Molecular Rotors: A real-time approach to assess polymerization process

In this study, we used molecular rotors (MRs) to monitor the polymerization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in real-time, providing a correlation between its viscoelastic properties and farnesyl-(2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)julolidine (FCVJ) fluorescent emission. Monitoring polymerization in real-time enables the optimization of material properties while minimizing material waste. MRs' fluorescent emission intensity increases during the polymerization process due to their viscosity sensitivity. This increase provides an optical response to the polymer's cross-linking state changes, demonstrating that MRs can serve as tools for tracking PDMS polymerization. This methodology facilitates the continuous, in situ measurement of polymer properties, thereby minimizing mechanical perturbation. This characteristic is particularly advantageous for the analysis of small sample volumes, significantly broadening the applicability of this technique across a diverse array of polymeric materials.