Scientists in China, the UK and the Netherlands have engineered a polydiacetylene polymer that reversibly changes colour within 1 second of being heated or cooled.
Thermochromic polymers have a wide range of potential uses, from biological sensors to smart windows. However, the irregular structure and weak molecular interactions in established thermochromic polymers results in long response times, slow reversibility and a narrow working temperature range.
The peptide linkers are stable, while the conjugated bonds within the alkyl chain undergo a reversible conformational transition
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Read the original journal article in Chemical Science – it’s free to access until 28th August:
Ultrafast and Reversible Thermochromism of Conjugated Polymer Material Based on Assembling of Peptide Amphiphiles
Zhengzhong Shao, Hui Guo, Jinming Zhang, David Porter, Huisheng Peng, Dennis Lowik, Yu Wang, Zhidong Zhang and Xin Chen
Chem. Sci., 2014, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C4SC01696C, Edge Article
