Alexander P Grimm, Stephen T Knox, Clarissa Y P Wilding, Harry A Jones, Björn Schmidt, Olga Piskljonow, Dominik Voll, Christian W Schmitt, Nicholas J Warren, Patrick Théato
{"title":"A Versatile Flow Reactor Platform for Machine Learning Guided RAFT Synthesis, Amidation of Poly(Pentafluorophenyl Acrylate).","authors":"Alexander P Grimm, Stephen T Knox, Clarissa Y P Wilding, Harry A Jones, Björn Schmidt, Olga Piskljonow, Dominik Voll, Christian W Schmitt, Nicholas J Warren, Patrick Théato","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Data-driven polymer research has experienced a dramatic upswing in recent years owing to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) alongside automated laboratory synthesis. However, the chemical complexity of polymers employed in automated synthesis still lacks in terms of defined functionality to meet the need of next-generation high-performance polymer materials. In this work, the automated self-optimization of the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization of pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) is presented, a versatile polymer building-block enabling efficient post-polymerization modifications (PPM). The polymerization system consisted of a computer-operated flow reactor with orthogonal analytics comprising an inline benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, and an online size exclusion chromatography (SEC). This setup enabled the automatic determination of optimal polymerization conditions by implementation of a multi-objective Bayesian self-optimization algorithm. The obtained poly(PFPA) is precisely modified by amidation taking advantage of the active pentafluorophenyl (PFP) ester. By controlling the feed ratios of solutions containing different amines, their incorporation ratio into the polymer, and therefore its resulting properties, can be tuned and predicted, which is shown using NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and infrared (IR) analysis. The described strategy represents a versatile method to synthesize and modify reactive polymers in continuous flow, expanding the range of functional polymer materials accessible by continuous, high-throughput synthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500264"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810147","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}
Hyeongkeon Yoon, Yeojin Jeon, Eubin Mun, Dokyung Woo, Chungryong Choi, Jin Kon Kim
{"title":"UV-Responsive Adhesive Based on Polystyrene-block-Poly(Ethyl Lipoate) Copolymer.","authors":"Hyeongkeon Yoon, Yeojin Jeon, Eubin Mun, Dokyung Woo, Chungryong Choi, Jin Kon Kim","doi":"10.1002/marc.202401015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202401015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Block copolymers (BCPs), capable of self-assembling into various nanoscale structures, are widely used in adhesives owing to their versatile properties. However, conventional BCP-based adhesives pose environmental concerns: they are petroleum-derived, non-degradable, and have a non-tunable adhesion strength. To address these challenges, a novel BCP is designed comprising a conventional hard segment, polystyrene (PS), and a green rubbery segment, poly(ethyl lipoate) (PEtLp), derived from the bio-based molecule α-lipoic acid. The PS-b-PEtLp is synthesized via the base-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization from thiol-terminated PS. Adhesion tests showed that PS-b-PEtLp with cylindrical nanostructures exhibited higher adhesion strength than that with lamellar structures. Importantly, the dynamic disulfide bonds in PEtLp enable a reversible and adjustable adhesion strength under UV light. Upon UV irradiation, the adhesion strength decreases by approximately half, facilitating easy separation from the adherends. Additionally, the selective depolymerization of the PEtLp block achieves 100% conversion, enabling the recovery of the monomer (EtLp) and macroinitiator (thiol-terminated PS). This study introduces a sustainable, degradable, and reusable adhesive derived from renewable resources, providing a promising solution to the environmental challenges associated with traditional petroleum-based adhesives.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2401015"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810156","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}
Boon Peng Chang, Anatoli Kurkin, Aleksandr Kashcheev, Benny Febriansyah, Wei Jing Koo Wynn, Ronn Goei, Xiangyu You, Lay Poh Tan, Vitali Lipik
{"title":"Microcellular Foam from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Shear-Stiffening Gel for Advancing Footwear Midsole Development.","authors":"Boon Peng Chang, Anatoli Kurkin, Aleksandr Kashcheev, Benny Febriansyah, Wei Jing Koo Wynn, Ronn Goei, Xiangyu You, Lay Poh Tan, Vitali Lipik","doi":"10.1002/marc.202401013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202401013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is widely used in shoe soles due to its foamability, affordability, and resilience. However, rising consumer demands for greater durability and energy rebound drive the need for performance enhancements. This study presents a novel approach by introducing a silicone-based masterbatch (MB), developed by incorporating a silicone-based shear-stiffening gel (SSG) (polyborosiloxane) with EVA through a reactive extrusion process. Two types of SSG/EVA are produced, i.e., crosslinked SSG/EVA (abbreviated as SSG/EVA-X) and non-crosslinked SSG/EVA (abbreviated as SSG/EVA-NX). The SSG/EVA-X reveals interconnected phases, including crosslinked and uncrosslinked SSG and EVA, and mixed regions. The developed SSG/EVA are further utilized as MB to modify and enhance EVA foam properties. Incorporating SSG/EVA MB into EVA foam significantly enhances its physico-mechanical properties. These improvements are pronounced in EVA foams incorporating with the SSG/EVA-X MB (abbreviated as EVA/MB-X), which outperforms the SSG/EVA-NX MB, (abbreviated as EVA/MB-NX) due to superior material integration. Dynamic impact energy return of EVA foam increases by over 10%, while abrasion resistance shows an improvement of more than 50% at the optimal SSG/EVA MB content. These findings suggest that crosslinking silicone MB with EVA presents a promising strategy for EVA foam modification, offering a pathway to enhance its performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2401013"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810149","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}
