CO2‐Breathing Induced Reversible Activation of Mechanophore within Microgels. Issue 12 (29th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Meng; Lei, Lei; Zhang, Qi; Zhu, Shiping
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 37:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: 957
• Page End: 962
• Publication Date: 2016-04-29
• Subjects: CO2‐breathing -- mechanophores -- microgels -- spiropyran cross‐linkers; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201600119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract : In this work, CO2 ‐breathing induced reversible activation of mechanophore within microgels is reported. The microgels are prepared through soap‐free emulsion polymerization of CO2 ‐switchable monomer 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl‐methacrylate, using spiropyran (SP) based mechanophore MA‐SP‐MA as cross‐linker. The microgels can be swollen by CO2 aeration. The swelling of microgels activates the SP mechanophore into merocyanine, causing distinguished color and fluorescence change. Moreover, these transitions are highly reversible, and the initial states of microgels can be easily recovered by "washing off" CO2 with N2 . The present contribution represents the first example of CO2 ‐breathing activation of mechanophore within microgels. Abstract : A CO2 ‐breathing induced reversible activation of mechanophore spiropyran within microgels is reported for the first time. This work provides an effective approach to monitor swelling force within microgels. It also represents a biomimetic process of shape deformation (expansion and shrinkage of microgels) and concomitant functional transformation (color and fluorescence changes) as a response to external stimulus (CO2 treatment).