Shaoyang Tian , Longlong Niu , Shijie Yang , Min Yang , Yue Wang , Yecheng Sun , Chunhong Wang , Hongyu Wang , Junliang Liu , Shiping Zhang
{"title":"Synthesis and characterization of Europium-bonded acrylate-acrylamide hydrogel (P Eu-(AA-co-AM)): Structure and water absorption response","authors":"Shaoyang Tian , Longlong Niu , Shijie Yang , Min Yang , Yue Wang , Yecheng Sun , Chunhong Wang , Hongyu Wang , Junliang Liu , Shiping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acrylic-based hydrogels, are known for their remarkable water absorption and pH-responsive properties. These can release water to promote cement hydration and expand to fill cracks during the internal curing of concrete. However, their weak interfacial adhesion with concrete and shrinkage-induced micropore formation after the release of water compromise their curing efficienciesy. To address these limitations, this study synthesized europium-bonded acrylic-acrylamide hydrogels (PEu-(AA-co-AM)). Additionally, it systematically investigated the effects of europium bonding on the polymerization behavior, network structure, and water absorption responsiveness, as well as their performance in concrete curing and crack self-healing.The results demonstrated that the reactivity ratios of acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and europium acrylate (Eu(AA)<sub>3</sub>) were less than one, This indicated a preference for copolymerization, which facilitated the uniform distribution of europium ions within the hydrogel network. The incorporation of Eu ions significantly increased the crosslinking density and water retention capacity of the hydrogel. It imparted a second-order swelling response under varying pH conditions, with a significant increase in the swelling ratio at high pH. Furthermore, compared with unmodified hydrogels, PEu-(AA-co-AM) reduced the porosity of concrete, enhanced the compressive strength, and improved the crack self-healing efficiency. This study has provided theoretical insights and potential applications for the design of europium-bonded hydrogels with superior water-responsive properties for concrete engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114009"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069257","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}
Xiaoting Li , Ning Ma , Jian Cao , Minli Tao , Wenqin Zhang
{"title":"Fixation of CO2 as carboxylic acid catalyzed by acetylglucosyl 2-methyl-imidazolium and AuNP-modified polyacrylonitrile fiber","authors":"Xiaoting Li , Ning Ma , Jian Cao , Minli Tao , Wenqin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of sustainable methods for converting CO<sub>2</sub> into valuable chemicals under mild conditions is essential for addressing climate change and advancing a circular carbon economy. However, current approaches often face limitations such as harsh reaction conditions, low catalyst efficiency, and poor recyclability. Inspired by the CO<sub>2</sub>-capturing capability of polysaccharides and imidazolium-based ionic liquids, we developed a novel heterogeneous catalyst PAN<sub>AMI-Au</sub><sup>0</sup>F. This functionalized polyacrylonitrile fiber was synthesized by grafting imidazolium ionic liquids, comprising acetylglucosyl and methyl 4-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzoate, onto the fiber surface, followed by coordination with gold nanoparticles. Owing to strong CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment capability, the PAN<sub>AMI-Au</sub><sup>0</sup>F catalyst exhibits excellent activity in the carboxylation of phenylacetylene with atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, delivering a high yield of 98% under mild conditions (0.5 mol% catalyst, 50 °C, 10 h, 1 atm CO<sub>2</sub>). Notably, the catalyst maintains a high yield of 91% after five consecutive catalytic cycles and achieves 90% yield in gram-scale synthesis. Overall, PAN<sub>AMI-Au</sub><sup>0</sup>F provides a mild, efficient, and recyclable catalytic system for the sustainable conversion of CO<sub>2</sub> from exhaust gases into value-added chemicals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114013"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941679","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}
Philipp Jung , Valentin Victor Jerca , Richard Hoogenboom , Holger Frey
