The dynamic behavior of a macroscopic adhered hydrogel stabilized through controllable dynamic covalent interactions is reported. These interactions, involving the cross‐linked formation of a hydrogel through reaction of a diacylhydrazine precursor with a tetraformyl partner, increase as a function of time. By using a contact time of 24 h and different compounds with recognized aggregation‐induced emission features (AIEgens), it proves possible to create six laminated acylhydrazone hydrogels displaying different fluorescent colors. Blocks of these hydrogels are then adhered into a structure resembling a Rubik's Cube, a trademark of Rubik's Brand Limited, (RC) and allowed to anneal for 1 h. This produces a 3 × 3 × 3 block (RC) wherein the individual fluorescent gel blocks are loosely adhered to one another. As a consequence, the 1 × 3 × 3 layers making up the RC can be rotated either horizontally or vertically to produce new patterns. Ex situ modification of the RC or application of a chemical stimulus can be used to produce new color arrangements. The present RC structure highlights how the temporal features, strong versus weak adhesion, may be exploited to create smart macroscopic structures.
The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201800568.
Aggregation-Induced EmissionAggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a novel photophysical phenomenon coined in 2001 by our group and describes the enhanced light emission of some luminogens in the aggregate or solid state. The combination of AIE research and polymer science is a smart approach to produce functional luminescent materials with mechanical strength and excellent processability for real-world applications. In this feature article, recent progress in AIE polymeric systems, including chemical synthesis and physical blending strategies, is summarized. Through chemical synthesis, various AIE-active polymers, such as covalently bonded polymers, supramolecular polymers, and nonconjugated luminescent polymers, can be obtained. Serving as environmentally sensitive probes, AIE luminogens can also be physically doped into polymers to generate interesting systems. Finally, outlooks and perspectives on the future direction of AIE polymeric systems are discussed.
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