Academic literature on the topic 'Halochromic'

Halochromic sensors, which allow users to visually recognize exposure to acid/base chemicals that are harmful to the human body, are routinely used in a wide range of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, and environmental/human monitoring systems. In this study, halochromic fibers that operate stably, even when exposed to rain or sweat and repeated stretching–releasing, were investigated. While the halochromic mesoporous silica was synthesized using tetraethylorthosilicate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, methyl yellow (MY) and bromothymol blue (BTB) as halochromic dyes were added so that MY and BTB were chemically or physically immobilized on the siloxane network structure of the halochromic mesoporous silica. Using the swelling and shrinking properties of the polymer, the halochromic mesoporous silica was embedded in a highly elastic spandex fiber composed of multiple strands. Because of the strong ionic and hydrogen bonding between the dye and the silica matrix, the dyes can be immobilized even in an aqueous solution without the leaching of the dyes. The stretchable halochromic fiber reversibly changed its color even after repeated exposure to acidic/basic conditions five times and could sense acid/base concentrations in the range of 0.5–10 wt %. In addition, because the halochromic mesoporous silica is tightly adhered between the stands of spandex fibers, stable color conversion properties were maintained even after stretching to 150% of the fibers and repeated 100 times. Because the halochromic fiber can be applied to lab coats, work clothes, and gloves, it is expected to be used as a wearable colorimetric sensor for daily life and industrial applications.

With increasing concerns regarding plastic waste and pollution, researchers have been looking to develop advanced materials from biodegradable plastics. This study features a halochromic biodegradable polymer produced using additive manufacturing. The purpose of this research is to fabricate halochromic polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and assess its halochromic behaviour, mechanical and chemical properties of the 3D printed PLA specimens. PLA/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/bromocresol purple (BCP) compound was prepared and added in extrusion to produce a 3D printing filament. Dumbbell-shaped and rectangular specimens were fabricated from the filament through 3D printing. The halochromic responsiveness and colour reversibility were tested by exposing the samples to liquid and vaporized hydrochloric acid (strong acid), acetic acid (weak acid) and ammonia (strong alkali). The tensile properties, fracture surface morphology and chemical species of the specimens were tested and analyzed through tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The halochromic responsiveness shows obvious colour changes from yellow to blue when exposed to strong alkali. The tensile strength and modulus were found to be higher in comparison to plasticized PLA but the elongation at break was lower. SEM morphology show brittle fracture characteristics in the printed specimens. Overall, the 3D printed halochromic PLA specimens show promising results and have proven their functionality as pH sensors which offers wide applications in many industries such as medical, environmental and packaging.

Recently, an increasing interest in pH-sensitive textiles is recognized. These chromic textiles can be used as flexible sensors for various applications. The aim of the current research is to develop textile pH-sensors through the application of pH-sensitive dyes on various textile materials using different techniques. The results of our study show that halochromic dyes can be incorporated into conventional textiles by a conventional dyeing technique. Also coating the fabrics with a sol-gel layer containing the halochromic dye proved to be successful. The majority of these developed materials showed a clearly visible color change with a pH-variation. The response of the sensors was dependent on the density of the fabric but was generally relatively fast, especially for the sol-gel treated fabrics. The halochromic coloration of nanofibres was realized by directly adding the dyes during the fiber formation, which was shown to be highly effective. Again, a clear halochromic shift was observed. The response of these sensors was fast thanks to the high porosity of nanofibrous non-wovens. Yet, it should be kept in mind that the halochromic behavior of the dyes in the textile matrix altered compared to their behavior in solution which is most likely attributed to dye-fiber interactions. Generally we can conclude that various coloration techniques showed to be effective for the development of innovative textile pH-sensors.

