Open AccessFunctional Polymers Through Mechanochemistry
Author(s) -
Stephen Schrettl,
Diederik W. R. Balkenende,
Céline Calvino,
Marc Karman,
Anna Lavrenova,
Laura N. Neumann,
Yasuyuki Sagara,
Ester VerdeSesto,
Michela Di Giannantonio,
Yoan C. Simon,
Katharina M. Fromm,
Marco Lattuada,
Christoph Weder
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2019.7
Subject(s) - mechanochemistry , covalent bond , mechanosensitive channels , nanotechnology , polymer , supramolecular chemistry , materials science , dissociation (chemistry) , biochemical engineering , chemistry , molecule , engineering , composite material , organic chemistry , biochemistry , receptor , ion channel
Abstract: While coupling mechanical and chemical processes is widespread in living organisms, the idea to harness the mechanically induced dissociation of weak covalent and non-covalent bonds to create artificial materials that respond to mechanical stimulation has only recently gained attention. Here we summarize our activities that mainly revolve around the exploitation of non-covalent interactions in (supramolecular) polymeric materials with the goal to translate mechanical stresses into useful, pre-defined events. Focusing on mechano- chromic polymers that alter their optical absorption or fluorescence properties, several new operating principles, mechanosensitive entities, and materials systems were developed. Such materials are expected to be useful for technical applications that range from the detection of very small forces in biological systems to the monitoring of degradation processes and damage in coatings and structural objects.