Xiaotian Rui,Wataru Ota,Tohru Sato,Minori Furukori,Hikaru Ishii,Takuya Hosokai,Keiko Yamaoka,Emiko Fujiwara,Kenshiro Matsuda,Andrew P Monkman,Ken Albrecht
{"title":"Synthesis and Properties of Multi-substituted Carbazole-Dendronized Luminescent Radicals","authors":"Xiaotian Rui,Wataru Ota,Tohru Sato,Minori Furukori,Hikaru Ishii,Takuya Hosokai,Keiko Yamaoka,Emiko Fujiwara,Kenshiro Matsuda,Andrew P Monkman,Ken Albrecht","doi":"10.1039/d6py00571c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00571c","url":null,"abstract":"Mono carbazole-dendronized tris (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radicals have recently been reported as bright red emitters, in which second-to fourth-generation dendrons were suggested to induce an increase in photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). To explore photophysical properties of dendrimer radicals, here we synthesized and comprehensively characterized a series of TTM radicals bearing one to three carbazole dendrons. As the number of the attached dendrons increased, the emission maximum was progressively red-shifted accompanied by a significant decrease in PLQY. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements revealed that the reduction in PLQY stems from both a diminished radiative rate and, more significantly, an enhanced non-radiative decay pathway in accordance with the energy-gap law. Additionally, the dendrimer radicals exhibited enhanced photostability until two dendrons were attached. These findings advance the understanding of the relationship between photophysical properties and chemical structure in luminescent carbazole-dendronized radicals.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148858077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Di Wu,Wenbin Zhu,Zilong Yang,Caiyun Ren,Lulu Pan,Chi Xu,Jiaping Zhu,Jianfeng Ban
{"title":"Robust supramolecular elastomers with shape memory-assisted healing for reconfigurable flexible photonics","authors":"Di Wu,Wenbin Zhu,Zilong Yang,Caiyun Ren,Lulu Pan,Chi Xu,Jiaping Zhu,Jianfeng Ban","doi":"10.1039/d6py00619a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00619a","url":null,"abstract":"Balancing structural robustness with programmable dynamic responsiveness remains a fundamental challenge in soft materials engineering. This work presents a class of hierarchically dynamic supramolecular polyurethanes (HCn-SPMUs) designed to successfully decouple macroscopic physical toughness from localized stimuli-responsiveness. By incorporating photo-reversible coumarin [2π + 2π] cycloaddition hubs into a semi-crystalline polycaprolactone backbone, we engineered a strictly orthogonal photo-thermal network, whose phase-separated architecture is corroborated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This structural design yields highly stretchable elastomers (elongation of ∼630%) exhibiting robust thermal shape memory behavior. Crucially, based on this dual-responsive network, we demonstrated a synergistic “tandem photo-thermal” healing mechanism. Thermal actuation functions as a macroscopic spatial driver to physically close interfacial cracks via the shape memory effect, while subsequent UV irradiation strictly serves as a microscopic chemical welder to reconstruct severed covalent bonds. This tandem process perfectly restores the material's macroscopic tensile strength and enables closed-loop solid-state recycling without mechanical degradation. Beyond structural mechanics, the purely photochemical topological reconfiguration of coumarin nodes—rigorously proven to be independent of photothermal interference—modulates the extended π-conjugation and the regional refractive index. This highly localized optical variance transforms the bulk elastomer into a strictly athermal medium for non-destructive write–read–erase cycles, enabling high-fidelity 4D information encryption and reconfigurable flexible optical routing. By integrating orthogonal logic-responsiveness with comprehensive mechanical circularity, this platform offers a sustainable material strategy for enduring soft robotics and zero-waste flexible photonics.