Scatterings
Exploring Mechanochromatic Dyes
Researchers can tune the optical properties of their boron-based reversible mechanochromic dyes with simple changes to the dye's chemical makeup.
Boron-based dyes luminesce brightly under UV blacklight and change color in response to mechanical force.
Luminescent dyes that change color in response to mechanical force, and then change back to the original color at a later time, have potential uses for artistic displays and sensing applications. Researchers in Cassandra Fraser's group at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va., U.S.A.) reported that they can tune the optical properties of their boron-based reversible mechanochromic dyes with simple changes to the dye's chemical makeup. Three recent papers in the Journal of Materials Chemistry describe advances to their understanding and ability to control the properties of what they are calling Scratch the Surface Inks.
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