Issue 16, 2024

AIE-active vitrimer with photoluminescence, reprocessability and shape memory effects

Abstract

Vitrimers with covalent adaptable networks are a class of dynamic crosslinked polymers that can be reprocessed and self-repaired. However, their unitary functionality and poor responsiveness to external stimuli limit the potential of vitrimers for applications as smart materials. Herein, we proposed a new strategy by constructing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active vitrimer (TER) via crosslinking epoxy derivatives of tetraphenylethylene to form a dynamic covalent network. The activated intramolecular rotation of AIEgen motifs with increasing temperature endows this vitrimer with thermal responsive photoluminescence. 1H static and 1H–13C wideline separation SSNMR experiments were used to investigate the molecular motion of the TER network, providing significant implications for the RIM mechanism of AIE in this AIE-active vitrimer. Moreover, as a dynamic crosslinked network, TER is a promising versatile material with excellent photoluminescence, reshaping, reprocessing and shape-memory properties. The AIE-active vitrimer not only represents a huge potential for further development of dynamic covalent polymers, but also extends the applications of vitrimers in different fields.

Graphical abstract: AIE-active vitrimer with photoluminescence, reprocessability and shape memory effects

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
20 Apr 2024
Accepted
03 Jun 2024
First published
03 Jun 2024

Mater. Chem. Front., 2024,8, 2745-2753

AIE-active vitrimer with photoluminescence, reprocessability and shape memory effects

H. Niu, Z. Deng, F. Wang and P. Sun, Mater. Chem. Front., 2024, 8, 2745 DOI: 10.1039/D4QM00333K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements