Progress in the remote-controlled activation of self-healing processes

Self-healing materials, able to heal themselves either spontaneously or after activation, and ultimately restore diverse properties such as mechanical, optical or electrical properties, are under intense investigation for various classes of material, including polymers, cementous materials, asphalts, metals, composites, and more. Among these, on-command self-healing systems can be classified as an approach towards a spatially resolved, externally controlled activation of self-healing behavior. Towards this goal, the last decade has experienced significant progress. Various methods, mainly based on indirect heating mechanisms, such as resistive, induction, or photo-induced heating, have been presented, depending on different antenna materials and energy sources, and tailored for different applications. This review discusses the up-to-date achievements in the field of on-command self-healing materials with a focus on electromagnetic and mechanochemical activation.