A flexible topo-optical sensing technology with ultra-high contrast

Abstract

Elastic folding, a phenomenon widely existing in nature, has attracted great interests to understand the math and physical science behind the topological transition on surface, thus can be used to create frontier engineering solutions. Here, we propose a topo-optical sensing strategy with ultra-high contrast by programming surface folds on targeted area with a thin optical indicator layer. A robust and precise signal generation can be achieved under mechanical compressive strains (>0.4). This approach bridges the gap in current mechanoresponsive luminescence mechanism, by utilizing the unwanted oxygen quenching effect of Iridium-III (Ir-III) fluorophores to enable an ultra-high contrast signal. Moreover, this technology hosts a rich set of attractive features such as high strain sensing, encoded logic function, direct visualisation and good adaptivity to the local curvature, from which we hope it will enable new opportunities for designing next generation flexible/wearable devices.

Combining Theory and Experiment to Get Insight into the Amorphous Phase of Luminescent Mechanochromic Copper Iodide Clusters

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Controlled Cooperative Wetting Enabled Heterogeneous Structured 3D Morphing Transducers

“…On the other hand, the reconfigurable morphing structure could also be employed for topography‐induced actuations such as complex topo‐optical pattern generation. [ 41 ] They can also be attached as a replacement for conventional metallic electrodes, organic electrochemical transistors, with tuneable geometry/curvature to be conformal with complex biological surface topography.…”

Molecular copper iodide clusters: a distinguishing family of mechanochromic luminescent compounds

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Regarding their potential applications, one of the most attractive feature of these stimuli-responsive materials is the straightforward detection of the emission changes by simple non-invasive spectroscopic means or even with the naked eye. [8][9][10][11] Even though the number of reported compounds exhibiting luminescence mechanochromism has greatly increased over the past decade, in-depth studies analysing the underlying mechanisms remain relatively rare. However, such studies are of crucial importance not only from a fundamental point of view but also to guide further development of these stimuliresponsive materials with optimized properties.…”