title: Bio-inspired sensitive and reversible mechanochromisms via strain-dependent cracks and folds.
abstract: A number of marine organisms use muscle-controlled surface structures to achieve rapid changes in colour and transparency with outstanding reversibility. Inspired by these display tactics, we develop analogous deformation-controlled surface-engineering approaches via strain-dependent cracks and folds to realize the following four mechanochromic devices: (1) transparency change mechanochromism (TCM), (2) luminescent mechanochromism (LM), (3) colour alteration mechanochromism (CAM) and (4) encryption mechanochromism (EM). These devices are based on a simple bilayer system that exhibits a broad range of mechanochromic behaviours with high sensitivity and reversibility. The TCM device can reversibly switch between transparent and opaque states. The LM can emit intensive fluorescence as stretched with very high strain sensitivity. The CAM can turn fluorescence from green to yellow to orange as stretched within 20% strain. The EM device can reversibly reveal and conceal any desirable patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Songshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Dianyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.|School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Heyuan Polytechnic, Heyuan, Guangdong 517000, China.
authors.forename: Wenhan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Zhaofeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Stephan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.|Institute of Biomaterials, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Emily Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Luyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003116:Color; D049832:Decapodiformes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D055096:Optical Devices; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012821:Silanes; D017640:Silicates; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; C529208:trimethoxyvinylsilane; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; C524813:laponite; D019793:Fluorescein