Benjamin Nketia-Yawson, Ji Hyeon Lee, Vivian Nketia-Yawson, Jea Woong Jo
{"title":"Bias-Stable Fullerene-Based n-Type Organic Transistors Using Ionic Liquid as a Stabilizer.","authors":"Benjamin Nketia-Yawson, Ji Hyeon Lee, Vivian Nketia-Yawson, Jea Woong Jo","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite decades of extensive efforts in the engineering and molecular design of organic semiconductors (OSCs), the transistor performance and stability of n-type OSCs remain lower than those of their p-type counterparts. In recent years, incorporating ionic liquids (ILs) into electronic and optoelectronic devices has enabled exceptional performance and environmental stability through doping, film crystallization processes, and energetic alignment because of their unique physicochemical properties. This paper reports on bias-stable n-type organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on an n-type fullerene-based semiconductor ([6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)) with a solid-state IL additive. The optimized PCBM-IL OFETs exhibits a more than fivefold increase in electron mobility, excellent continuous bias-stress stability for over 1 h, and a remarkable increase in current output under ambient conditions due to synergistic PCBM-IL interactions and robust interfacial properties, which reduces resistance and minimized interface traps.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500157"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794286","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}
Riku Takahashi, Ririka Sawada, Kan Hatakeyama-Sato, Yuta Nabae, Shinji Ando, Teruaki Hayakawa
{"title":"Development of Polyimides with Low Dielectric Loss Tangent by Incorporating Polysiloxanes with Phenyl Side Groups.","authors":"Riku Takahashi, Ririka Sawada, Kan Hatakeyama-Sato, Yuta Nabae, Shinji Ando, Teruaki Hayakawa","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Owing to their low dielectric constant (D<sub>k</sub>), processability, and mechanical properties, siloxane-based polymers have attracted attention as insulating materials for next-generation communication. However, a major challenge regarding siloxane-containing materials is their high dielectric loss tangent (dissipation factor) (D<sub>f</sub>). A polymer is designed and synthesized by combining polysiloxanes with phenyl side groups on the main chain and a polyimide structure (polysiloxane-imide) to improve the D<sub>f</sub> value. Compared with conventional dimethylsiloxane-based polymers, the resulting polysiloxane-imide, obtained as a bendable, self-supporting film, exhibits a significantly reduced D<sub>f</sub> value. The rigidity of the phenyl group-containing polysiloxane presumably contributes to the improvement in the D<sub>f</sub> value. Furthermore, polysiloxane-imides exhibit excellent hydrophobicity and high heat resistance with their 5% weight loss temperature of over 400 °C. The synthesized polysiloxane-imides with phenyl side groups, which possess various properties, including low D<sub>k</sub>, low D<sub>f</sub>, and excellent hydrophobicity, are expected to contribute to the future practical application of siloxane-based insulating materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500115"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794288","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":"Recent Progress on Phase Separation of DNA-Based System.","authors":"Mingyang Zhu, Zhuang Cai, Rui Gao, Yun Chen, Jianbang Wang, Huajie Liu","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Precise spatiotemporal regulation of intracellular processes has been shown to occur through phase separation. The resulting droplets and coacervates mediate critical biological functions. Although hundreds of publications on this topic are generated every year, a systematic exposition on DNA phase separation is still lacking. As a highly charged polyelectrolyte, DNA is prone to associative phase separation driven by the presence of abundant components. DNA-based phase separation processes have shown great potential for applications in diverse fields such as drug delivery, gene regulation, and smart materials development. This perspective highlights the phase separation mechanisms of DNA in the presence of different substances such as proteins, polymers, cationic ligands, and metal ions. The functional characteristics of the corresponding products are also discussed. Current challenges and future directions in the field are also discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500172"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794294","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}
Jing An, Bizhen Yuan, Xiaodan Lv, Hui Li, Qianrong Fang
{"title":"2D Benzothiophene-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Iodine Capture.","authors":"Jing An, Bizhen Yuan, Xiaodan Lv, Hui Li, Qianrong Fang","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The leakage of iodine and its radioactive isotopes poses a major threat to ecosystems and human health, emphasizing the need for effective and recyclable iodine capture materials. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), characterized by high surface areas, tunable pore sizes, and excellent chemical stability, are ideal candidates for adsorption applications. Herein, two novel COFs (JUC-700 and JUC-701) are designed and synthesized based on benzotrithiophene (BTT). Both JUC-700 and JUC-701 exhibit high surface areas (2004.9 and 1990.5 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>-1</sup>, respectively), mesoporous structures (≈2.6 nm), and abundant heteroatoms, contributing to their exceptional iodine capture performance. Notably, JUC-701 demonstrates superior adsorption capacity (6.17 g g<sup>-1</sup>) compared to JUC-700 (4.73 g g<sup>-1</sup>), attributes to the enhanced iodine affinity near its pyridine groups. Theoretical calculations further reveal that the pyridinic nitrogen in JUC-701 significantly strengthens interactions with iodine molecules, confirming its superior capture capabilities. This study provides insights into the design of functionalized COFs for iodine capture, contributing to advanced materials for environmental remediation and nuclear waste management.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500092"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794283","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}
