{"title":"Multi-Interface Polarization Modulation in Cu@TiO2@MgO/PVDF for Enhanced Dielectric Constant and Breakdown Performances","authors":"Siyu Zhao, Wenying Zhou, Yaofei Lin, Xiaopeng Han, Chenyang Li, Xiubin Ren, Zhen Liu, Yuan Jia","doi":"10.1002/marc.70417","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70417","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Decoupling control and collaborative improvement in both dielectric constant (<i>ε</i>) and breakdown strength (<i>E</i><sub>b</sub>) while holding low loss of polymeric composites, constitutes a challenge for power electronics and energy storage systems. To realize this objective in copper (Cu)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposites, the Cu nanoparticles were initially coated with titanium oxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) and magnesium oxide (MgO), respectively, followed by compounding with PVDF to investigate the double‑shell’ effect on dielectric performance. The results demonstrate that the Cu@TiO<sub>2</sub>@MgO/PVDF displays elevated <i>ε</i> and <i>E</i><sub>b</sub>, along with lower loss dissipation (<i>tanδ</i>) when compared to Cu/PVDF. The increased <i>ε</i> is attributed to the enhancement of both high-frequency intra‑particle and low‑frequency inter‑particle polarizations resulting from the double-interlayer. The TiO<sub>2</sub>@MgO not only prevents direct contact between Cu nanoparticles but also creates charge traps, reducing the <i>tanδ</i> and leakage conductivity. The double shell mitigates interfacial dielectric parameter mismatch, thereby enhancing the <i>E</i><sub>b</sub>. Simulations and theoretical calculations reveal the multiple polarization mechanisms and the regulated charge transport behavior in the Cu@TiO<sub>2</sub>@MgO/PVDF. The conductive core-insulating double-shell strategy provides an insightful view on promoting multiple polarizations and suppressing charge migration in percolating polymer nanocomposites. The Cu@TiO<sub>2</sub>@MgO/PVDF with boosted <i>ε</i> and <i>E</i><sub>b</sub> alongside suppressed <i>tanδ</i> showcases appealing potential applications in power electronic devices.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148786343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mahesha Kodithuwakku Arachchige, Zakaria Siddiquee, Rohan Dharmarathna, Antal Jákli
{"title":"Shaping Liquid Crystal Rubbers by Chemical Potential Gradient","authors":"Mahesha Kodithuwakku Arachchige, Zakaria Siddiquee, Rohan Dharmarathna, Antal Jákli","doi":"10.1002/marc.70418","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70418","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Techniques for shaping materials have constantly evolved from the making of hand axes in the Stone Age to today's 3D and 4D printing. One of the 4D printing techniques is utilizing chemical potential gradient where uniform swelling of gels with a structural gradient leads to preprogrammed shapes. This work investigates the inverse effect: swelling a uniform structure by a diffusion gradient. First, the recently observed temporal shape changes of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) films based on diffusion of low molecular weight liquid crystal drops into the LCE are simulated, showing excellent agreement with the experiments. Second, ways of locking the desired LCE shape by UV-induced polymerization or by crystallization of a reactive low molecular weight LC additive are investigated. It is shown that the crystallization of the diffusing low molecular weight LC provides the fastest and most complete locking of the shape. It is envisioned that using the gradient of the chemical potential either by pre-patterning the director structure of the LCE film or by appropriate spatial distribution of LC droplets, any complex shapes of LC rubbers can be engineered. This may provide a new and effective way of shaping rubbers for applications in various fields, such as sealants, soft robotics and bioimplants.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/marc.70418","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148786368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predicting Faster Than We Can Make: Polymer-Specific Process Physics as a Frontier for Autonomous Soft-Matter Discovery","authors":"Xian Jun Loh","doi":"10.1002/marc.70420","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70420","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Machine learning is now a productive tool in polymer research, predicting many properties and proposing new structures by generative design. For the materials whose behaviour is set by processing rather than chemistry alone, our capacity to propose polymers is beginning to outrun our capacity to make, process, and validate them. This Perspective argues that a key bottleneck for these materials is not model architecture but a polymer-specific gap: macroscopic, processing-dependent properties and slow validation timescales. I distinguish chemistry-dominated, condition-dependent, and process-history-dependent properties, and develop two contrasting cases: sustainable thermoplastics, governed by melt flow and thermal history, and supramolecular hydrogels, governed by aqueous self-assembly. I propose and stress-test a self-driving laboratory built around the parts the autonomous-materials literature has under-served for polymers: handling viscous, non-Newtonian melts and sol–gel transitions; preserving shear and thermal history; surrogate simulators to keep the loop fast; and mechanism-preserving accelerated tests for slow properties. The contribution is not the closed loop, which is well established, but the claim that, for non-dilute melts, concentrated solutions, and assembled soft matter, and for properties whose validation runs to months or years, polymer process physics and slow-property validation are among its principal frontiers. Investing there turns computational acceleration into deployed materials.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148872254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi-Ru Chen, Fabian Eisenreich, A. Catarina C. Esteves, Željko Tomović
