A latent catalyst is mechanically activated: The mechanical load exposes a binding site at the copper ion. This is a prerequisite for a catalytic reaction.
Beyer lab - Single-molecule force spectroscopy of mechanophores
Polymeric functional materials based on mechanophores promise novel material properties, e.g. the self-healing of bond ruptures or the indication of mechanical overload by a color change. We are investigating the mechanical forces that trigger these functions with individual molecules. Using the atomic force microscope, a single molecule is anchored between a surface and a microscopically small tip and mechanically clamped. We measure the force with which a chemical reaction, e.g. the breaking of a chemical bond or the activation of a latent catalyst, is enforced.