Ewa Kijeńska-Gawrońska, Katarzyna Wiercińska, Łukasz Werner, Monika Bil, Monika Staniszewska
{"title":"From PET Bottle Waste to Antimicrobial Air Filters.","authors":"Ewa Kijeńska-Gawrońska, Katarzyna Wiercińska, Łukasz Werner, Monika Bil, Monika Staniszewska","doi":"10.1002/marc.202400944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202400944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The accumulation of large amounts of plastic waste in the environment necessitates developing new methods for processing this waste on both small and large scales. This work shows the electrospinning approach for the recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) water bottles made of virgin and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) enriched with silver particles of various sizes, ranging from 50 to 400 nm to produce electrospun air filtration materials. Their physicochemical and mechanical properties are evaluated. The samples containing 50-60 nm nanoparticles in their structure exhibit the best mechanical properties and are further investigated in terms of their filtration efficiency and antibacterial properties. The results demonstrate high air filtration performance, with efficiency over 99% for particles larger than 1 µm in diameter. Additionally, the filters showed antibacterial effectiveness against Staphylococcus epidermidis, achieving a reduction in bacterial growth ranging from 66% to 86%, depending on the type of tested PET and rPET-based material.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2400944"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794290","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":"Superhydrophobic Polypropylene Surface via Migration of SiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles with Low Surface Energy.","authors":"Shijun Long, Yali Hu, Xiangkun Dong, Lianli Shen, Yusu Wang, Yiwan Huang, Xuefeng Li","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The modification of polypropylene (PP) to achieve increased hydrophobicity while maintaining structural integrity is an important yet challenging task. In this work, by introducing a hydrophobically modified inorganic filler (silica (SiO<sub>2</sub>) modified with perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOTS)), m-SiO<sub>2</sub>/PP composites are produced via melt blending, then pressing of composites into sheets with different substrates. Measurement of the contact angle gives that when pressed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film substrate, the water contact angle of the composite with 20 wt.% m-SiO<sub>2</sub> can reach 140°, which is 44% higher than that of pure PP (97°).By scanning electron microscopy and micro-infrared analysis, when the composites are pressed into sheets with PTFE substrates, m-SiO<sub>2</sub> migrates to its pressed side. This is due to in PTFE, hydrogen atoms in the polyethylene structure are replaced by fluorine atoms, thereby forming a \"fluorine generation\" protective layer over the carbon-carbon skeleton. Hence, the fact that in PP composites with PTFE platens, fluorosilane chain-encapsulated PTFE sheets and m-SiO<sub>2</sub> are attracted to each other due to the presence of very stable C─F bonds, which have a very low surface energy. This material has self-cleaning properties and is expected to be widely used for protection against dust and oil.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500195"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794296","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}
Ming Cheng, Zhenming Wang, Zixuan Wu, Silin Yuan, Mengjia Cen, Jiawei Wang, Yan Jun Liu
{"title":"Alignment Strategies and Morphing Mechanisms in Liquid Crystal Elastomers: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications.","authors":"Ming Cheng, Zhenming Wang, Zixuan Wu, Silin Yuan, Mengjia Cen, Jiawei Wang, Yan Jun Liu","doi":"10.1002/marc.202500001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are smart materials that integrate the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals and the elasticity of polymers, enabling large, reversible shape changes in response to various external stimuli. These distinctive properties make LCEs a promising candidate for applications in actuators, soft robotics, sensors, and optics. The morphing behaviors of LCEs are fundamentally governed by the alignment of mesogenic molecules, which transition from ordered to disordered states upon stimulation, resulting in controllable shape transformations. Various alignment techniques exploiting the manipulation of mesogenic molecules are continuously explored as a way to effectively actuate morphing behaviors. This review provides an overview of key alignment techniques, including surface anchoring, field effect, and mechanical alignment, and explores how these methods support the design of tailored morphing properties for specific applications. The relationship between alignment and morphing behaviors in LCEs is discussed, offering a comprehensive overview of alignment-based morphing design strategies. Furthermore, the review highlights the significant potential of LCEs in advanced applications such as artificial muscles, actuators, and reconfigurable optical devices. By providing a foundational understanding of LCEs' alignment and morphing, this review aims to inspire more scientific innovations and technical advances in their design and application.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e2500001"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794284","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}