{"title":"A Chemically Recyclable 1,3,5-Triazine-Based Epoxy Thermoset Enabled by Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction","authors":"Yi-Ru Chen, Fabian Eisenreich, A. Catarina C. Esteves, Željko Tomović","doi":"10.1002/marc.70422","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70422","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Developing recyclable thermosets without sacrificing structural integrity remains a significant hurdle in polymer circularity. In this study, we present a high-performance, chemically recyclable epoxy thermoset based on 1,3,5-triazine, demonstrating significant advancements in material recyclability and application potential. Utilizing liquid precursors, that is a trifunctional epoxy monomer (TOMTA) and a strategically selected secondary aromatic diamine hardener (MBMA), a cross-linked network with a well-defined architecture was produced under bulk conditions. The resulting thermoset exhibited exceptional thermal and mechanical properties as evidenced by a high glass transition temperature (<i>T<sub>g</sub></i> = 105°C), thermal stability (<i>T<sub>d5%</sub></i> = 256°C), a Young's modulus of 3.0 GPa, and a tensile strength of 96 MPa, placing the material in the same performance range of conventional epoxy resins. Driven by an optimized binary K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>/TBD catalytic system in ethanol, the network underwent depolymerization enabled by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction (S<sub>N</sub>Ar), yielding the well-defined building blocks TETA and the tetraol BDHPPM in 70% and 65%, respectively, via straightforward liquid-liquid extraction. Re-crosslinking these recovered building blocks regenerated the network, preserving nearly identical properties across multiple recycling cycles. The system was further applied as a debondable coating for glass. This 1,3,5-triazine-based network utilizing S<sub>N</sub>Ar chemistry provides a robust route to high-performance, recyclable epoxy thermosets.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/marc.70422","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148899964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thermoresponsive Gel-Yarn Composites Enable Low-Temperature Tensile Actuation in Twisted and Coiled Polymer Artificial Muscles","authors":"Sinmisola Aloko, Geoffrey Spinks, Javad Foroughi","doi":"10.1002/marc.70432","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70432","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soft robotic systems require actuators that combine large deformation, mechanical robustness, and reliable operation under practical conditions. Twisted and coiled polymer (TCP) artificial muscles, typically fabricated from fibrous materials, offer high power density and large stroke; however, their reliance on elevated operating temperatures (>80°C) for high performance limits their use in temperature-sensitive environments. Here, we report a thermoresponsive gel-yarn composite actuator that enables actuation at reduced temperatures within TCP-based systems. Twisted polyester yarns were functionalized with a biocompatible thermosensitive hydrogel, poly(MAA-co-OEGMA), forming a fiber-gel composite architecture. Temperature-induced swelling and deswelling of the hydrogel in cold and hot water, respectively, generated internal stresses within the yarn, which drive untwisting of the coiled structure and result in lengthwise actuation. The effect of ionic crosslinking was systematically investigated by varying FeCl<sub>3</sub> concentration, with 1 M identified as the optimal condition balancing structural stiffness and actuation performance. The composite actuators exhibit isotonic free strains of up to 39% when cycled between room temperature and 50°C and work densities of up to 8.8 × 10<sup>−</sup><sup>3</sup> J g<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>, with reversible and repeatable actuation behavior. Compared to conventional TCP systems, which typically operate at substantially higher temperatures, the present system achieves similar deformation but within a lower and more practical thermal range. These findings suggest that fiber-gel composite architectures provide a viable route for tuning actuation behavior in TCP systems while maintaining compatibility with temperature-sensitive applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/marc.70432","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yakun Gong, Wenbo Fu, Ying Zhao, Yezhen Chen, Zaijun Lu
{"title":"Synthesis and Dielectric Properties of Star-Shaped Poly(Phenylene Oxide) Resins.","authors":"Yakun Gong, Wenbo Fu, Ying Zhao, Yezhen Chen, Zaijun Lu","doi":"10.1002/marc.70470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High-frequency copper-clad laminates require thermosetting resins with low dielectric loss, high thermal resistance, and good melt processability. However, high-molecular-weight linear poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) suffers from poor melt flowability, while molecular-weight reduction can compromise network rigidity. In this work, a four-arm star-shaped vinyl-terminated PPO precursor (sPPO-V) was synthesized using tetrafunctional initiator TDPE. Molecular-weight-matched high-molecular-weight linear PPO (HMW-PPO) was prepared as a control to evaluate the effect of molecular architecture. SEC, 1H NMR, and FT-IR analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of the star-shaped precursor. Rheological measurements demonstrated that sPPO exhibited reduced melt viscosity compared with linear PPO controls, including HMW-PPO with comparable molecular weight. After curing, sPPO-V showed an increased glass-transition temperature of 220°C, together with improved dielectric properties (D<sub>k</sub> = 2.50, D<sub>f</sub> = 2.11 × 10<sup>-3</sup> at 1 GHz), thermal stability (T<sub>d5</sub> = 330°C), and moisture resistance (water contact angle of 98.3° and water uptake of 0.18% after 72 h). The enhanced performance was attributed to the multi-arm architecture-induced topological constraints and reduced molecular packing efficiency. This work demonstrates that molecular architecture engineering is an effective strategy for balancing processability, thermal rigidity, dielectric performance, and moisture resistance in PPO-based thermosetting resins.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149316501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saravan Vishnubhotla, Trinity A Blackmon, Junfeng Chen
