Stimuli-responsive polymers through new dynamic metal complexes

2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K05247
• Research Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
• Principal Investigator: クスヌディノワ ジュリア 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 錯体化学・触媒ユニット, 准教授 (90747544)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: mechanoresponse / copper / triboluminescence / polymer

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

During fiscal year 2020, we obtained two provisional patents related to this grant. We also published an article in Chemical Science on stress detection in rigid polymer films using simple physical blending of Cu complexes into polymer films. In this study, we discovered that simple physical mixture of pyridinophane Cu-NHC complexes with polymers allows to obtain triboluminescent polymer films that emit light in response to mechanical action such as rubbing.
Triboluminescence is emission of light in response to mechanical stimulus such as crushing, fracture, rubbing etc. Triboluminescent materials can find application as stress and damage sensors. Although triboluminescence is found is many crystalline materials, triboluminescence in amorphous polymer films is poorly studied. In addition, most popular triboluminescent materials are based on europium, an expensive rare-earth element, while examples of copper complexes that show triboluminescence are rare. During our study of pyridinophane Cu NHC complexes, we found that majority of these complexes show bright light emission upon grinding crystals even under air in ambient light. We then prepared polymer films by simple physical blending of Cu complexes in amorphous polymer films. These polymer films also show light emission in response to rubbing the polymer film with glass or stainless steel rod. This represents the use of simple and inexpensive metal complex for triboluminescent stress detection in amorphous polymer films.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Triboluminescence of a new family of CuINHC complexes in crystalline solid and in amorphous polymer films (2020)
  • Author(s): Karimata, A.; Patil, P. H.; Fayzullin, R. R.; Khaskin, E.; Lapointe, S.; Khusnutdinova, J. R.
  • Journal Title: Chemical Science Volume: 11 Pages: 10814-10820
  • DOI: 10.1039/d0sc04442c
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Triboluminescence of pyridinophane copper complexes in crystals and polymers (2021)
  • Author(s): Karimata, A., Patil, P.; Fayzullin, R. R., Khaskin, E., Lapointe, S. & Khusnutdinova, J.
  • Organizer: 101st CSJ Annual Meeting
• [Presentation] Using tribo- and photoluminescent Cu complexes to detect mechanical stress in polymers (2021)
  • Author(s): Khusnutdinova, J. R.; Karimata, A.
  • Organizer: IEICE General Conference
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Triboluminescence of pyridinophane CuI(NHC)complexes in crystals and amorphous polymers (2020)
  • Author(s): Karimata, A., Patil, P., Fayzullin, R. R., Khaskin, E., Lapointe, S., & Khusnutdinova, J.
  • Organizer: Conference of Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry
• [Remarks] 機械的力で Cu(I) 錯体の発光強度を制御する
  • URL: https://www.chem-station.com/blog/2020/04/cu.html
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] Provisional grant 2020-103434 (2020)
  • Inventor(s): J. R. Khusnutdinova, A. Karimata
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: J. R. Khusnutdinova, A. Karimata
  • Industrial Property Rights Type: 特許
  • Industrial Property Number: 2020-103434
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] Provisional patent 2020-120094 (2020)
  • Inventor(s): Khusnutdinova, Karimata, Patil
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: Khusnutdinova, Karimata, Patil
  • Industrial Property Rights Type: 特許
  • Industrial Property Number: 2020-120094