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"488 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aramid materials: from macroscale fibers to multifunctional nanoplatforms – a critical review","authors":"Xiao Liang,Yi Cao,Yang Zhang,Hao Zhang,Songjun Li","doi":"10.1039/d6py00364h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00364h","url":null,"abstract":"Aramid fibers possess exceptional specific strength and thermal stability, yet their inherent surface inertness and low compressive strength fundamentally limit interfacial bonding and multifunctional integration. This work critically traces the evolution of aramid materials from macroscale reinforcements to aramid nanofiber (ANF) platforms that overcome these barriers through nanoscale effects and tailored assembly. Distinct from previous reviews that emphasize isolated aspects, this review uniquely establishes a multiscale structure–property framework that systematically elucidates how molecular architecture—from rigid-rod chain conformation and hydrogen-bonding networks to crystalline organization and hierarchical fibrillar morphology—governs macroscopic performance across processing, surface engineering, and assembly. The review then critically assesses recent breakthroughs in ballistic protection, thermal management, electromagnetic shielding, energy storage, and intelligent sensing enabled by ANF-based composites, while distinguishing laboratory-scale demonstrations from translationally viable technologies. By identifying critical challenges in scalable synthesis, structural precision, sustainable recycling, and extreme-environment durability, this review offers a forward-looking roadmap to guide the rational design of next-generation aramid materials for high-value applications.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"169 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhiqiang Ding,Mingqian Wang,Honggang Xia,Dongbin Wang,Xiaohui Kang,Yuesheng Li,Bin Wang
{"title":"Controlled cationic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters toward metal-free polyesters with high-performance using a Meerwein-type ion pair initiator","authors":"Zhiqiang Ding,Mingqian Wang,Honggang Xia,Dongbin Wang,Xiaohui Kang,Yuesheng Li,Bin Wang","doi":"10.1039/d6py00271d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00271d","url":null,"abstract":"The shift toward metal-free catalytic synthesis of aliphatic polyesters is driven by the growing emphasis on environmental benignity and catalytic stability in polymer preparation. In this context, the development of efficient catalysts and precise control over cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) using efficient metal-free initiators remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a rapid and controlled CROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and δ-valerolactone (δ-VL) mediated by the Meerwein-type ion pair [Me3O]+[B(C6F5)4]− in the absence of alcohol. Kinetic analyses confirm that the polymerization follows first-order kinetics with respect to the initiator concentration. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we compared the energy changes of the ε-CL ring-opening process with and without the assistance of dimethyl ether (Me2O). Notably, this metal-free system not only avoids metallic residue contamination from traditional metal-based catalysts but also enhances the thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting polyesters. Through sequential monomer addition, we successfully synthesized AB-, ABA-, and ABC-type block copolymers with structural diversity. Collectively, this metal-free catalytic system provides a robust and efficient synthetic route to high-performance polyesters, thereby broadening their potential in biomedical applications.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yumin Huang,Ying Lu,Jun Peng,Minjin Song,Tong Cao,Xiaobo Liu
{"title":"Multi-crosslinking network construction a small-molecule crosslinker: toward a low dielectric constant and suppressed dielectric loss in poly(arylene ether nitrile) films","authors":"Yumin Huang,Ying Lu,Jun Peng,Minjin Song,Tong Cao,Xiaobo Liu","doi":"10.1039/d6py00672h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00672h","url":null,"abstract":"Driven by the rapid evolution of high-frequency and high-speed electronics, there is a critical demand for low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss polymers in 5G, the Internet of Things, and flexible electronics. To further optimize the comprehensive properties of the synthesized films and reduce dielectric loss, herein, a short-chain small-molecule cross-linker, diallyl bisphenol A-based phthalonitrile (DBPA-Ph), was designed and introduced into the tetrafluorostyrene-terminated fluorinated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (FPEN) matrix. Through thermal cross-linking, low-dielectric-loss FPEN/DB films were successfully fabricated. The results demonstrate that the multiple cross-linking sites, including allyl groups, tetrafluorostyrene groups, and cyano groups within the FPEN/DB system, synergistically construct a homogeneous, compact, and rigid three-dimensional multi-crosslinked network comprising alkene-based cross-links and triazine rings. This structure significantly suppresses the segmental motion and dipole polarization, reducing the dielectric constant of the FPEN/DB-15 film from 2.70 to a minimum of 2.54 at 1 MHz, and markedly lowers the dielectric loss to 0.00493 (a 20.3% reduction vs. the film without a cross-linker). Meanwhile, the thermal stability, hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the films are synergistically enhanced (Td5 from 516 to 530 °C, contact angle from 75.6° to 93.6°, and tensile strength from 77 to 88 MPa). This study provides a feasible molecular strategy and theoretical basis for designing poly(arylene ether nitrile)-based low-dielectric materials with a low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and excellent overall properties.