Photoinduced healing of mechanically robust polymers

Abstract

Healing ability extends the lifetime of polymers. Polymeric materials, which are healable under light irradiation, have attracted a lot of attention. Although optically healable polymers have been extensively investigated, mechanically robust yet optically healable polymers are rare. Two types of mechanically robust yet optically healable polymers are introduced in this Highlight Review: (1) healable supramolecular polymers via photothermal effects; (2) azobenzene-containing polymers with photoinduced reversible solid-to-liquid transitions. The design principles of mechanically robust yet optically healable polymers are introduced. The remaining challenges and perspectives are also discussed.