Introduction: the colours of flowers are a result of secondary metabolites that have long been used in the medical and textile industries, and those that are halochromic are used in colour display because they change color according to pH changes, but many species are yet to be studied in detail. Objective: to explore the halochromic properties and the antimicrobial potentials of the crude extracts of several ornamental plants. Methods: we used aqueous and organic solvents to extract pigments from petals of five fascinating flowers planted around International Institute of Tropical Agriculture station, Cotonou, Benin: Allamanda blanchetii, Cascabela thevetia, Eichhornia crassipes, Ixora casei and Thunbergia erecta, followed by an investigation into their halochromic properties. Antibacterial potentials of the extracts were tested on important rice pathogens: Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, and Pantoea agglomerans, which are gram-negative bacteria; and on Bacillus subtilis, a gram-positive bacterium. Results: The crude extracts of T. erecta and A. blanchetii have good halochromic properties within pH 2 – 12, exhibiting distinct colours. The chromophores of the C. thevetia, E. crassipes, and I. casei are not halochromic as the colours of the crude extracts remain the same at the pH range except pH 12 which is similar for the five extracts. Crude extracts of T. erecta inhibited growth of P. agglomerans without development of resistance, whereas the bacteria developed resistance against Penicillin after 18 hrs of incubation. T. erecta and A. blanchetii were able to inhibit growth of X. oryzae and both inhibited B. subtilis. Conclusion: Pigments from both T. erecta and A. blanchetii are good pH indicators; however, T. erecta is a better antibacterial agent than A. blanchetii because it has broad-spectrum activities against bacteria.

Responsive materials, i.e., smart materials, have the ability to change their physical or chemical properties upon certain external signals. The development of nanofibrous halochromic materials, specifically combining the pH-sensitive functionality and unique nanofiber properties, could yield interesting new applications, especially when the common problem of dye leaching is successfully tackled. Therefore, in this article, we studied the fabrication process of polysaccharide-based halochromic nanofibrous materials by using a combination of various halochromic dyes (bromothymol blue, bromocresol green, and thymol blue) and cellulose acetate in a spinning solution using a one-pot strategy. The inhibition of leaching was addressed by using a complexing agent: poly-diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC). The preparation of hybrid spinning solutions, their characterization, and ability to form continuous nanofibers were studied using a high production needle-less electrospinning system. The produced hybrid solutions and nanofibers were characterized, in terms of their rheological properties, chemical structure, morphology, and functionality. Fabricated nanofibrous halochromic structures show a clear color change upon exposure to different pH values, as well as the reduced leaching of dyes, upon the addition of a complexing agent. The leaching decreased by 61% in the case of bromocresol green, while, in the case of bromothymol blue and thymol blue, the leaching was reduced by 95 and 99%, respectively.

In the field of stimuli-responsive materials, introducing a pH-sensitive dyestuff onto textile fabrics is a promising approach for the development of wearable sensors. In this paper, the alizarin red S dyestuff bonded with a sol-gel precursor, namely trimethoxy-[3-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)propyl]silane, was used to functionalize polyethylene terephthalate fabrics, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester largely used in the healthcare sector mainly due to its advantages, including mechanical strength, biocompatibility and resistance against abrasion and chemicals. The obtained hybrid halochromic silane-based coating on polyester fabrics was investigated with several chemical characterization techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy confirmed the immobilization of the dyestuff-based silane matrix onto polyethylene terephthalate samples through self-condensation of hydrolyzed silanols under the curing process. The reversibility and repeatability of pH-sensing properties of treated polyester fabrics in the pH range 2.0–8.0 were confirmed with diffuse reflectance and CIELAB color space characterizations. Polyester fabric functionalized with halochromic silane-based coating shows the durability of halochromic properties conversely to fabric treated with plain alizarin red S, thus highlighting the potentiality of the sol-gel approach in developing durable halochromic coating on synthetic substrates. The developed wearable pH-meter device could find applications as a non-invasive pH sensor for wellness and healthcare fields.

