Abstract
Mechanochromic polymers are defined as materials that are able to detect a mechanical stress through an optical output. This feature has evoked a growing interest in the last decades, thanks to the progress of chromogenic molecules whose optical characteristics and chemical functionalities allow their effective insertion in many thermoplastic and thermoset matrices. Among the different types of fluorogenic probes able to detect mechanical solicitations, those with aggregation-induced emission (i.e., AIEgens) have attracted tremendous interest since their discovery in 2001. In the present review, the main principles behind the AIEgens working behavior are introduced along with the current state of knowledge concerning the design and preparation of the derived mechanochromic fluorescent polymers. Examples are provided concerning the most ingenious solution for the preparation of chromogenic materials, starting from different types of commodity plastics or synthetic polymers and combined with the latest AIE technology to provide the most sensitive response to mechanical stress.
Highlights
In the last few years, fluorogenic and emissive compounds have created a new, thriving field of research devoted to the study and development of optically-active materials that are sensitive to different external stimuli [1,2,3,4,5]
The aggregation of aromatic planar fluorophores usually suffers from emission quenching phenomena in concentrated solutions and in the solid state, known as aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), which strongly limits the number of accessible fluorophores for practical and effective applications in the sensing field [14]
Insets show stereomicrographs of the material under under similar illumination; (b) time-dependent fluorescence microscopy illustrating the emersion of similar illumination; (b) time-dependent fluorescence microscopy illustrating the emersion of fluorescence fluorescence after damage franked by a control experiment by using microcapsules with only hexyl after damage franked by a control experiment by using microcapsules with only hexyl acetate in the core; acetate in the core; (c) SEM micrographs showing solid TPE deposits in the shear region close to the (c) SEM micrographs solid TPE
Summary
In the last few years, fluorogenic and emissive compounds have created a new, thriving field of research devoted to the study and development of optically-active materials that are sensitive to different external stimuli [1,2,3,4,5]. 2019, 19, 4969 advantages from the ordinary fluorescent sensors, thanks to the very brilliant emission in the of solid state that allows for the development of an efficient ON-OFF, and more interestingly, an OFF-ON optical response towards several interferences [27,28]. Recent reviews on the application of the AIE for the development of an efficient ON-OFF, and more interestingly, an OFF-ON optical response technology in the sensing field well evidence the active and growing interest of the scientific towards several interferences [27,28]. Nature suggests that the color response towards external stimuli can be gathered both interference of the incident light [56], and/or from the presence of dyes, fluorophores or pigments.
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