Physical aging in high-free-volume glassy polymers progressively reduces gas permeability, limiting the long-term performance of gas separation membranes.
A comparative study reveals how representative hydrophobic segment architectures correlate with microphase morphology and balanced membrane properties in SPAE PEMs.
An AI ecosystem integrates data, physical knowledge, simulations, experiments, and closed-loop feedback to guide performance-driven polymer design across energy storage, antifouling, and water treatment.
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are porous materials generated by templated polymerisation, in which functional and crosslinking monomers are organised around a target molecule and fixed within a polymer network to create high-affinity, selective recognition sites for the chosen analyte. The appeal of MIPs lies in their robustness, low-cost and chemically versatile nature, in addition to directly encoding selective molecular recognition into polymer networks while retaining the thermal, mechanical, and processing advantages of synthetic materials. Yet, despite being discovered a century ago, MIP development remains dominated by empirical, target-by-target optimisation. The field therefore presents a compelling challenge for data science and machine learning: MIP performance emerges from a high-dimensional coupling of material, polymer synthesis and processing parameters but this complex design space is still only sparsely sampled. In this Perspective, we argue that the next step for MIPs is not simply better prediction of pre-polymerisation interactions, which is traditionally used to predict optimal composition. Pre-polymerisation metrics are weak predictors of functional performance once MIPs are synthesized and applied; therefore, a broader shift towards data-driven polymer design which considers manufacturing constraints from the outset is needed. We discuss our future vision for the field and how structured datasets, high-throughput screening, computational modelling, Bayesian optimisation and interpretable machine learning enable the move from empirical recipes towards programmable synthetic receptors. Sensing and sustainable manufacturing routes will be covered, placing particular emphasis routes on exploiting the robustness of MIPs to facilitate high-throughput production and biocompatibility challenges.
Systematic investigation of multi-substituted carbazole-dendronized radicals reveals the relationship between dendron architecture and luminescence.
Polysulfone and polyketone polymers, derived from an epoxydinaphthalene-based monomer, demonstrate useful performance for use as gas separation membranes.
Graphic representation of furan thermosets, Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs), composites, and reprocessability example.
Among the well-established alkyne-based polymerization methodologies, the polymerization of activated-internal alkyne and phenol remains underdeveloped. Herein, a facile cesium carbonate catalyzed aldehyde-activated phenol-yne click polymerization was reported, and various regioregular...
Protected fructose and mannose with suitable leaving groups can act as initiators for the CROP of 2-oxazolines. Subsequent deprotection and SPAAC to PLA affords block copolymers with carbohydrates as targeting ligands.
A molecular net (MN) gel cross-linked by topological physical constraints of polymer chains was prepared. Based on its cross-linking structure, the MN gel exhibits soft, elastic mechanical properties, temperature responsiveness, and plasticity.
Cyclization of linear poly(ethylene brassylate) containing azide(s) and alkyne(s) end groups via CuAAC click chemistry.
We report a tandem HAT/XAT mechanism for the scission of poly(methyl methacrylate)- co -poly(methyl α-chloroacrylate) copolymers.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful surface-sensitive technique widely used for the chemical characterization of thin films and interfaces. XPS detects the outermost ∼10 nm of organic films, making it useful for studying the surface of polymer-brush coatings. Despite the widespread use of XPS for polymer brushes, data interpretation and reporting practices often remain inconsistent, particularly for chemically complex or beam-sensitive systems. This tutorial review provides a practical overview of XPS analysis of polymer-brush coatings, with emphasis on experimental considerations, spectral interpretation, and common pitfalls. Key aspects of sample preparation are discussed, including contamination control, charge compensation, and strategies to minimize beam-induced degradation in radiation-sensitive polymers. The interpretation of survey spectra is examined with a focus on elemental quantification, background selection, and complications arising from spin-orbit splitting. Strategies for estimating polymer-brush thickness from substrate signal attenuation are outlined together with the assumptions and limitations inherent to attenuation-based analysis. Detailed guidance is provided for high-resolution C 1s analysis, including background modeling, chemically consistent peak fitting, and assignment of common carbon environments, while highlighting common overfitting artifacts. The complementary role of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in supporting chemically meaningful peak assignment and validating spectral interpretation is also discussed. By combining practical recommendations with critical discussion of common sources of error, this tutorial aims to support more reliable and reproducible XPS characterization of polymer brush coatings.
A series of CNN-Hf complexes were designed to study the effects of sp 2 and sp 3 C donors on their catalytic performance in olefin polymerization.
Light-induced NMP 2 initiators reversibly activate-deactivate carbon radicals, enabling pseudo-first order hexyl acrylate polymerization with up to 9-fold molecular weight enhancement.
Amine catalysis coordinates radical and ionic pathways to form a sulfur-rich material that is hot-pressed into flexible, free-standing films with enhanced tensile properties for dielectric applications.
Phosphorus–nitrogen analogues of common diol monomers were prepared and polymerized with Me 2 SiCl 2 to access main-chain poly(phosphazene-siloxanes).
This study reports the synthesis and polymerization of an AB 2 -type POSS monomer. Pt-catalyzed polymerization gave soluble products that formed transparent films with high thermal stability.
RDRP-enabled molecular precision for the rational design of smart gels with tailored architectures, responsive properties, and application-specific functionality.
A reactive phosphorus–nitrogen–silicon compound (FAD) was synthesized as an epoxy hardener, delivering high-performance thermosets with excellent flame retardancy through synergistic gas- and condensed-phase mechanisms.
