A fluorescent crack sensor based on cyclobutane-containing crosslinked polymers of tricinnamates

A novel fluorescent crack sensor has been developed based on cyclobutane-containing polymers of tricinnamates. Tricinnamates were synthesized and photocrosslinked, and mechanochemical properties of the polymers were investigated by infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that the crack sensing capability of the tricinnamate polymers was due to cycloreversion of cyclobutane upon cracking.