Mechanochromic materials are photoluminescent systems that change their emissive properties (wavelengths, intensities, lifetimes) under mechanical perturbation. Mechanical force could break physical aggregations of pi-stacked conjugated organic small molecules or conjugated ligand-coordinated metal-complexes, or rupture covalent bonds in mechanophores typically attached to polymer chain handles � both give rise to chromic transitions. These two systems require control of molecular aggregation and choice of effective mechanophores. On the other hand, multi-nuclear transition metal nuclei that exhibit rigidochromism, such as copper(I) iodide (CuI), were not explored for its mechanochromic properties until recently, by Perruchas et. al. In our study, we demonstrate that luminescent rigidochromic CuI clusters can be incorporated into a ligand-containing polymer such as polyvinylpyridine. Furthermore, we fabricated a stable, free-standing polymer blend film from the CuI-coordinated polyvinylpyridine. The film was observed to respond to macroscopic mechanical straining. This material gives rise to opportunities for innovation in processing and optical sensing.

Synthetically facile polymer dopant for mechanochromic blends

248th National Meeting (2014)

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