Textiles are important components for the development of lightweight and flexible displays useful in smart materials. In particular, halochromic textiles are fibrous materials with a color-changing ability triggered by pH variations mainly based on pH-sensitive dye molecules. Recently, a novel class of 2-aminoimidazole azo dyes was developed with distinct substituent patterns. In this work, silk fabric was functionalized through exhaustion for the first time with one of these dyes (AzoIz.Pip). The halochromic properties of the dye were assessed in an aqueous solution and after silk functionalization. The solutions and the fabrics were thoroughly analyzed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra, color strength (K/S), color difference (∆E), CIE L*a*b* coordinates, and the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). The dyeing process was optimized, and the halochromic performance (and reversibility) was assessed in universal Britton–Robinson buffers (ranging from pH 3 to 12) and artificial body fluids (acid and alkaline perspiration, and wound exudate). AzoIz.Pip showed vibrant colors and attractive halochromic properties with a hypsochromic shift from blue (557 nm) to magenta (536 nm) in aqueous buffered solutions. Similarly, the functionalized silk showed a shift in wavelength of the maximum K/S value from 590 nm to 560 nm when pH increases. The silk fabric showed a high affinity to AzoIz.Pip, and promoted additional color stabilization of the dye, avoiding color loss as observed when the dye is in solution at alkaline pH after 24 h. The color reversibility was effective up to the fourth cycle and the fastness tests denoted suitable results, except washing fastness. The cytotoxicity of the silk fabric extracts was assessed, depicting reduced viability of HaCaT cells to <70% only when the dye concentration in the fabric is higher or equal to 64 μg·mL−1. Nevertheless, lower concentrations were also very effective for the halochromic performance in silk. These materials can thus be a helpful tool for developing sensors in several sectors such as biomedicine, packaging, filtration, agriculture, protective apparel, sports, camouflage, architecture, and design.

Halochromism or pH sensitivity has tremendous potential for applications in various textile fields, such as protective clothing, wound dressings, etc. Reactive dye is mostly used to colour cotton or other regenerated cellulose fibres due to its better fastness and wide range of hue, from vivid to dull shades. In this research work, an azo-based dichlorotriazine reactive dye was synthesised from H-acid (4-amino-5-hydroxy-2,7-naphthalen¬edisulfonic acid) and 4-nitroaniline, which incorporates a halochromic behaviour. The change of colour of this dye was evaluated both in the the solution stage and coloured fabric stage in various pH solutions. A visible change of colour with the alteration of pH was observed after dyeing textile fabric with the synthesised dye. However, a significant difference was observed in a few cases with regard to the change of colour with the alteration of pH in the solution stage and coloured fabric stage. The dyed fabric also displayed very good to excellent wash fastness properties. Generally, the reactive dye synthesised in this research demonstrated an obvious change of colour with the alteration of the pH level.

