Photoresponsive Diarylethene-Containing Polymers: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

Abstract

Photoresponsive polymers have attracted increasing interest owing to their potential applications in anticounterfeiting, information encryption, adhesives, etc. Among them, diarylethene (DAE)-containing polymers are one of the most promising photoresponsive polymers and have unique thermal stability and fatigue resistance compared to azobenzene- and spiropyran-containing polymers. Herein, the design of DAE-containing polymers based on different types of structures, including main chain polymers, side-chain polymers, and crosslinked polymers, is introduced. The mechanism and applications of DAE-containing polymers in anti-counterfeiting, information encryption, light-controllable adhesives, and photoinduced healable materials are reviewed. In addition, the remaining challenges of DAE-containing polymers are also discussed.

Keywords: diarylethene; healability; information encryption; photoresponsiveness; polymers.