Multi-Responsive Wrinkling Patterns by the Photoswitchable Supramolecular Network

Multiresponsive reversible wrinkling patterns provide an effective approach to dynamically tuning the properties of surface on-demand to realize a smart surface; however, their fabrication remains challenging. In this study, we report a simple yet robust method to fabricate multiresponsive wrinkles based on a supramolecular polymer network composed of copolymer (P4VP-PS-PnBA) and carboxyl containing anthracene (AN-COOH), which can be cross-linked dynamically through reversible photodimerization of anthracene (AN) and the hydrogen bond between carboxyl and pyridine groups. The wrinkle pattern can be generated and erased selectively by UV radiation of different wavelengths due to reversible dimerization of AN. The resulting wrinkles have an extremely sensitive response to hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas and can be erased by HCl with a concentration of 5 ppm in the atmosphere. The generation/elimination process responsive to light and HCl could be cycled many times without damaging characteristic wrinkles, which enables this dynamic wrinkle pattern to be employed for such potential applications as smart displays and nonink printing.