Smart materials are designed materials that change properties according to stimuli adapting to their environment.

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            The response of a smart material is perceived as self-change in volume, colour or viscosity, and this may occur in response to a change in temperature, stress, electrical current, magnetic field etc. This behaviour is usually reversible and allows the material to achieve different functions such as sensing or actuation.

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             Any change of a material color, whether it is from white to black, from colorless to colored or from one color to another in response to an external stimulus, whether this is chemical or physical, and especially when this change is reversible, significantly widen the applicative potential of that material in an exciting variety of newer technologies, such as photodynamic therapy, electroluminescent displays, artificial photosynthesis, smart textiles, holographic data storage, photonics, etc.   

 

         The aim of the SMARTCrom project consists in developing new macromolecular architectures that can be processed in smart materials capable to give a reversible chromic response to external stimuli, such as electrical potential, metal ions, or light radiation for use in advanced technologies.