Articles tagged with Polymer Chemistry
Researchers developed a new method for creating safer plastics using porous ZIF-67 materials, which can improve polymer fire safety and reduce heat release during fires. The study found that combining ZIF-67 with different flame-retardant systems creates synergistic systems that provide improved protection.
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Sandia National Laboratories has developed a simple method for breaking down durable plastics that currently have no practical recycling method. The approach uses less energy and produces less waste than incineration, while allowing for the full recovery of valuable fibers.
Marine carbohydrates have shown antiviral, anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activity, with potential applications in drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Further research is needed to establish reliable production methods and improve structural and activity-based quality control.
A simple blending strategy enables reversible fluorescence in block copolymers, allowing visualization of mechanical stress without altering material properties. The approach preserves mechanical properties and offers a practical route for stress-sensing functions in existing polymer materials.
A new AI-powered system is being developed to discover new polymeric materials, reducing waste and accelerating innovation. The system integrates multiple tools, including polymer databases, predictive models, and automated laboratories, to create a self-automated workflow that refines itself.
Scientists from Tokyo University of Science developed a new strategy to create glassy plastics that are both stiff and tough. They achieved this by using a combination of a comb-shaped architecture and bulky counterions, resulting in materials that are approximately four times tougher and twice as stiff as conventional glassy polymers.
Scientists at Virginia Tech have designed two types of degradable adhesives: one made from lipoic acid that outperforms duct tape, and another with a bottlebrush polymer that is four times stronger. Both can be broken down into their original components within minutes, making them ideal for recyclable applications.
Researchers at Nagoya University have built a graphene nanoribbon that can switch its twist using a natural solvent, opening opportunities for new optical switches, chemical sensors, and spintronic components. The discovery uses a natural chiral liquid to lock in a single spiral direction, with a high degree of helical bias.
Cobalt-based electrocatalysts have shown high efficiency in reducing nitrate to ammonia, with some achieving 100% Faradaic efficiency. Researchers have discovered alloying cobalt with other metals and engineering crystal structures can fine-tune the reaction pathway to favor ammonia production.
A new method allows for the simulation of giant dense polymer systems on an unprecedented scale, revealing concentrated entanglements in localized knots and links. This breakthrough enables the study of dense chain systems beyond idealized polymer physics.
Researchers review functional hybrids of liquid crystals and nanomaterials, enabling advanced multifunctional materials with tunable properties. These materials can display photothermal response, color switching, and encryption, among other capabilities.
Hydrogels with high-order structures can regulate pathways for force transmission, molecular transport, and biological signaling. The architectures can also improve the performance of wearable sensors, regulate drug release, and provide precise mechanical and biochemical cues for cells.
Scientists create a new material that changes from a gel to a liquid-like state under ultraviolet light, and can be rebuilt using heat or dismantled by acid. The discovery could lead to the design of smart sensors, switchable catalysts, and materials that capture and release selected molecules on demand.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a novel polymer that can be heated to 90°C, turning it into a gas, which then spontaneously reforms into the original polymer. This breakthrough could simplify polymer processing and recycling, eliminating complex steps.
Researchers developed a dopamine-enhanced electrode that overcame common failure causes, operating for up to 15 hours and supporting effective electrically assisted delivery through skin. The dopamine-enhanced electrode combined improved electrical stability, structural durability, and wet-state adhesion in a simple polymer-based design.
Researchers at OIST have designed and synthesized new multi-functional compounds that change structure under UV light, exhibiting turn-ON fluorescence and bistability. These molecular switches have a range of desirable properties, making them suitable for applications in sensing, low-energy technologies, and responsive systems.
Researchers have developed a new hydrogel made from peptides that can transport ions, generate electrical signals when squeezed, or interact with cells and biological molecules. The gel has tiny water channels and is electrically polarized due to its highly organized structure made from nanofibers.
Researchers developed a synergistic strategy to address stability issues in wearable strain sensors. By creating a covalent co-vulcanisation network with the rubber matrix, they maintained stable sensing performance over 15,000 tensile cycles and operated reliably under harsh environmental conditions.
Scientists at North Carolina State University have created a highly-porous, superadhesive mesh that can capture both large and small microplastic particles, including those as small as tens of nanometers. The mesh is made from sustainable biopolymers and can clean microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater.
Scientists have developed an innovative platform to mechanically control circularly polarized luminescence, a phenomenon essential for next-generation technologies. The team created a supramolecular mechanophore that reversibly switches CPL on and off using force-induced swelling with solvents.
