Stimuli-responsive polymers through new dynamic metal complexes

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K05247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
• Principal Investigator: Khusnutdinova Julia 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: mechanophore / mechanoresponse / polymer / copper

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed mechanoresponsive material with photoluminecent Cu(I) complex and cross-linked polyacrylate and demonstrated that the system has great potential as mechanical stress sensor. The reversible and sensitive change of photoluminescence intensity is observed in response to applied mechanical stress of less than 0.1 MPa at less than 100% strain. The stress distribution map was obtained by monitoring the photoluminescence intensity by CCD camera.
The pyridinophane Cu(I)(NHC) complexes show intense triboluminescence by grinding the crystals, even in air. Both piezoelectric (centrosymmetric) and non-piezoelectric crystals of pyridinophane Cu(I)(NHC) complex exhibit triboluminescence. Furthermore, amorphous PMMA films containing 1 wt% of the Cu(I) complex showed triboluminescence. The reported examples of triboluminescence of Cu(I) complexes have been extremely limited. Our study gives important insight into the mechanism and design of triboluminescent Cu(I) materials.

Free Research Field

mechanoresponsive polymers

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

The academic significance arises from development of a new concept of using conformational dynamics in photoluminescent complexes to create new fast and reversible mechanophores for mechanoresponsive polymers. Triboluminescent films can be used for conversion of mechanical energy to light.