Themed collection Polymer Chemistry Open Access Spotlight 2026

Solvent-free, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer strong potential for next-generation, electrochemical energy storage by enhancing safety and performance, supporting flexible device architectures, and streamlining manufacturing processes.

In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on design strategies and chemistries of poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid-state electrolytes.

Dimethylformamide (DMF), a commonly employed solvent during poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) functionalization, was noted to decompose and chemically modify the copolymer under laboratory relevant conditions.

pH-responsive nanogels prepared via RAFT-mediated PISA show tunable swelling, high colloidal stability, and reversible behaviour, highlighting their potential for smart delivery, biosensing, and adaptive biomaterials.

A combination of Time-Resolved Diffusion and ¹H NMR to track the evolution of molecular weight and monomer conversion of photo-ATRP. The gamma model and dispersity-matched accumulation enable an accurate determination of dispersity.

Core-crosslinked star polymers were synthesized via a “grafting-through” approach.

In this study, we revealed the effect of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) on the self-assembly and shape transformation of PEG-PS-P4VP copolymers by systematically investigating the amount of 4VP, block arrangement, and dialysis conditions.

The effect of the introduction of carbonyl units into PET on its degradation behaviour has been investigated under artificial weathering conditions.

Force in the milling jar extends the polymer coasters. Liquid-assisted grinding enables (top) the combination of normally incompatible parts that show self-assembly, and (bottom) the controlled growth of ultra-long tracks with thousands of segments.

A catalytic system to produce high-cis polybutadiene (cis-PBD), consisting of neodymium carboxylate and halogenated methylaluminoxane (MAO), was developed.

Here, we developed a post-polymerization modification approach that enables tunable functionalization of activated-ester polymers to yield structurally consistent copolymers.

Ring-opening copolymerization of CO₂ with BnGE and/or CHO promoted by an Al/Fe/Co complex or BEt₃, combined with PPNCl, afforded PBnGEC and P(BnGEC-co-CHC). TBD-depolymerization of PBnGEC, PCHC and P(BnGEC-co-CHC) returned both corresponding cyclic carbonates.

A multi-fidelity transfer learning framework integrates group contribution, molecular dynamics, and experimental data to enable accurate and scalable prediction of polymer specific heat capacities.

Degradable polypeptide structures are produced by a molding process via rapid photo-crosslinking using photobase generators, enabling fully amino acid-based three-dimensional objects.

A series of discrete linear oligosiloxanes was prepared through precise control over compositions and sequences. The relationship between their molecular structures and melt viscosities was examined.

We synthesized partially α-methylated poly(vinyl alcohol)s (PVAs), which are difficult to obtain using conventional methods, through radical copolymerization of vinyl- and isopropenyl-type boron monomers followed by side-chain oxidation.

Vegetable-oil based epoxy formulations were investigated as 3D-printing materials with dynamic polymer network properties. DPN systems demonstrated successful 3D printability and were proven to be thermally reprocessable.

Conversion of cyclic renewable monomers derived from camphoric acid and CHDM into biobased polyesters with tunable thermal and structural properties.

Physics-informed Bayesian optimization reveals insights into solution-processed planar conjugated semiconducting polymer design.

Reported are a new class of Ionic Fluorogels (IFs) that leverage perfectly alternating copolymers to build a fluorous anion exchange resin. The synergistic combination of fluorophilic matrix with cationic charge resulted in high PFAS sorption.

DNA adaptors identified by codon domains bind opposite strands of a palindromic duplex template. Reactants linked to like (3′ or 5′) adaptor termini are brought together in a constant reaction environment suitable for programmed multistep synthesis.

The hydrazine reduction of a poly(3-methoxythiophene)–iron chloride complex, without any complication, afforded the magnetic conducting nanocomposite poly(3-methoxythiophene)/Fe₃O₄.

Here we report a facile strategy to prepare dual-dynamic networks (DDNs) comprising Diels–Alder (DA) covalent bonds and non-covalent hydrogen bonds which combine excellent mechanical properties and creep resistance with facile processability.

This article presents a kinetic study on the RAFT polymerisation of pentafluorostyrene as well as the subsequent precise control over the post-polymerisation modification via para-fluoro thiol reaction by virtue of continuous flow.

Base-assisted degradable methacrylic polymer microcapsules were synthesized via interfacial radical polymerizations using 4,4-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-5-one (DMDL) as a monomer to provide degradable units in the obtained microcapsule shell.

A designed synthetic platform enables access to poly(1,2-disulfonimide)s. Practical observations, together with theoretical insights, pave the way for disulfonimide chemistry as a foundation for next-generation high-performance polymers.

A cyclic xanthate is shown to undergo thiocarbonyl addition-ring-opening (TARO) homo- and copolymerization, affording a labile dithiocarbonate backbone functionality. Both C–S bonds are cleavable through aminolysis and hydrolysis.

This study reveals a radical-mediated pathway in the KCTP of glycolated thiophenes. Adding MgCl₂ suppresses inactive aggregates to promote a productive and more controlled polymerization.

We report herein the living polymerization of an amphiphilic, helical aramid diblock copolymer made possible by the utilization of the reagent PHOS3.

Self-assembly of block copolymer P(BA₅₀-PDSA₅)-b-PEO₁₂₅-N₃ under variation of solvent composition, polymer concentration, and water addition rate revealed kinetic formation of diverse morphologies and indentified key parameters of shape control.