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Pyrene Functionalized Mechanochromic Elastomer with Switchable White Fluorescence
Author(s) -
Wang Taisheng,
Zhang Na,
Ge Yuanmeng,
Wang Changchun,
Hang Zusheng,
Zhang Zewu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201900463
Subject(s) - elastomer , pyrene , materials science , fluorescence , polymer , photochemistry , rhodamine , polymer chemistry , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , optics , physics
Mechanochromic polymers that change their photophysical properties on activation by mechanical force are now widely studied, which can signal mechanical stress and visualize material damage ahead of structure failure. However, white‐light‐emitting mechanochromic materials are still very rare. Here, a pyrene group is introduced into a mechanochromic elastomer. A blue‐green fluorescence is exhibited in the original elastomer through rational control of the aggregation degree of pyrene groups. During continuous stretching, due to the “closed” form of rhodamine‐based mechanophore changing into “opened” form, a remarkable white fluorescence can be seen in this process (chromaticity coordinate: x = 0.31, y = 0.31). In the processes of stretching and relaxing, an obvious red shift in fluorescence is detected by the naked eye, which is useful to monitor transient stress in polymer materials. The present study provides a new guideline of the molecular structure design for white‐light emitting mechanochromic materials.