Structurally-colored adhesives for sensitive, high-resolution, and non-invasive adhesion self-monitoring

Polymeric adhesives are critical in many applications, from daily life to implantable devices and soft robotics. Monitoring adhesion in a real-time and convenient manner before premature failure is essential yet challenging. Herein, we present structurally-colored adhesives for sensitive, high-resolution, and non-invasive adhesion self-monitoring via distinct color change for detecting subtle deformation and debonding. The structurally-colored adhesives are designed by integrating one-dimensional photonic nanochains into exemplified acrylate-copolymer-based adhesives and demonstrate distinct color-changing capability through a unique tilting mechanism of nanochains under shear. Our structurally-colored adhesives can be customized as pressure-sensitive and structural adhesives, exhibiting ultrafast response (