{"title":"Living anionic polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline in continuous flow: From efficient synthesis to hydroxyl end-functionalized polymers","authors":"Philipp Jung , Valentin Victor Jerca , Richard Hoogenboom , Holger Frey","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Compared to conventional batch systems, flow reactors reduce the overall experimental effort for living polymerizations. Excellent heat transfer efficiency allows to safely perform exothermic reactions like anionic polymerizations in polar solvents at room temperature. By adjusting the flow rates during the reaction, a large number of samples with different molar masses can be obtained using the same setup. Herein the living anionic polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline in a continuous flow system is reported, using a microstructured continuous flow reactor. Employing two different micromixers, poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPOx) with molecular weights between 3000 g/mol (Ð = 1.20) and 18,800 g/mol (Ð = 1.9) was synthesized. The structure of the obtained polymers was confirmed by <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Additionally, end-capping experiments were performed with butylene oxide and ethylene oxide to introduce a terminal hydroxyl functionality. Successful functionalization was confirmed by <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF-MS. The present study not only reports an efficient method for preparing PiPOx, but also provides access to complex macromolecular architectures based on functional PiPOx, which were unattainable before by post-polymerization modification reactions such as macromonomers and comb polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114011"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143934886","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":"Progress in stereoselective polymerization of linear conjugated dienes by using iron complexes","authors":"Shengli Jin , Fei Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer materials based on linear conjugated dienes play an important role in the rubber industry. Their excellent properties depend on the microstructures of the resulting polymer which can be controlled by polymerization catalysts. Iron is the most abundant transition metal in the earth crust, has better biocompatibility, and these characteristics render iron catalysts promising for the next generation of catalysts. This paper reviews the progress of iron complexes in the polymerization of linear conjugated diene monomers, focusing on the detailed discussion on the effect of catalyst structure on the activity and selectivity of the polymerization. The polymerizations of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene and other conjugated dienes, including bio-based monomers, catalyzed by Ziegler-Natta type catalyst and di-and tridentate iron complex, were summarized to comprehend the polymerization reaction mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114012"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144083998","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}
Zhixi Xu, Xiangwei Meng, Jie Liu, Xiaoqing Guo, Chuanjie Zhang
{"title":"Utilizing zinc borate as an efficient and environmentally friendly flame retardant for the development of flame-resistant regenerated fibers","authors":"Zhixi Xu, Xiangwei Meng, Jie Liu, Xiaoqing Guo, Chuanjie Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reed pulp was used as the raw material for fiber spinning, with [Amim]Cl as the solvent and zinc borate added as a flame retardant, and flame-retardant cellulose fibers were produced through a dry-wet spinning process.Flame-retardant cellulose fibers were produced through a dry-wet spinning process by using reed pulp as the raw material, [Amim]Cl as the solvent, and zinc borate as the flame retardant. The fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and their limiting oxygen index, combustion properties, and thermal stability were assessed. The results revealed that the fibers exhibited a near-circular cross-section with a diameter of approximately 20 μm, and the flame retardant was evenly distributed on both the surface and cross-section of the fibers. The fibers, containing 20 % flame retardant, exhibited an ultimate oxygen index of 30.5 % and demonstrated self-extinguishing behavior in a horizontal orientation. When exposed to flame in a vertical position, they maintained a complete fibrous carbon layer, and their thermal stability was significantly enhanced. The flame retardant mechanism involves zinc borate, which forms ZnO and B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> after dehydration, adhering to the fiber surface to create an inorganic char layer that reduces heat and mass transfer, promotes charcoal formation, and inhibits cellulose thermal degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114003"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935873","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}
Boyang Song , Zhengqiang Fan , Lei Yu , Zhanhao Liu , Mingzhao Chang , Haochuan Sima , Yanchen Li , Jing He , Guochao Yang , Li Li
