Russian chemists have created polymers whose brightness changes depending on temperature and humidity. These materials can be used as temperature and humidity sensors, as well as labels to protect products and goods from counterfeiting. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Science Foundation (RSF).
The new polymer, created by a group of chemists led by Maxim Kazantsev from the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry (SB RAS), is a nitrogen-containing organic substance with seven carbon rings. The structure of the molecule resembles a propeller. It has the ability to change its glow depending on environmental conditions. For example, the marking applied to filter paper remains invisible at room temperature and humidity, but begins to glow brightly when exposed to hot steam.
This polymer not only spreads well in crystals and films, but also maintains the mobility of intermolecular interactions, which prevents the glow from fading. Thanks to these properties, the material can be used to create anti-counterfeiting labels, as well as to develop temperature and humidity sensors. In the future, it can be used to detect metal ions in various media, such as soil and water.
Source: Ferra
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