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148858099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anxin Zhao,Jun Ye,Hanlin Wang,Qiang Zhao,Zhenjie Ni,Wenping Hu
{"title":"An “atom tuning” strategy to optimize energy levels and charge transport of conjugated polymers","authors":"Anxin Zhao,Jun Ye,Hanlin Wang,Qiang Zhao,Zhenjie Ni,Wenping Hu","doi":"10.1039/d6py00578k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00578k","url":null,"abstract":"An ‘atom-tuning’ strategy was developed to controllably synthesize conjugated polymers to understand the atomic-effect on polymer energy levels and charge transport. Five chalcogenophene flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based copolymers were synthesized. With the increment of chalcogen atom radius, an increase in HOMO levels accompanied by the pinning of LUMO levels was observed. The results from transistors and 1T1T ferroelectric random access memory cells validated the best performance achieved by the polymer with a hybrid selenophene–thiophene-flanked DPP backbone, demonstrating the effectiveness of the ‘atom-tuning’ strategy. Theoretical calculations suggest that efficient charge transport is attributed to the high rotational barrier of the selenophene unit around the DPP units. Our study offers an atom-level approach for optimizing charge transport in polymeric semiconductors.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of an internal donor on ethylene or propylene polymerization using MgCl-supported nickel-diimine catalyst systems","authors":"Yu Jia,Kenji Komaguchi,Yuushou Nakayama,Takeshi Shiono,Ryo Tanaka","doi":"10.1039/d6py00511j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00511j","url":null,"abstract":"The immobilization of Ni-based olefin polymerization catalysts has recently attracted significant attention for use in the industrial production of uniquely branched polyolefins. Herein, we report the use of a MgCl2-based heterogeneous cocatalyst with internal donors, inspired by the Ziegler–Natta system, for nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization. The addition of internal donors when preparing the MgCl2-based support significantly improved the ethylene polymerization activity by 1.5–2 times. In propylene polymerization, more frequent formation of the 1,3-sequence was observed when internal donors were applied. Further analysis by titration suggested that the change of polymerization behavior is due to the increase in the number of Lewis acidic sites capable of catalyst activation, bearing less steric congestion. These results demonstrated an alternative heterogeneous catalyst design strategy.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dual dynamic bio-based vitrimers enabled by visible-light-responsive diselenide bonds for self-healing and closed-loop recycling","authors":"Zihan Tong,Hongru Qiang,Jiewen Wang,Zhen Fan,Yunqing Zhu","doi":"10.1039/d6py00536e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00536e","url":null,"abstract":"The development of sustainable thermosets that simultaneously combine mechanical robustness, efficient self-healing, and closed-loop recyclability remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a class of bio-based diselenide polyimine vitrimers featuring a dual dynamic covalent network that integrates imine exchange with visible-light-responsive diselenide metathesis. Derived from renewable vanillin-based monomers, the resulting materials exhibit tunable mechanical properties, achieving tensile strength up to 21.6 MPa, while maintaining high toughness at lower crosslink densities. Benefiting from the dynamic diselenide bonds, the vitrimers demonstrate rapid self-healing under visible light irradiation at mild temperatures (45 °C), thereby avoiding the detrimental effects associated with UV activation. Meanwhile, the reversible imine linkages enable efficient stress relaxation, thermal reprocessability, and complete depolymerization under mild acidic conditions. Notably, the degraded products can be recovered as high-purity monomers and reused to regenerate vitrimers with nearly identical mechanical properties, demonstrating true closed-loop chemical recycling. The incorporation of imine and diselenide bonds enables the vitrimer network to respond to different external stimuli, integrating thermal reprocessability with visible-light-induced self-healing while maintaining favorable mechanical performance. This work provides a sustainable design strategy for next-generation bio-based vitrimers with integrated light responsiveness and circularity.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Di Ma,Xiaoming Huang,Minghao Zhai,Chunli Ma,Wanan Cai,Tingting Zhou,Hua Zhong,Ping Zhao,Haijun Niu,Wen Wang
