
• To investigate the relationship between hydrogen bond strength, polymer conformation, and optical properties.
• To explore the potential of OUA-gel in sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of oligourethane gel incorporating aurintricarboxylic acid as a mechanical chromophore.
• Utilizing dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as an H-bond acceptor to form the gel matrix.
• Investigating mechanochromic properties through mechanical stress, temperature changes, and H-bond manipulation.
• Characterizing optical properties and correlating them with conformational changes.

Main Results:

• The OUA-gel exhibits multicolor luminescence dependent on oligomer chain conformation.
• Conformation and optical properties are modulated by varying hydrogen bond strengths.
• Mechanical force and temperature changes alter H-bonding, leading to adjustable emission colors.
• The material demonstrates multifunctional and multicolored mechanochromism.

Conclusions:

• The OUA-gel is a new class of mechanically sensitive, multicolor luminescent soft material.
• The study provides insights into the mechanism of polychromism in soft materials.
• The design offers a pathway for molecular engineering of advanced smart materials for sensing.