Light, Heat, and Force-Responsive Polyolefins

Light, Heat, and Force-Responsive Polyolefins

2023 | Weicheng Qu, Zhengxing Bi, Chen Zou, and Changle Chen
This study presents the synthesis and application of stimuli-responsive polyolefins that respond to light, heat, and force. Spiropyran (SP)-based comonomers were synthesized and copolymerized with ethylene or cyclic monomers to create functionalized polyolefins with unique responsive properties. These materials exhibit photochromism, thermochromism, and mechanochromism, enabling color and mechanical signal transmission. The introduction of SP groups into non-polar polyolefins is challenging, but recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed copolymerization have enabled the incorporation of SP-based monomers into commercial polyolefins, making scalable production possible. The SP-based comonomers were synthesized through various methods, including esterification and one-step reactions. The resulting polyolefins demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, high molecular weight, and tunable surface characteristics. The incorporation of cyclic monomers such as ENB and DCPD reduced crystallinity and processing temperature, transforming the materials into elastomers. These polyolefins exhibited significant plasticity, with high tensile strength and strain at break. The materials also showed excellent surface properties, with significantly lower water contact angles due to the introduction of polar groups. The SP-based polyolefins exhibited photo-thermochromism, with color changes upon exposure to UV light or heating. They also demonstrated mechanochromism, with color changes under mechanical stress. The materials showed excellent photofatigue resistance and could respond to multiple stimuli, including light, heat, and force. The study also demonstrated the shape memory properties of the polyolefins, with the ability to return to their original shape upon thermal or light stimulation. The materials were further functionalized using reactive extrusion to endow commercial polyolefins with stimulus-responsive properties. The results show that these functionalized polyolefins have potential applications in various fields, including optical storage, sensors, and smart materials. The study highlights the potential of polyolefins as versatile materials with multiple responsive functions.This study presents the synthesis and application of stimuli-responsive polyolefins that respond to light, heat, and force. Spiropyran (SP)-based comonomers were synthesized and copolymerized with ethylene or cyclic monomers to create functionalized polyolefins with unique responsive properties. These materials exhibit photochromism, thermochromism, and mechanochromism, enabling color and mechanical signal transmission. The introduction of SP groups into non-polar polyolefins is challenging, but recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed copolymerization have enabled the incorporation of SP-based monomers into commercial polyolefins, making scalable production possible. The SP-based comonomers were synthesized through various methods, including esterification and one-step reactions. The resulting polyolefins demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, high molecular weight, and tunable surface characteristics. The incorporation of cyclic monomers such as ENB and DCPD reduced crystallinity and processing temperature, transforming the materials into elastomers. These polyolefins exhibited significant plasticity, with high tensile strength and strain at break. The materials also showed excellent surface properties, with significantly lower water contact angles due to the introduction of polar groups. The SP-based polyolefins exhibited photo-thermochromism, with color changes upon exposure to UV light or heating. They also demonstrated mechanochromism, with color changes under mechanical stress. The materials showed excellent photofatigue resistance and could respond to multiple stimuli, including light, heat, and force. The study also demonstrated the shape memory properties of the polyolefins, with the ability to return to their original shape upon thermal or light stimulation. The materials were further functionalized using reactive extrusion to endow commercial polyolefins with stimulus-responsive properties. The results show that these functionalized polyolefins have potential applications in various fields, including optical storage, sensors, and smart materials. The study highlights the potential of polyolefins as versatile materials with multiple responsive functions.
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[slides and audio] Light%2C Heat%2C and Force%E2%80%90Responsive Polyolefins