{"title":"Ionic polymers for bioelectronics","authors":"Ilaria Abdel Aziz , David Mecerreyes","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101994","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101994","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the last decades, ionic polymers have been used as key materials for energy applications as solid polymer electrolytes, binders and ionomers in devices such as batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cells. More recently, ionic polymers are becoming enabling materials also in bioelectronics for new biomedical technologies. This review aims to collect and discuss the recent advances in polymer design, synthesis and characterization of ionic polymers for bioelectronic devices. The review includes the ionic polymer families that are being developed, such as poly(ionic liquid)s and poly(eutectic solvents), as well as ionic gel families such as hydrogels, ionogels and eutectogels. Polymers and gels from purely ionic conductors to mixed ionic electronic conducting polymers will be discussed. We delve into structure-ion conductivity relationships and outline current and possible applications of such novel conductive materials. These ionic polymers are central to the development of fundamental bioelectronic devices such as organic electrochemical transistors, amperometric detectors, controlled-release devices, and even disruptive neuromorphic computing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101994"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144594900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zoi Terzopoulou, Alexandra Zamboulis, Nikolaos D. Bikiaris, Eleftheria Xanthopoulou, Rafail O. Ioannidis, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris
{"title":"A Decade of Innovation: Synthesis, Properties and Applications of PLA Copolymers","authors":"Zoi Terzopoulou, Alexandra Zamboulis, Nikolaos D. Bikiaris, Eleftheria Xanthopoulou, Rafail O. Ioannidis, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101991","url":null,"abstract":"Over the past decade, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) copolymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials, offering enhanced properties and broader application potential compared to neat PLA. As the leading biobased plastic, PLA has high strength, processability, and industrial compostability; however, its brittleness, limited thermal stability, and slow (bio)degradation under ambient conditions hinder its widespread adoption in advanced applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PLA-based copolymers, excluding PLA stereoisomers and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), focusing on their synthesis, structure-property relationships, and potential uses. Copolymerization strategies—including ring-opening polymerization (ROP), polycondensation, and controlled radical polymerization—enable precise control over PLA’s mechanical, thermal, and degradation characteristics. The incorporation of diverse comonomers, such as lactones, diacids, diols, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and naturally derived polymers, has led to copolymers with tuneable properties suited for packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and sustainable materials engineering. Advances in block, random, and graft copolymer architectures further expand PLA's functionality, enabling the design of high-performance biobased materials. By summarizing recent findings, this work highlights how tailored PLA copolymers are shaping the future of sustainable polymers.","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144578477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alessio Lo Bocchiaro, Carlos Pavón, Francesca Lorandi, Edmondo M. Benetti
{"title":"Discreteness and dispersity in the design of polymeric materials","authors":"Alessio Lo Bocchiaro, Carlos Pavón, Francesca Lorandi, Edmondo M. Benetti","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature produces macromolecules with discrete molar mass and precise composition, both of which are essential for ensuring structural control, distinctive properties, and specific functions. However, in some cases, bioderived components are heterogeneous in size, and this plays a crucial role in defining their physicochemical characteristics. In a similar way, polymer scientists have been striving to develop robust synthetic protocols to access macromolecules with homogeneous composition and discrete molar mass. Simultaneously, significant advances in controlled polymerization techniques have enabled the precise regulation of chain length heterogeneity, or dispersity (<em>Đ</em>), across a wide range of values. Achieving perfectly monodisperse polymers is not only a remarkable synthetic achievement but also provides fundamental building blocks for new classes of polymeric materials. These materials could be either free of defects or exhibit properties that are precisely tunable in a quantized manner. On the other hand, obtaining polymer samples with controlled dispersity provides an additional tuning parameter for the physicochemical properties of a variety of materials formulations. By leveraging macromolecular discreteness and fine-tuning polymer dispersity, we have expanded the toolbox for designing advanced “soft” materials. Block copolymers with discrete segment lengths or controlled dispersity can be used to create novel nanostructured materials. Stimuli-responsive polymeric systems can be engineered to precisely adjust their physical transitions while maintaining a constant chemical composition. In addition, tailoring polymer dispersity during the fabrication of gels and brush coatings enhances the ability to fine-tune their physicochemical properties, further broadening their potential applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101992"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144578476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sequence-defined polymers for biomedical applications","authors":"Nicholas Jäck , Sören Nagel , Laura Hartmann","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sequence-defined polymers offer unparalleled structural precision, enabling tailored biological interactions, enhanced stability, and optimized function. Unlike traditional synthetic polymers, which often lack defined structures, these materials allow for precise tuning of molecular interactions to improve biomedical performance. This review surveys advancements over the past decade, covering foundational studies that elucidate sequence-function relationships - such as interactions with model lectins - as well as direct biomedical applications including nucleotide delivery, lectin and protein inhibition, antibacterial and antiviral strategies, tumor therapy, and bioimaging. The control over polymer sequences is crucial for enhancing specificity, reducing off-target effects, and improving stability in physiological environments.</div><div>By comparing sequence-defined polymers with natural biopolymers and conventional synthetic materials, we highlight their advantages in addressing challenges like immune recognition, enzymatic degradation, and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. These materials present new avenues for developing targeted therapies, precision drug delivery systems, and advanced biomaterials.</div><div>Distinguishing itself from previous reviews focused on synthetic methodologies, this work emphasizes how sequence precision impacts biological function and thus potential biomedical applications. By summarizing foundational examples, recent breakthroughs and key challenges, we provide insights into the pivotal role of sequence-defined macromolecules in shaping the next generation of bioactive materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101993"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144566413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shuai Chen , Lishan Liang , Yuqian Zhang , Kaiwen Lin , Mingna Yang , Ling Zhu , Xiaomei Yang , Ling Zang , Baoyang Lu