{"title":"Phytic acid-based smart coatings for enhanced passive-active fire protection of wood","authors":"Boyang Song , Zhengqiang Fan , Lei Yu , Zhanhao Liu , Mingzhao Chang , Haochuan Sima , Yanchen Li , Jing He , Guochao Yang , Li Li","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wood is abundant and has a high specific strength, but its practical applications are limited by its susceptibility to fire. In this study, a novel preparation process was introduced, in which Cu<sup>2+</sup>-exchanged ZSM-5 molecular sieves were chelated with phytic acid via a dynamic hydrothermal method and then coated onto the wood surface. The composite material, Cu-Z-P@W, with passive-active fire protection properties, was successfully prepared. Thermal stability tests showed that, compared to unmodified wood, the residual carbon ratio of Cu-Z-P@W increased from 0.99 % to 35.10 %, demonstrating excellent thermal insulation properties. In vertical combustion UL-94 tests, Cu-Z-P@W achieved a V-0 rating, with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 37.1 %. Additionally, the time to ignition (TTI) was extended to 113 s, while the total heat release (THR) was reduced by 41.76 %. The composite also effectively adsorbs and oxidizes carbon monoxide generated during combustion, thereby reducing smoke toxicity and improving flame retardancy. Moreover, Cu-Z-P exhibits good thermoelectric properties, responding at a low temperature (180 ℃) in just 0.6 s and providing over 20 repetitions of real-time alarms for more than 3 min, demonstrating excellent overall performance. As a result, Cu-Z-P@W shows great potential for applications in furniture manufacturing, interior decoration, building materials, and other fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114002"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935616","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}
Rongli Zhang , Lingran Liu , Zhuo Ge , Hanyu Ren , Wentang Wang , Maiyong Zhu , Chunhui Luo
{"title":"Coordination hydrogel enables an extremely stable, highly sensitive, self-healable and robust underwater sensor","authors":"Rongli Zhang , Lingran Liu , Zhuo Ge , Hanyu Ren , Wentang Wang , Maiyong Zhu , Chunhui Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gel-based electronic sensors have wide applications in wearable sensors and soft devices, but serious swelling issues and performance degradation over time greatly hinder their functions in underwater environments. Herein, a coordination-driven strategy for preparing a conductive hydrogel <em>via</em> aqueous solution radical polymerization of methyl acrylamide (MAm) and L-serinyl acrylate copper complex (LSA) was proposed to address this issue. Owing to the dual hydrophobic/hydrophilic network of PMAm as well as the strong interaction between L-serinyl acrylate and Cu<sup>2+</sup>, the PMAm-L hydrogel maintained its robustness (with a swelling ratio of approximately 3 %, a tensile stress of 113 kPa, and a tensile strain of 183 %) and sensing performance (electric conductivity of 0.5 S/m, and gauge factor of 2.1) even after immersion in water for one month, indicating excellent stability. Reversible rupture/reformation of coordinate bonds under deformation confers self-healing properties to the material. Furthermore, a highly sensitive underwater mechanical sensor based on this gel was developed for precise monitoring of subtle human movements, and underwater communication using Morse code was achieved, thereby significantly expanding the functional applications in water environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114010"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935614","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":"Phytochemical studies of plant extracts enclosed in chitosan microparticles and the effect of phytoformulations on skin condition","authors":"Weronika Walendziak , Natalia Rodríguez Villegas , Timothy E.L. Douglas , Justyna Kozlowska","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.113968","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.113968","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cosmetic industry constantly competes in search of new and exotic raw materials, often forgetting the strength in the action of well-known and tested for many years. The main aim of this study was to formulate dermatological preparations containing plant extracts-loaded microparticles and to investigate the effects of their topical application on skin conditions. Extracts were prepared using the Soxhlet apparatus with water and ethanol as solvents with the following common Polish herbs: <em>Viola tricolor, Veronica officinalis, Glechoma hederacea, Plantago lanceolata</em>; flowers: <em>Achillea millefolium, Sambucus nigra, Tilia cordata</em>; rhizome: <em>Potentilla erecta</em>. They were characterised by the content of polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC, FRAP and DPPH RSA). Subsequently, extracts were enclosed in chitosan microparticles with studied loading capacity and <em>in vitro</em> release profile. The highest level of TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity was noted in aqueous extract from <em>Sambucus nigra</em>. Biophysical skin parameters were instrumentally assessed after application to the probands skin of obtained herbal creams and hydrogels. Preliminary studies of the application of phytoformulations revealed that the skin was not irritated, and the skin’s barrier permeability was maintained. