Dynamic Anthracene-Based Photoresponsive Chitosan-Polysiloxane with Self-Healing, Fluorescence Switching, and Shape Memory

Self-healing soft materials that enable real-time healing monitoring and multi-responsive functionality remain challenging to develop. Here, we design a series of chitosan–polysiloxane elastomer composites (PDMS-CS/X) based solely on supramolecular physical interactions, including hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking. These supramolecular networks enable efficient room-temperature self-healing performance. By incorporating anthracene moieties, the composites exhibit reversible [4 + 4] photodimerization under 365 nm UV irradiation and cleavage under 254 nm UV irradiation, along with intrinsic fluorescence. This photoresponsive fluorescence switching behavior allows real-time, non-destructive visualization of the healing process and endows the material with photo-patternability. Furthermore, the PDMS-CS/X exhibited typical shape memory properties due to the rapid exchange of hydrogen bonds, enabling shape editing of the material. Overall, this supramolecular platform integrates self-healing, healing visualization, fluorescence switching, and shape memory, showing promise for photopatterning and and extendability to 3D-printing applications.