Studying polydiacetylene mechanochromism by nanofriction force microscopy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22324
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0202:Condensed matter physics, plasma science, nuclear engineering, earth resources engineering, energy engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sugihara Kaori 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 講師 (60740800)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: メカノクロミックポリマー / 摩擦力顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mechanochromic materials are attracting attention for their visual impact and interesting principle of changing color and emitting light when force is applied externally, and as sensors that can detect nanoscale forces that cannot be measured with existing devices. Among them, polydiacetylene is highly sensitive due to its unique principle of sensing force by "twisting," and is being developed for use as a biosensor to detect biomolecules and other substances. In this study, we have studied the "quantitative nanoscale correlation between force and luminescence" by introducing the "nano friction force microscope" that we have recently developed.

Free Research Field

生物物理工学、物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

メカノクロミック素材を理解する上で核となる問いを明らかにすることで、分子レベルでの力を検知するセンサへの応用開発を前進させる意義がある。例えばエネルギー損失となっている機械の摩擦、患者に不快感を与えている義足と肢体間の摩擦、ナノスケールでかかる生体分子間の力など、既存の装置では測定することが難しい力を空間マッピングすることが可能となる。このような力を可視化し問題解決に繋げることでエネルギー効率の高いマシン、つけ心地のよい義足、高感度のバイオセンサ開発などに貢献する。