An innovative approach to optically active stimuli responsive polymers is presented. The materials are based on precisely engineered ‘molecular reporters’ that exhibit vibrationally-dependent emission intensity. For these molecules, no fluorescence is observed when molecular motions are unhindered, yet when vibrational freedom is impinged, fluorescence emission is turned on. Owing to the many stimuli that can be used to perturb the vibrational (and therefore the fluorescence) ability of the small molecules, innovation over a broad portfolio of polymer-based systems is enabled. Demonstrations of this concept include optical responses triggered by gelation, curing of epoxies, and traversing the glass transition. Additionally, piezochromic and mechanochromic stimuli responses are covered.

Functional molecular vibrations for stimuli responsive polymers

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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