A Theoretical Framework for the Coupling of Macroscale-Nanoscale Mechanochemical Phenomena in Condensed Matter

The field of covalent mechanochemistry has transitioned from fundamental science to engineering applications, yet it lacks a robust theoretical framework for predicting reaction kinetics in condensed matter.

Existing analytical models fail under realistic conditions where macroscopic strains drive molecular-scale deformations that are highly non-linear.

We develop a non-perturbative theoretical framework that captures activation barrier changes in highly strained molecules undergoing complex, non-linear deformations, describing the macroscale-nanoscale coupling of phenomena.

The framework yields general expressions, parameterizable from atomistic simulations, enabling multiscale prediction of mechanochemical behavior.

By presenting the expressions in terms of general observables, this work enables predictions of mechanochemical effects from simple structure optimization calculations, enabling the use of high level quantum chemical methods.

We demonstrate this approach on the mechanochromic polymer spiropyran, showing how non-linear strain fields govern mechanophore activation.