Researchers developed a novel thermal interface material using graphene oxide-bridged carbon fibers, achieving a 41-fold increase in thermal conductivity and a 57.6% improvement over traditional composites. The composite demonstrated excellent mechanical stability and resilience, making it suitable for advanced electronics cooling.
Researchers developed a new method to create smart multifunctional materials by combining vanadium oxide and gold nanoparticles in a single process. The resulting films show temperature-dependent optical changes and exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity under light irradiation.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has signed a new six-year master research agreement with Eastman, investing $3 million to support sponsored research and university-industry initiatives. The partnership aims to advance materials innovation, develop talent, and create solutions that benefit communities.
Scientists at the University of Osaka have created a new technique to build blood supply systems for artificial tissues. They successfully fabricated tubular hydrogel structures with controlled lumen sizes and complex geometries, paving the way for creating vascular models that can investigate the development of fully synthetic tissues.
A new bio-based conductive hydrogel platform is presented to preserve biomembrane activity and enable sensitive detection of organophosphate pesticides. The developed biosensor demonstrated stable operation, retaining 85.8% of its original electrochemical response after seven days.
Researchers developed a self-compliant and adhesive hydrogel interface to form a soft, stable bridge between wearable electrodes and skin. The design enables high-quality ECG, EMG, and EEG recording, maintaining stability during exercise and oily skin conditions.
Japanese researchers have developed a catalyst that selectively degrades polyurethane in mixed plastic waste, allowing for the separation and chemical recycling of complex materials. The breakthrough opens up new possibilities for waste management, particularly in industries such as end-of-life vehicle recycling and mattress disposal.
Researchers have developed a biochar adsorbent that combines physical and chemical interactions to capture tetracycline molecules. The material showed high tetracycline adsorption capacity and good resistance to coexisting ions, suggesting potential for repeated operation.
Researchers developed an aerated hydrogel that allows air to pass through while maintaining its water content. This breakthrough enables longer-lasting products, such as breathable bandages, implants, and wearable sensors, with improved skin comfort and reduced sweat buildup.
A novel approach using silica microspheres encapsulates colorants in plastics, allowing for easy recycling and selective separation of colors. This technology enables the reuse of high-value resources from previously downcycled plastics, significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Researchers developed a biomimetic bilayer scaffold with synchronized minocycline release and liposome-encapsulated simvastatin delivery to facilitate optimal periodontal repair. The scaffold promotes alveolar bone regeneration through combined osteoconductive and osteoinductive mechanisms.
A modular system designed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute Assistant Professor Jiawei Yang enables the creation of customized hydrogel implants with tailored stiffness and functionality. The system addresses critical challenges in implant design, including adhesion and immune rejection, to improve long-term performance.
Scientists discovered that internal structure of polymer nanoparticles plays a key role in controlling ice growth, contrary to previous designs that focused on surface interactions. Changing the inner core's chemistry can effectively inhibit ice recrystallisation.
Researchers introduce scaffold-microenvironment decoupling approach to construct hierarchically tough yet open polymer scaffolds with highly conductive microenvironments. The resulting hydrogel exhibits integrated properties, including high mechanical strength, ultra-high ionic conductivity, and practical efficacy in three demanding el...
By adding weak cross-linkers to polystyrene and a type of rubber used in shoe soles, MIT chemists have improved the ballistic impact resistance of these materials. The researchers found that these weak bonds selectively break at the site of impact, allowing the material to dissipate energy more effectively.
A University of Cincinnati research team will examine how microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the body and affect cardiovascular health, with a focus on potential toxicity and worsening outcomes after a heart attack. The five-year study aims to advance understanding of microplastic impact on heart diseases.
The Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research has launched a new international visiting student program with Virginia Tech, providing six graduate and undergraduate students from the US with three-month research opportunities in Mainz. The Poly-ABROAD Program aims to strengthen international scientific exchange in polymer and materials...
Researchers have developed a new approach to verify polysaccharide purity using enzyme diagnostic criteria, which outperforms existing methods in identifying complex mixtures. This study provides a reliable framework for polysaccharide research laboratories to adopt, ensuring accurate biological data and therapeutic potential.
Researchers found that print angles between 150° to 180° and 50-μm layer thickness performed best for crown accuracy and fit. Printing deviations were not evenly distributed across the inner surface of crowns.
Researchers from OIST have reported the first full structural characterization of a doubly ring-slipped reaction intermediate in metallocene formation. This discovery provides new evidence on how metallocenes form and react, presenting opportunities for designing tunable structures for applications such as drug delivery systems, cataly...
