We induced a terpyridine moiety into a norbornene-based polymer to demonstrate its self-healing property, without an external stimulus, such as light, heat, or healing agent, using metal⁻ligand interactions. We synthesized terpyridine incorporated norbornene-based polymers using a ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The sol state of diluted polymer solutions was converted into supramolecular assembled gels, through the addition of transition metal ions (Ni2+, Co2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+). In particular, a supramolecular complex gel with Zn2+, which is a metal with a lower binding affinity, demonstrated fast self-healing properties, without any additional external stimuli, and its mechanical properties were completely recovered.
Keywords: metal–ligand interaction; ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP); self-assembly; self-healing; sol-gel system; terpyridine.