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in skin hydration. Better short-term hydration properties showed cream containing microparticles with a loaded extract from <em>Glechoma hederacea + Plantago lanceolata + Achillea millefolium + Tilia cordata + Potentilla erecta</em> and hydrogel with free extracts from <em>Sambucus nigra</em> and <em>Viola tricolor + Veronica officinalis.</em> Therefore, prepared herbal dermatological preparations are suitable for skin conditioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 113968"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912089","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}
Geng Ren , Qaiser Mahmood , Shuangshuang Liu , Yizhou Wang , Qiuyu Li , Aoqian Xi , Tongling Liang , Wen-Hua Sun
{"title":"Fluoro-enriched α-diimine nickel precatalysts for enhanced thermostability in synthesis of polyethylene elastomer","authors":"Geng Ren , Qaiser Mahmood , Shuangshuang Liu , Yizhou Wang , Qiuyu Li , Aoqian Xi , Tongling Liang , Wen-Hua Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microstructural, thermal, and physical properties of α-diimine nickel-catalyzed polyethylene are customizable due to the unique chain-walking characteristic of these catalysts. Through a stepwise reaction strategy, a set of five new 1,2-bis(imino)acenaphthenequinone-nickel complexes, each adorned with seven fluoro groups were prepared and then evaluated for ethylene polymerization. Employing two alkylaluminium cocatalysts individually (EASC or MMAO), these nickel precatalysts displayed high polymerization activities (up to 2.9 × 10<sup>7</sup> g mol<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> at 30 °C), producing branched polyethylene with high molecular weights (<em>M</em><sub>w</sub> ≈ 10<sup>5</sup> g mol<sup>−1</sup>) and excellent mechanical properties. Compared to previous analogues, the incorporation of a higher number of fluoro groups gave higher thermal stability with an exceptionally high activity of 2.7 × 10<sup>6</sup> g mol<sup>−1</sup> at 100 °C. The branching density varied from 63 to 94/1000C at 30 °C, depending on the ligand structure, while increase of temperature raised the branching degree to 109/1000C at 100 °C. These variations in branching significantly influenced the polymer melt temperature, mechanical, and elastic properties, resulting in polyethylene with high tensile strength (<em>σ</em><sub>b</sub> = up to 11 MPa), low Young modulus (E = up to 5.5 MPa), and good elastic properties (SR = up to 61 %).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114004"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912088","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":"Liposome-mediated anticancer drug delivery strategies for advancing brain tumor therapy","authors":"Mohsen Rahmanian , Fatemeh Oroojalian , Prashant Kesharwani , Amirhossein Sahebkar","doi":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The treatment of brain tumors remains a formidable challenge due to the complexity of tumor biology and the restrictive nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Current research emphasizes the development of advanced diagnostic tools and innovative therapeutic strategies. Recent findings highlight the intricate role of glia-neuron interactions in glioma progression and neuronal survival. Among emerging therapies, liposome-mediated anticancer drug delivery offers a promising approach, addressing critical hurdles like BBB permeability and the tumor microenvironment. This review discusses key advancements, including ligand-targeted liposomes, stimuli-responsive formulations, and integration with gene therapy, which collectively improve the specificity and efficacy of treatment for gliomas and other brain tumors. While these strategies show great potential, further research and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to translate these innovations into clinical practice, paving the way for better therapeutic outcomes in brain tumor management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":315,"journal":{"name":"European Polymer Journal","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114001"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143918479","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}