Researchers designed a biomimetic triple-network hydrogel inspired by octopus skin, combining rigid photonic ordering with soft polymer networks. The material demonstrated substantial improvements in mechanical strength and structural color response under deformation.
Researchers develop novel inverse phase enhancement strategy for fabricating graphene paper composites, achieving record-high thermal conductivity of 802 W/m·K. The minimal polymer loading enhances tensile strength by 117% while preserving the highly ordered crystalline structure necessary for efficient heat transfer.
A team of researchers designed a bismuth-coordinated melanin material to shield against radiation and alleviate acute radiation syndrome (ARS), with promising results in mouse experiments. The material showed stronger shielding and antioxidant effects, improving survival rates from 20% to 60%.
Researchers developed a hybrid material combining biochar with polyzwitterionic hydrogel, achieving an evaporation rate of 3.57 kg/m²/h under standard sunlight conditions. The biochar enhances light absorption, water transport, and energy efficiency, making it suitable for seawater desalination applications.
Researchers find crab shell waste alters microbial communities on biodegradable plastics, reducing breakdown rate. The effect persists even without direct contact, suggesting biochemical compounds released from crab shells trigger changes in the plastisphere.
Researchers have created a novel sorbent made from chitosan/cellulose acetate and bentonite composites that show promise for cleaning up oil spills. The beads are floatable, biodegradable, and environmentally compatible, making them an efficient and cost-effective solution.
The review highlights the potential of semiartificial photosynthesis in overcoming natural photosynthesis limitations. Biocatalysts play a crucial role in this technology, enabling more efficient CO2 capture, utilization, and storage. The research aims to develop new catalysts for producing fuels and valuable substances from sunlight.
Researchers have created a novel monomer that allows for the synthesis of poly(disulfide)s with arbitrary side-chain structures through domino polymerization. The polymers exhibit degradability in reducing environments, including biological systems, making them suitable for drug delivery systems and medical applications.
The article proposes multiple routes for green development of polymeric materials, including renewable biomass resources and carbon dioxide feedstocks. It also discusses the importance of recycling, biodegradation, and designing new recyclable polymers with closed-loop chemical recycling capabilities.
Researchers created a new method combining scientific tests and artificial intelligence to differentiate recycled plastic from new plastic. The tool, developed by University at Buffalo researchers, can analyze samples and predict the percentage of recycled content with over 97% accuracy.
Researchers develop oxychar, a highly efficient, budget-friendly alternative to traditional charred organic materials for toxic cadmium removal. The new material soaks up both agricultural ammonia and cadmium, promising a practical win for sustainable farming.
A conductive bioglue was developed to ensure firm adhesion and stable electrical signaling within the human body. It overcomes challenges in connecting damaged tissues or attaching bioelectronic devices, promoting muscle and nerve regeneration and stable implant stability.
Researchers at Texas A&M University and DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory developed a hybrid foam with a 3D-printed plastic skeleton, offering tunable, lightweight and ultra-durable properties. The composite combines ordinary foam with plastic struts, allowing it to absorb more energy and withstand greater forces.
A research team from Xi'an Jiaotong University has developed a method to align cells in muscle tissue using electric forces during electrohydrodynamic bioprinting. This breakthrough allows for the creation of living muscle tissues with tightly aligned cells, enabling the production of functional muscle constructs.
Researchers discovered that adding salt additives and water enables PEDOT:PSS to grow hair-like fibers conducting electricity. The material's stretchability and conductivity can be enhanced by adjusting the chemical makeup, making it suitable for bioelectronic devices.
Researchers at Penn State develop a hydrogel-based battery that mimics the electrical processes of electric eels, producing higher power densities than previous designs. The battery is non-toxic, flexible, and environmentally stable, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
Researchers developed a method to embed aligned boron nitride flakes in elastomer for efficient heat conduction. The composite material retains flexibility while improving thermal performance, enabling safer and more responsive wearable devices.
Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have created a molecule that naturally forms p/n junctions, structures vital for converting sunlight into electricity. The new design offers a promising shortcut to producing more efficient organic thin-film solar cells.
A research group at Osaka Metropolitan University has pioneered a technology for preparing biodegradable polymer capsules using naturally occurring molecules. The new method produces stable, shelf-life-friendly capsules that can store target molecules and undergo photodegradation upon exposure to light.
Researchers created an ultrathin hydrogel electrode that can track vital signals without interruption, overcoming previous dehydration, freezing, and mechanical fragility issues. The new material forms a flexible layer that can withstand extreme temperatures and retain water content over time.