{"title":"Dibenzofuran/dibenzothiophene and carbazole based conjugated polymers for green building radiative cooling with the color changing from colorless to dark blue","authors":"Di Ma,Xiaoming Huang,Minghao Zhai,Chunli Ma,Wanan Cai,Tingting Zhou,Hua Zhong,Ping Zhao,Haijun Niu,Wen Wang","doi":"10.1039/d6py00642f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00642f","url":null,"abstract":"Electrochromic smart windows (ECSWs) have emerged as an important solution for dynamically regulating solar radiation of buildings. However, the high optical contrast from the colorless to dark state and the optimization of a range of parameters have limited the development of ECSW materials. Herein, a series of conjugated polymers from DBT/DBF and Cz were designed (named DBT-Cz-6C, DBF-Cz-6C, DBT-Cz-Ph and DBF-Cz-Ph), which exhibit not only improved structural stability but also a broadened electrochromic color tuning range. All four conjugated polymers exhibit excellent electrochemical performance and the color can change from colorless to dark blue. In particular, DBT-Cz-6C achieves an initial maximum transmittance of 90% with only 5% loss in transmittance after 1000 cycles. DBT-Cz-6C was further fabricated into an electrochromic device (ECD) for further research. After 400 testing cycles, the transmittance of the DBT-Cz-6C ECD only decreased by 2%, and the coloring time and bleaching time were 4.5 s and 4.9 s, respectively. Subsequently, the thermal management performance of the DBT-Cz-6C ECD was simulated using EnergyPlus. Building models covering 20 cities across diverse climate zones in China show that buildings equipped with DBT-Cz-6C ECSWs achieve annual energy savings ranging from 13.1% to 25.7%. The ECSW incorporating the DBT-Cz-6C conjugated polymer effectively reduces the cooling-system load and demonstrates significant energy savings by dynamically regulating solar radiation. Overall, this work implies the great potential of these conjugated polymers in low-carbon buildings.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shahidul Alam,Wenchao Yang,Sarah J. Finkelmeyer,Marco Diegel,Christoph Ulbricht,Christian Kästner,Christian Friebe,Martin Presselt,Vojtech Nádaždy,Ulrich S. Schubert,Oliver Brüggemann,Harald Hoppe,Frédéric Laquai,Daniel A. M. Egbe
{"title":"Side-chain engineering influences solid-state organization and charge transport in conjugated PPE-PPVs","authors":"Shahidul Alam,Wenchao Yang,Sarah J. Finkelmeyer,Marco Diegel,Christoph Ulbricht,Christian Kästner,Christian Friebe,Martin Presselt,Vojtech Nádaždy,Ulrich S. Schubert,Oliver Brüggemann,Harald Hoppe,Frédéric Laquai,Daniel A. M. Egbe","doi":"10.1039/d6py00577b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6py00577b","url":null,"abstract":"Structure–property relationships of side-chain modified anthracene-containing poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene)-alt-poly(p-phenylene-vinylene)s (PPE-PPV) copolymers were investigated in pristine constituents and bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells. The deliberate arrangement of linear octyloxy and branched 2-ethylhexyloxy side-chains within the segments of the PPE-PPV backbones resulted in a wide variety of side-chain-defined copolymers, denoted AnE-PVs. A number of pristine copolymers and their blends with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were investigated by several characterization techniques and analyzed in detail. Compiling the experimental data enabled us to correlate the optoelectronic properties of the solar cells with the chemical structures of the copolymers, providing structural design rules for optimizing solar cell performance. Polymer structures—categorical variables with side-chains—are numerically represented before being used in statistical models. A linear regression framework was implemented to reveal systematic trends between the effective energy gap and the photovoltaic parameters. Among the photovoltaic parameters, the short-circuit current was identified as the most influential factor determining the overall power conversion efficiency.","PeriodicalId":100,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Chemistry","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148767826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}