The cover for the July 2024 issues of the Journal of Materials Science comes from the paper by Goyal et al. [1], which was published in Volume 59, Issue 17 from May 2024. The paper is entitled “Synthesis of low-temperature irreversible thermochromic indicator based on functional polydiacetylene for food storage applications” and is part of our “Polymers and Biopolymers” Topical Collection. This manuscript was handled by our editor Stephen Eichhorn, one of the eight polymer experts who handle polymer-related manuscripts for the Journal of Materials Science. More information about this exceptionally impressive group of scientists can be found in a recent editorial [2].

In this paper, the authors explore the synthesis of an irreversible thermochromic indicator that operates at low temperatures, suitable for monitoring the quality and safety of deep-frozen foods. The design of the thermochromic indicator is based on polydiacetylene, a polymer known for its thermochromic properties.

Specifically, the innovative design of the thermochromic indicator lies in the functionalization of polydiacetylene with glycol ethers to lower its thermochromic temperature range. An irreversible color change from violet to orange occurs when frozen products are exposed to higher temperatures (above 0 ℃). The practical application extends beyond academic interest, providing a direct benefit to food safety and storage.

The implications of this study are vast. With increasing global distribution of frozen foods, maintaining cold chain integrity is more critical than ever. The thermochromic strips developed in this study can be potentially applied to products, changing color if the product experiences temperatures above a set threshold, thus indicating potential spoilage. This straightforward, visual tool could transform food safety practices and reduce food waste and health risks associated with improperly stored frozen goods.

The research not only supports current needs in food safety but also opens doors for future applications in pharmaceuticals and other industries where temperature control is essential. This editorial celebrates the innovative approach of using materials science to solve practical problems, emphasizing the role of smart materials in advancing food safety and quality assurance in global supply chains.

The researchers of the featured work along with their brief biographies are provided below.

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Sachin Goyal

Sachin Goyal is a Ph.D. Scholar and recipient of the esteemed CSIR-UGC (Government of India) fellowship and is currently pursuing research at CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, India. He is enrolled with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) for his Ph.D. Sachin holds a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Organic Chemistry from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India. His research focuses on the synthesis, fabrication, and colorimetric response of polydiacetylene-based smart thermochromic materials for food and drug storage applications.

figure c

Deepika Sharma

Deepika Sharma earned an M.Sc. degree in Physical Chemistry from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India. She has been working as a Ph.D. Scholar under the prestigious CSIR-UGC (Government of India) fellowship. She is registered with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) for her Ph.D. and conducting research work at CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, India. Her research activities focus on synthesizing and developing cutting-edge functional spiropyran-based smart photochromic materials tailored for sensing applications, advances in different functional stimuli-responsive materials, and exploring their potential across diverse applications.

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Kamlesh Kumar

Dr Kamlesh Kumar holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry and M Tech in Polymer Science and Technology from the University of Rajasthan (Jaipur) and IIT Delhi, respectively. He received his Ph.D. from Dresden University of Technology, Germany, in 2009. After the completion of his Ph.D. degree, he conducted postdoctoral work at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, USA), University of Groningen (Netherlands), and Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands). He is currently an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Sciences, Central University of Jammu (CUJ). Before joining CUJ, he was associate as a senior scientist with CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh. His research interest areas are smart materials and applications, liquid crystals polymers, micro- and nanostructured polymer materials, and structure–property relationships of polymers materials.

The paper has a SharedIt link (https://rdcu.be/dHJOo), similarly to all articles in the Journal of Materials Science, which allows the paper to be accessed immediately by readers even without a subscription.