{"title":"PEDOT:PSS-based electronic materials: Preparation, performance tuning, processing, applications, and future prospect","authors":"Shuai Chen , Lishan Liang , Yuqian Zhang , Kaiwen Lin , Mingna Yang , Ling Zhu , Xiaomei Yang , Ling Zang , Baoyang Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) represents a breakthrough in addressing the processability challenges of traditionally insoluble and infusible conducting polymers (CPs). It uniquely combines solution processability with high chemical and thermal stability, excellent biocompatibility, and outstanding electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. For over 35 years, PEDOT:PSS has remained at the forefront of both commercial and academic research in organic electronics, spanning disciplines such as chemistry, materials science, biology, electronics, medicine, energy, and engineering. This review offers a comprehensive and systematic overview of PEDOT:PSS, covering synthesis strategies, performance optimization, composite system design, and processing techniques across various material forms, including aqueous dispersions, powders, films, nanofibers, hydrogels, aerogels, elastomers, and sponges. It also discusses the specific requirements, current status, and ongoing challenges in both laboratory research and industrial applications. In light of recent advances in flexible, wearable, and multifunctionally integrated electronics, this review outlines future development directions with an emphasis on miniaturization and environmental sustainability. Particular attention is given to emerging applications in flexible, wearable, biomedical, and intelligent electronics, aiming to provide researchers with critical insights to inspire innovation at the frontiers of this rapidly evolving field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 101990"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144341477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huan Tan , Xiaolan Li , Linlong Li , Xue Bai , Jing You , Yuanyuan Zhou , Shirun Chu , Xiao Huang , Qiaoli Wu , Jie Weng , Jun Li
{"title":"Recent advances in the design of hydrogels: Renaissance of the Hofmeister effect","authors":"Huan Tan , Xiaolan Li , Linlong Li , Xue Bai , Jing You , Yuanyuan Zhou , Shirun Chu , Xiao Huang , Qiaoli Wu , Jie Weng , Jun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101989","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101989","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Hofmeister effect has been known for >135 years since Hofmeister and Lewith’s foundational work. Over the past decade, salt treatment induced by the Hofmeister effect in concentrated gelator molecules has attracted considerable interest in designing functional hydrogels without any complicated chemical modifications. Herein, we provide a detailed overview of recent advances in using the Hofmeister effect to regulate the properties of hydrogels, from the perspective of fundamental theories to applications. This review comprehensively emphasizes the main interactions or effects related to specific ions influencing the performance of pre-gel solutions for hydrogel formation. Moreover, this review focuses on the roles of salt ions in regulating the properties and functionalities of hydrogels, including mechanical properties, ionic conductivity, anti-freezing capability, optical properties, printability, analytical sensitivity, and shape memory ability. Additionally, we provide an overview of the potential applications of these hydrogels in various fields. Finally, this review highlights the challenges and opportunities of this approach and proposes potential issues for understanding the Hofmeister effect in designing functional hydrogels. The broad scale and versatility of this approach make it a promising strategy for developing task-specific hydrogels with customized properties and functionalities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 101989"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144337869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ning Ren , Xiangyi Wang , Pan Sun , Mengqi Ge , Wenwen Han , Xinyuan Zhu
{"title":"Multi-mechanism polymerization as a promising tool for polymer synthesis","authors":"Ning Ren , Xiangyi Wang , Pan Sun , Mengqi Ge , Wenwen Han , Xinyuan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101988","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101988","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The properties and applications of polymeric materials are closely related to the composition and architecture of the polymer chain, which is primarily realized by the chemical bonds formed during the polymerization process. Due to the selectivity of typical polymerizations, constructing different types of chemical bonds usually requires different mechanisms. For this reason, multi-mechanism polymerization is a commonly used technique. However, due to the complex nature of chemical reactions, different mechanisms could affect each other. Incorporating multiple mechanisms in a single polymerization requires the elaborate design of the synthetic route and rational arrangement of the reaction sequence. Considering the importance of multi-mechanism polymerization for polymer synthesis, the scope of this review is to summarize the research progress on multi-mechanism polymerization. Because the number of publications using stepwise, sequential polymerizations is much more than those with simultaneous polymerizations, this review focuses primarily on the latter type with a brief summary of the former. Polymerization mechanisms and their combinations categorize multi-mechanism polymerizations. The mutual interactions between different mechanisms are discussed before summarizing and highlighting the published works during recent years. A perspective on the mechanistic and kinetic relationship between multi-mechanism polymerizations and their single-mechanism polymerization counterparts is also afforded in this review.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 101988"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Moein Mohammadi-Jorjafki , Milad Babazadeh-Mamaqani , Reza Khalilzadeh , Hossein Roghani-Mamaqani , Richard Hoogenboom , Feng Wang
