Mechanochromic polymers based on radical-type dynamic covalent chemistry

Abstract

Polymer mechanochemistry has emerged as a field of considerable interest from both an academic and an industrial perspective. Mechanochromic polymers that show optical change in response to mechanical stimuli can be used to visualize the mechanical force applied to the materials, which provides a wide range of information from the nano- to the macroscale, and also enables damage detection to prevent critical failure of the materials. We have explored a wide variety of radical-type dynamic covalent chemistry in the field of polymer reactions and revealed its great potential in developing mechanochromic materials. This account describes our recent efforts in the precise design of mechanochromic polymers based on radical-type dynamic covalent chemistry to impart polymeric materials with bespoke chromic properties, and discusses their characteristics derived from the radical chemistry as well as potential applications.