10.1021/acsapm.8b00230.s001
Daniel Heras
Daniel
Heras
Marta Reig
Marta
Reig
Núria Llorca-Isern
Núria
Llorca-Isern
Jaume Garcia-Amorós
Jaume
Garcia-Amorós
Dolores Velasco
Dolores
Velasco
Highly Efficient Elastomeric Fluorescence Sensors
for Force Detection
American Chemical Society
2019
elastomeric fluorescence sensors
crystal elastomers
polysiloxane backbone
end-on carbazole fluorophores
force detection
LSCE
Force Detection Carbazole-containing nematic
force sensors
mesogenic moieties
force-sensitive materials
novel design schemes
carbazole fluorophores
elastomeric network
Efficient Elastomeric Fluorescence Sensors
alkyl chain
2019-02-07 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Highly_Efficient_Elastomeric_Fluorescence_Sensors_for_Force_Detection/7726544
Carbazole-containing
nematic liquid single crystal elastomers (LSCEs)
alter their luminescence upon the application of an external mechanical
force. Therefore, they are valuable flexible materials for detecting
mechanical events with simple fluorescent measurements. In this work,
we have focused our attention on the main principles underlying the
operation of these materials and the development of novel design schemes
to produce efficient elastomeric fluorescence sensors for force detection.
In this context, comprehending and controlling the interactions established
between the distinct components of the active material, i.e., mesogens
and fluorophores, is essential to achieving force-sensitive materials
with improved performances. With this purpose in mind, we have explored
the role of two structural features on such phenomenon, namely, the
type of connection (end-on or side-on) of the carbazole fluorophores
to the elastomeric network and the length of the alkyl chain that
binds them to the main polysiloxane backbone. As a whole, end-on carbazole
fluorophores with short or medium flexible spacers enable a much better
approximation to the mesogenic moieties upon deformation, promoting
quenching and resulting in more efficient force sensors.