{"title":"Multimode anticounterfeiting materials based on polymers and supramolecular chemistry","authors":"Moein Mohammadi-Jorjafki , Milad Babazadeh-Mamaqani , Reza Khalilzadeh , Hossein Roghani-Mamaqani , Richard Hoogenboom , Feng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101986","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101986","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combination of polymer science and supramolecular chemistry has emerged as a promising exploration platform in developing dynamic and responsive materials. The synergy of non-covalent supramolecular chemistry with macromolecular covalent chemistry has opened up advanced applications in the sensing and anticounterfeiting fields. Such supramolecular interactions include hydrogen bonding, host-guest interactions, metal coordination and electrostatic interactions, donor-acceptor, and π-π stacking. Since many supramolecular self-assembling systems lead to a change in absorption or emission behavior of the involved supramolecular units, the combination of polymers with such supramolecular motifs provides a powerful platform for sensing, information storage, and anticounterfeiting applications. Considering that counterfeiting tactics continue to change, the need for multimode anticounterfeiting systems with diverse color and time dimensions as dynamic anticounterfeiting technology is indispensable. Due to the high need for multimode anticounterfeiting materials for nations, governments, suppliers, and customers, it is highly promising to use reversible, dynamic supramolecular structures in combination with polymers that provide good processability and materials properties. This review article provides an overview of the design and application of polymer materials with embedded supramolecular interactions as innovative multimodal anticounterfeiting materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 101986"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144279949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Soonho Jang , Myeong-Hwa Ryou , Ji-Youn Bae , Seung-Ho Yu , Sang-Young Lee , Joona Bang
{"title":"Polymeric chemistry design for battery electrode binders","authors":"Soonho Jang , Myeong-Hwa Ryou , Ji-Youn Bae , Seung-Ho Yu , Sang-Young Lee , Joona Bang","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101987","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101987","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer binders are essential for battery electrode stability, ensuring adhesion and cohesion, facilitating active material dispersion, and providing mechanical resilience against cycling-induced stresses. However, conventional binders such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) and carboxymethyl cellulose/styrene-butadiene rubber, which are widely used in lithium-ion battery electrodes, struggle to meet these functional requirements, particularly in high-capacity and high-voltage electrodes. These limitations affect electrochemical performance, cycle life, and manufacturability, necessitating a new paradigm in battery design. Recent advances in polymer chemistry and molecular engineering have enabled the development of functional binders that offer improved mechanical properties, interfacial stability, and electrochemical compatibility. This review comprehensively examines binder design approaches, emphasizing quantitative structure–property relationships to provide a predictive framework for rational binder engineering. Key focus areas include adhesion and cohesion, dispersion stability, mechanical strength, and electrochemical stability, alongside emerging functionalities such as ionic/electrical conductivity, electrolyte compatibility, and flame retardance. By integrating multi-scale engineering approaches with case studies on silicon anodes, nickel-rich cathodes, dry-processed electrodes, and emerging electrodes, this review presents a strategic roadmap for the innovation of next-generation binder. The insights presented herein offer a scientifically grounded, application-driven framework for the development of scalable, high-performance, and sustainable binder technologies that will shape the future of advanced battery materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 101987"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144219351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emulsion templating: DIY versatility for the creative design of macroporous polymers","authors":"Samah Saied-Ahmad, Michael S. Silverstein","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101970","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101970","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porous polymers are of interest for a wide variety of applications including absorption, adsorption, tissue engineering, membranes, controlled release, reaction supports, and shape memory foams. Emulsion templating can be used to generate high-porosity, macroporous polymer monoliths with highly interconnected, micrometer-scale porous structures through polymerization in the external, continuous phase followed by removal of the internal, dispersed phase. Emulsion templating possesses, on one hand, the benefit of being seemly simple. This simplicity, however, belies its inherent versatility and considerable parameter space that enables creative design of innovative new materials in terms of their macromolecular structures, their porous structures, and their properties. As described here, approaching emulsion templating with a specific structure or application in mind can enable a do-it-yourself outlook to imaginatively selecting the most appropriate emulsion type, stabilization strategy, polymerization mechanism, crosslinking strategy, and post-synthesis modification. The research and development of emulsion-templated polymers has been blossoming, as reflected not only in the number of articles published, but also in the number of novel porous polymer materials synthesized and in the number of heretofore unexplored applications investigated. It is the hidden complexity of emulsion templating that enables a continuous stream of pioneering works stemming from breakthrough insights in connected and contiguous scientific fields. This appraisal, highlighting emulsion templating strategies, will serve as a guide for those involved in developing innovative polymers with unique macromolecular and porous structures that engender exceptional properties. Contemplating the future directions of emulsion templating, given the robust nature of its established foundation, suggests that innovative research and development will continue to flourish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 101970"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144067273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}