Work Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Department

Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice; Berklee Global Jazz Institute; Professional Performance Division

Keywords

core–shell vesicles; force sensor; impact sensor; mechanochromic sensors; polydiacetylene; responsive coatings; silk fibroin

Abstract

Rapid detection and quantification of mechanical impact on surfaces is relevant for many fields, as it enables monitoring ofmaterial stresses and integrity or to assess the physiological effects of force on humans for concussions, gait, or blast dosimetry,among others. Accurate and quantitative detection of impact force, especially at high values (100–770 N), is challenging and oftenrelies on electronic transduction and interfaces, with associated limitations in integration, shaping, and scalability. We presenthere a mechanochromic paint as a simple alternative for impact detection and visualization. The paint is based on the self-assembly of polydiacetylene (PDA) and regenerated silk fibroin protein (SF) into core-shell vesicles, which exhibit an irreversiblemechanochromic transition from blue to red upon impact. The paint enables the tracking of the impact history on the appliedmaterial with a colorimetric response that is directly proportional to the impact energy across a broad sensing range of 100–770 N(corresponding to 100–1000 MPa) and has wide utility given by its ability to be interfaced or integrated in a wide variety of materialformats, as illustrated by through several demonstrator devices.

Comments

This article was published in Advanced Science under a CC BY license.

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