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Controllable mechanochromic responses in fluorescent elastomers via perylene bisimide aggregation engineering.
Dengchong Feng1,2, Yechang Feng3, Zhaozhao Xu1
1School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. mazt@gdut.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed tunable, reversible mechanochromic elastomers using perylene bisimides (PBI) in polyurethane elastomers (TPUs). PBI
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Mechanochromic materials change color in response to mechanical stress.
- Developing tunable and reversible mechanochromic elastomers is crucial for advanced applications.
- Carboxylated perylene bisimides (PBI) are known for their optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer tunable and reversible mechanochromic elastomers.
- To investigate the relationship between material structure and mechanochromic response.
- To provide a foundation for anticounterfeiting and sensing technologies.
Main Methods:
- Aggregation engineering strategy.
- Doping carboxylated perylene bisimides (PBI) into polyurethane elastomers (TPUs).
- Characterization of mechanochromic properties and hydrogen bonding interactions.
Main Results:
- Successfully created tunable, reversible mechanochromic elastomers.
- Demonstrated a correlation between PBI mechanochromic sensitivity and TPU-PBI hydrogen bonding strength.
- Elastomers exhibited color changes upon mechanical deformation.
Conclusions:
- Aggregation engineering is an effective strategy for developing mechanochromic elastomers.
- Hydrogen bonding plays a key role in tuning mechanochromic sensitivity.
- The developed materials show promise for anticounterfeiting and sensor applications.
