The scientists wanted to use a carotenoid-based compound to create a degradable material. The fact is that carotenoids break down in the presence of ultraviolet light and certain chemicals.
The researchers combined a carotenoid derived from β-carotene, a 10-carbon dialdehyde, and p-phenylenediamines, a group of compounds used in degradable polymers. After drying, the resulting materials had a color from black to bright red.
During the initial experiments, the team determined that the bright red variant was the best candidate for further testing. In acid solutions, the material completely decomposes into the original components, which can potentially be restored. However, this process accelerated when both acid and artificial sunlight were used. And after a long time, the sample decomposed into even smaller dialdehydes and other compounds.
Source: Ferra
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