A Novel Mechanochromic and Photochromic Polymer Film: When Rhodamine Joins Polyurethane.

Wang, Zhijian; Ma, Zhiyong; Wang, Yao; Xu, Zejun; Luo, Yiyang; Wei, Yen; Jia, Xinru · Adv Mater · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A rhodamine-based molecule, Rh-OH, is synthesized. Rh-OH exhibits a reversible mechanochromic luminescent character but a passivating response to UV light. An elastomeric polymer film based on polyurethane with embedded Rh-OH is prepared via a polycondensation reaction. The film shows mechanochromic and photochromic properties with reversible color change, which originates from the isomerization of the Rh-OH molecule from a twisted spirolactam in the ring-closed form to a planarized zwitterionic structure in the ring-open state.