Les couleurs vives observées dans les biominéraux provenant d'oursins adultes, allant du violet au vert, sont attribuées à la présence de molécules de naphtoquinone polyhydroxylée (PHNQs). Ces PHNQs sont intégrés dans la calcite, probablement au cours de la croissance cristalline, se produisant via l'intermédiaire de précurseurs de carbonate de calcium amorphe (ACC). La formation de minéraux chez les oursins s'accompagne de changements de couleur dépendant du stade de minéralisation. Le spinochrome A, par exemple, présente une couleur rouge lorsqu'il est extrait des épines violettes de Paracentrotus lividus en conditions acides, ce qui indique un lien potentiel entre le pH et les variations de couleur telles qu'observées dans la formation de CaCO3. Pour avoir une meilleure compréhension de ces variations de couleur et de l'impact des naphtoquinones sur la cristallisation de l'ACC, nous avons effectué une précipitation de CaCO3 en présence de PHNQs (extraits d'épines d'oursins) et de naphtoquinones naturelles disponibles dans le commerce (naphthazarine, lawsone et juglone). Nous avons contrôlé le pH tout au long de la formation de l'ACC coloré et de sa cristallisation en calcite. Différentes techniques analytiques, dont la DSC/ATG, l’XPS, l’analyse PDF, la spectroscopie UV-Vis, le STEM-EELS, la spectroscopie RMN en phase solide et la DRX HR, ont été utilisées pour caractériser les propriétés des pigments hybrides amorphes et cristallins. Nos résultats révèlent que différents pigments peuvent créer un spectre de calcite colorée. Par exemple, la naphtazarine, rouge à un pH acide, puis bleue avant la précipitation de l'ACC, donne finalement une calcite bleue lavande, en raison d’une déprotonation/protonation successive des OH. L'effet de l'augmentation de la concentration de naphtaline sur la stabilité de l'ACC face à la cristallisation en solution et à l'air suit des tendances différentes sans affecter la structure locale de l'ACC. La quantification de la naphtaline associée à l'ACC et à la calcite révèle que seule une infime partie de la naphtaline associée à l'ACC est incorporée dans la calcite, et ce sous la forme de nano-inclusions non homogènes ; tandis que le reste est adsorbé à la surface sous l'effet de fortes forces chimiques ou physiques. En outre, le spinochrome A conduit à l’obtention de calcite violette, tandis que les spinochromes B et E à de la calcite jaunâtre. L'analyse DRX HR indique que les spinochromes B et E induisent des distorsions plus importantes dans le réseau de la calcite que le spinochrome A. De plus, le spinochrome A augmente la stabilité du polymorphe intermédiaire, modifiant ainsi la voie de cristallisation. La combinaison d'effets structurels atomiques minimes et d'une coloration intense suggère une incorporation préférentielle du spinochrome A dans les épines pourpres de P. lividus. Les PHNQs extraits des épines d'oursins et les pigments hybrides ont été testés pour la teinture des textiles, montrant des résultats prometteurs dans le cas des PHNQs biogéniques et des pigments hybrides à base d'ACC
The vibrant colors seen in adult sea urchin biominerals, ranging from purple to green, are attributed to the presence of polyhydroxylated naphthoquinone molecules (PHNQs). These PHNQs become integrated into calcite, likely during the crystal growth, which occurs through amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursors. The mineral formation in sea urchins is accompanied by color changes depending upon the stage of mineralization. Spinochrome A, for example, exhibits a red color when extracted from the purple spines of Paracentrotus lividus in acidic conditions, indicating a potential link between pH and color variations, as observed in CaCO3 formation. To delve deeper into color variations and the impact of naphthoquinones on ACC crystallization, we performed CaCO3 precipitation in the presence of PHNQs (extracted from sea urchin spines) and commercially available natural naphthoquinones (naphthazarin, lawsone, and juglone). We monitored pH levels throughout the formation of colored ACC and its crystallization into calcite. Various analytical techniques, including DSC/TGA, XPS, PDF analysis, UV-Vis, STEM-EELS, ss-NMR spectroscopy, and HR-XRD, were employed to characterize the properties of the amorphous and crystalline hybrid pigments. Our results reveal that different pigments can create a spectrum of colored calcite. For instance, naphthazarin, transitioning from red at acidic pH, turns medium blue before ACC precipitation, culminating in lavender blue calcite due to successive O-H deprotonation/protonation. The effect of increasing naphthazarin concentration on ACC's stability against crystallization in solution and air followed different trends without affecting the local structure of the ACC. Quantification of naphthazarin associated with ACC and calcite revealed that only a tiny fraction of naphthazarin associated with ACC gets incorporated within the calcite in the form of non-homogeneous nano inclusions; the rest was adsorbed on the surface with strong chemical or physical forces. Furthermore, spinochrome A yields purple calcite, while spinochrome B and E produce yellowish calcite. HR-XRD analysis indicates that spinochrome B and E induce more significant distortions in calcite lattice than spinochrome A. Moreover, spinochrome A increased the stability of the intermediate polymorph, thus modifying the crystallization pathway. The combination of minimal atomic structural effects and intense coloring suggests a preference for incorporating spinochrome A in the purple spines of P. lividus. The PHNQs extracted from sea urchin spines and hybrid pigment were tested for textile dyeing, showcasing promising results in the case of biogenic PHNQs and ACC-based hybrid pigments