Structural hybridization of polydiacetylene-based composites: From molecular Signaling to multifunctional sensing architectures

Abstract

Abstract Polydiacetylenes (PDAs) are widely studied stimuli-responsive materials owing to their characteristic chromatic transition originating from conformational changes in the conjugated backbone. However, practical applications are limited by structural instability, weak signal output, and limited control over reversibility and selectivity. To address these challenges, recent efforts have focused on design strategies that integrate PDA with inorganic components, polymer matrices, and nanostructured materials to regulate interfacial interactions, stress transfer, and analyte transport. This review presents a unified framework linking design strategies and manufacturing approaches in PDA-based systems. We examine key design strategies, including organic–inorganic hybridization, polymer matrix engineering, and spatially organized architectures, and how these collectively govern molecular signaling, analyte transport, and sensing performance. We further highlight manufacturing strategies, such as electrospinning, microfluidics, additive manufacturing, and centrifugal processing, that enable the formation and organization of hierarchical structures. Finally, we discuss emerging applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and biomedical diagnostics, along with future perspectives on data-driven design and system-level integration. This work provides design principles for next-generation PDA-based sensing materials.