PROJECT 04

Mechanochromic Holographic Photopolymer

A US provisional patent (filed April 2026, UW CoMotion) on strain-tunable photopolymer lattices with embedded holographic elements that produce reversible mechanochromic color shifts under deformation.

2026 · Inventor · 2 min read
US Provisional Patent UW CoMotion Photopolymer Holographic Mechanochromism
Mechanochromic Holographic Photopolymer

01 Overview

A method for fabricating elastic photopolymer lattices with integrated volumetric holograms whose Bragg condition shifts with strain — producing reversible color changes that visually encode mechanical state. The provisional was filed through the University of Washington's CoMotion tech-transfer office in April 2026.

  • Filing: US Provisional, 2026-04-23, application no. 50623.01US1
  • Assignee: University of Washington (via CoMotion)
  • Coverage: material composition, fabrication protocol, sensing applications

02 What it does

The lattice combines two normally-incompatible properties: the large reversible strain of an elastomeric photopolymer, and the narrow-band wavelength selectivity of a volume hologram. By tuning lattice geometry, the device can be designed to indicate strain thresholds (color flips at a specific load), strain field maps (color gradient across a deformation), or fatigue accumulation (irreversible color drift).

03 Status

Provisional filed; non-provisional and PCT pathway under evaluation. Investor materials and fabrication protocols are documented in the CoMotion Record of Innovation. Inquiries about licensing or research collaboration can go through crentb23@gmail.com.