Polymer networks are complex systems consisting of molecular components. Whereas the
properties of the individual components are typically well understood by most chemists …

Over the past 20 years, the field of polymer mechanochemistry has amassed a toolbox of
mechanophores that translate mechanical energy into a variety of functional responses …

Azobenzene has been widely explored as a photoresponsive element in materials science.
Although some studies have investigated the force-induced isomerization of azobenzene …

The mechanical properties of covalent polymer networks often arise from the permanent end-
linking or cross-linking of polymer strands, and molecular linkers that break more easily …

Connecting polymer network fracture to molecular-level chain scission remains a quandary.
While the Lake-Thomas model predicts the intrinsic fracture energy of a polymer network is …

Visualization of mechanochemical damages, especially for those in the molecular-scale (eg,
bond scission in polymeric materials), is of great industrial and academic significance …

Recent environmental issues raised by the durability of polymers call for designing
degradable products. Hydrogels with widespread applications in superabsorbent and …

Naphthopyran molecular switches undergo a ring-opening reaction upon external
stimulation to generate intensely colored merocyanine dyes. Their unique modularity and …

Stimulus-responsive gating of chemical reactions is of considerable practical and
conceptual interest. For example, photocleavable protective groups and gating …

Mortise‐and‐tenon joints have been widely used for thousands of years in wooden
architectures in virtue of their artistic and functional performance. However, imitation of …