title: Novel Reversible Mechanochromic Elastomer with High Sensitivity: Bond Scission and Bending-Induced Multicolor Switching.
abstract: Although the rational designed mechanochromic polymer (MCP) materials have evoked major interest and experienced significant progress recently, it is still a great challenge to develop a facile and effective strategy for preparation of reversible broad-spectrum MCPs with a combination of wide-range color switch ability and high sensitivity, which thus make it possible to mimic gorgeous color change as in nature. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel rhodamine-based mechanochromic elastomer. Our results demonstrated that the elastomer exhibited very promising and unique properties. Three primary fluorescence colors were presented during continuous uniaxial extension and relaxing process, and reversible broad-spectrum fluorescence color change could be achieved consequently. The fluorescence quantum yield of the opened zwitterion of this new mechanophore was as high as 0.67. In addition, the elastomer showed very high sensitivity to stress with a detectable activation strain of ∼0.24, which was much smaller than those reported in the previous literature reports. Meantime, the easy-to-obtain material, facile preparation, and good mechanical property also made it suitable for potential practical applications.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Taisheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jingwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst , 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ruke
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1310-316X
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
keywords: bond bending; bond scission; broad-spectrum; high sensitivity; mechanochromic; rhodamine