{"title":"Position-Resolved Fluorescence Polarization Maps Segmental Rigidity in Block Copolymer Micelles in Aqueous and Biological Media.","authors":"Saravan Vishnubhotla, Trinity A Blackmon, Junfeng Chen","doi":"10.1002/marc.70469","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polymeric micelles are widely used as nanoscale compartments for delivery, sensing, and soft-matter applications, yet their performance is governed not only by size and morphology but also by the local mobility of polymer segments within the assembly. Here, we describe a position-resolved fluorescence polarization strategy to map apparent segmental rigidity within block copolymer micelles. By covalently installing the same dansyl fluorophore at defined positions along an amphiphilic block copolymer chain, we selectively label the hydrophobic core, core-corona interface, and oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG)-rich corona of the micelles. The resulting fluorescence polarization profiles reveal a pronounced core-to-corona apparent rigidity gradient in water, distinguish block-segregated micelles from compositionally matched random copolymer assemblies, and report micellar responses to temperature, cosolvent, and salt. This method further enables structural interrogation of polymer micelles in biologically relevant media, revealing the unexpected finding that biological serum exerts opposing effects on apparent chain rigidity in the micellar core and corona. Together, these results establish position-resolved fluorescence polarization as a practical platform for linking block copolymer structure, self-assembly, local chain dynamics, and biological stability, opening new opportunities to rationally design micelles with environment-responsive mechanical properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149293487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yahya Alemin, Haojie Qin, Jiarui Hu, Peixuan Xie, Xiaoyan Wang, Hui Gao, Bien Tan
{"title":"Post-Synthetic Thioesterification of Carboxyl-Functionalized HCP for Enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> Capture and Selectivity.","authors":"Yahya Alemin, Haojie Qin, Jiarui Hu, Peixuan Xie, Xiaoyan Wang, Hui Gao, Bien Tan","doi":"10.1002/marc.70463","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-synthetic modification (PSM) is an effective route to improve the CO<sub>2</sub> capture and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity of hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) by introducing tailored adsorption sites. A key challenge, however, is achieving these improvements without substantially compromising porosity. Here, we report a simple PSM strategy that incorporates multiple CO<sub>2</sub>-philic functionalities through a condensation reaction between a carboxyl-functionalized HCP (HCP-TRIP) and thiourea-formaldehyde resin, yielding a thioester-functionalized material (HCP-TRIP-P). The modification largely preserves the porous framework, with only a minor reduction in Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area from 843 to 794 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>-1</sup>. In parallel, CO<sub>2</sub> uptake increases by 43%, from 15.4 wt.% to 22.0 wt.% at 273 K and 1 bar. The CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity is also markedly enhanced, rising from 31 to 82 as estimated by the Henry initial slope method, and from 25 to 53 based on ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) predictions for a CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> (15/85 v/v) gas mixture at 298 K and 1 bar. Dynamic breakthrough experiments confirm effective CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> separation under dry and 50% RH conditions; HCP-TRIP-P retains > 99% adsorption capacity over five cycles at 273 K. This work demonstrates a facile PSM route to simultaneously enhance CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption and CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity while maintaining the intrinsic porosity of the HCPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149284307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Polyphenylene Ether Enables Low Dielectric Photosensitive Acrylate Resins with Enhanced Mechanical Properties for UV-Assisted Direct Ink Writing.","authors":"Dejin Yan, Guangsheng Zhang, Haoran Liu, Changhong Xiao, Lishuai Zong, Jianhua Han, Jinyan Wang, Xigao Jian","doi":"10.1002/marc.70467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Additive manufacturing has emerged as a transformative technology for manufacturing high-frequency printed circuit boards. Acrylate-based photosensitive resins are widely employed in such processes owing to their fast-curing speed and high printing precision. However, acrylate-based systems still present considerable challenges for 3D-printed circuits, mainly due to inherent drawbacks including inadequate toughness, low tensile strength, and high dielectric loss. Herein, polyphenylene ether (PPO)-modified acrylate photosensitive resins are designed and prepared to tackle these issues. The introduction of PPO endows the inks with pronounced shear-thinning behavior and rapid thixotropic recovery, thus facilitating smooth extrusion and high-fidelity direct ink writing. The optimized formulations exhibit remarkably enhanced tensile properties with tensile strength increased from 28 to 74 MPa, while elongation at break rises from 2.7% to 8.8%. The dielectric constant and loss decrease from 3.06 to 2.53 and 0.016 to 0.012 at 5 GHz, respectively, accompanied by reduced water absorption from 1.74% to 1.39%. These results demonstrate that PPO serves as an effective modifier that overcomes the inherent drawbacks of conventional UV-curing acrylate resins. Overall, this study offers a promising strategy for developing photosensitive inks for 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149284335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}