Mechanochromic Organic Materials: Molecular Mechanisms and Multidimensional Applications
Abstract Mechanochromic (MC) organic materials – systems exhibiting a change in color in response to mechanical stimuli – have emerged as a frontier research domain at the intersection of materials science, chemistry, and physics with the potential for application in next‐generation technologies. This review presents the recent advances in the field, providing a comprehensive overview of MC luminescent organic materials. We elucidate the intricate relationship between molecular structure and force‐responsive properties, emphasizing the potential for precise tunability of their optical responses to mechanical stimuli. This review encompasses the full range of MC phenomena triggered by various mechanical forces, including grinding, pressure, stretching, shearing, and friction‐induced changes in color. Beyond fundamental mechanisms, technological implementations of mechanochromism across different applicationsranging from smart displays and anti‐counterfeiting measures to biomedical imaging and structural monitoring. Through critical assessment of the current research landscape, highlighting key achievements, unresolved challenges, and future directions, it is aimed to inspire interdisciplinary innovation in this dynamic field, providing a roadmap for future explorations.
Authors
- Yu Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0085-3308)
- Angela Wittmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0005-8048)
- Guoliang Niu
- Lang Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3624-1618)
- Huiyang Gou
- Xiaozhe Yin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1852-705X)
Institutions
- Hebei University of Technology (CN)
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Westlake University (CN)
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (CN)
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (CN)
- Institute of Chemistry (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Physics Research
- Published
- 2025-10-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/apxr.202500125
- Primary Topic
- Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00