Themed collection Polymer Chemistry Open Access Spotlight

Impact of confinement on kinetics of free radical polymerization, linking geometrical constraints and physiochemical effects to polymerization steps.

A concise overview of soft-templated ordered mesoporous carbon films is provided, discussing the key morphology-specific aspects of their synthesis, characterization and applications.

Tellurophene, a five-membered heterocycle of metalloid tellurium, has unique redox, and optoelectronic properties. When integrated as a homopolymer or copolymer, these polymers exhibit novel properties, tailorable towards various applications.

This review aims to guide polymer chemists in adopting enzymatic catalysis for sustainable polymer synthesis, highlighting enzymes as powerful tools.

Metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs) combine metal–ligand coordination and non-covalent interactions. This review highlights how ligand geometry and metal choice influence MSP design for emerging applications.

AI-driven polymer science: a structured perspective on integrating machine learning for data analysis, property prediction, and automated research workflows.

Ionogels with novel properties draw inspiration from the outstanding covalent designs of hydrogels and covalent adaptable networks.

π-Conjugated polymers containing heavier group 13 elements are emerging materials applicable to optoelectronic devices and inorganic synthesis. This review presents an overview of synthesis and optical properties of these polymers.

We report the synthesis of sterically unhindered boron-doped π-conjugated polymers via polymerization of organo-dilithium reagents with boron trichloride.

Water-soluble polymers are extensively studied materials in the field of biomedical chemistry research.

A synergistic RECl₃/[Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆ catalyst system enables the controlled, ring-opening polymerisation of THF at room temperature without the need of any additional initiators via heterobimetallic cooperativity.

Tridentate titanium complexes with different side-arm donors were employed for the efficient (activity of up to 3.41 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹ h⁻¹) production of poly(1-butene) with multiple types of isotacticity (ranging from atactic to 91% mmmm).

Group transfer polymerization (GTP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in gas–liquid droplet flow showed consistently lower Đ values of polyMMA than those obtained in fully continuous flow, even with long operation times.

A vitamin B₁₂-derived photothermal catalyst enables controlled isocyanide copolymerization, synthesis of block copolymers, and temporal control via ATRP, while outperforming conventional systems under white light irradiation.

Six-membered 1,3-dioxa-2-silacycloalkanes were demonstrated to undergo ring-opening polymerization and subsequent monomer regeneration via polymer degradation.

The introduction of hydrophobic units into polymeric ionic liquids unexpectedly resulted in an increase in water solubility.

The first study of Transfer-dominated Branching Radical Telomerisation using diacrylate taxogens shows elevated temperatures are required to create soluble high molecular weight branched polymers with full vinyl group consumption.

Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) is a petroleum-based copolymer that finds utility in both industrial and academic fields. Well-defined bioderived alternatives to SMAnh were synthesized via RAFT-mediated copolymerization.

Thermal properties, morphology, and ion transport properties of single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte blends based on a side-chain ionomer are investigated.

A bioeconomy approach to produce green nylons (PA1010/410) via polycondensation reaction using renewable monomers. The resulting films showed excellent properties for food packaging and meat preservation, compared with conventional petrochemical-based materials.

Functional materials through diversity-oriented synthesis including otherwise hard to synthesise chemistries revealed by artificial synthesis and characterisation.

A new synthesis of PDTBTBz-2F_anti was developed via DHAP using a partially biobased monomer. Two pathways were compared by DFT, experiments and OSC tests, benchmarked to Stille coupling, and preliminarily adapted to continuous-flow.

This study explores a newly identified transamidation exchange in the β-amino amide dynamic covalent chemistry and the chemical recycling of β-amino amide-derived covalent adaptable networks.

A direct, functional monomer-based route for ROS sensitive poly(2-oxazoline)s is presented. Oxidation and hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic switching were successfully conducted for the resulting homo- and block copolymers.

New D–A polymers with symmetric dithienocyclopentapyrenes (PyDT) and benzothiadiazole (BT) were reported. The amorphous cs-PyDT-BT showed red emission with 22% PLQY in lower M_n and achieved hole mobility up to 1.03 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in medium M_n.

Tailorable and well-defined itaconic acid based polymers.

The straightforward incorporation of labile β-amino ester moieties into the main backbone of industrially relevant thermoplastic polyurethane allows for a catalyst-free synthesis and chemical degradation under mild conditions.

Trithiocarbonates are more effective and have a different initiation mechanism than dithiobenzoates for the RAFT depolymerization of PMMA in toluene.

Thiophenolic dithiols enabled rapid, selective thiol-quinone polyaddition, forming thiol-catechol connected (TCC) polymers with strong dry and underwater adhesion driven by high glass transition temperatures and intrinsic hydrophobicity.

Photolatent guanidine bases enable spatial and temporal control of thiol–thioester exchange in covalent adaptable networks, tuning viscoelastic properties and demonstrating light- and heat-induced activation for healing and patterning.

Customization of ethylene and alkyl acrylate copolymers yields materials with mechanical properties comparable to polyethylene but with enhanced oxidative degradability.

Sequence-defined and stereocontrolled polymers represent an emerging class of macromolecules, offering the potential to design protein-like molecular architectures based on abiotic polymer backbones.

The dynamic interactions of barium ions with a synthetic polymer are examined. These interactions result in the formation of intramolecularly folded single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs), offering targeted control over the polymer morphology.

Targeted depolymerisation is achieved in micro and macro 3D printed structures by activating an embedded latent base, offering a novel and sustainable (meth)acrylate-free strategy.

This article presents HMF derived epoxide copolymerization with cyclic anhydrides, adding aldehyde groups into the polyester backbone. Orthogonal post-polymerization modification of poly(CFGE-alt-(exo-NA)) exploits aldehyde and alkene sites.

Synergistic engineering of P3HB stereomicrostructure and architecture effectively tunes its thermal, mechanical, rheological and barrier properties without altering its chemical composition, offering an effective strategy to design mono-materials.

Functionalized and synthesized Rod–Coil design via ROMP show controlled structures, adjustable band gaps, enhanced conjugation, thermal robustness, and promise for flexible electronics.

Sequential crosslinking steps convert industrial waste sulfur into versatile high-sulfur content materials (HSMs), each with distinct properties, providing a tunable platform for advanced material development.

Use of riboflavin as a sustainable and economical organophotocatalyst enables the photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative functionalization of a superabsorbent polymer component, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), to copolymers of PAA and poly(vinyl fluoride).

Fe–H initiated radical polymerization of acrylates with Fe(acac)₃ and tetramethyldisiloxane under mild conditions yields polymers with molecular weights up to 700 kg mol⁻¹ and 20–50% conversion, showing strong viscoelastic properties.

The sulfur thermoplastic polymer prepared by the reaction of sulfur monomer ring-opening polymerization initiated by thioctic acid can achieve long-term humid adhesion.

Polymerization-induced microphase separation (PIMS) is a versatile technique for manufacturing nanostructured materials.

Pyridine is shown to be an effective catalyst for the snthesis of low molar mass cyclic polyglcolides via zwittzerionic polymerization. The cyclic polyglycolides form extended-ring crystals in the mass range below m/z 3000.

This article describes a newly synthesized thiol-functional amine synergist and its application as a co-initiator in two-component initiating systems to initiate radical photopolymerization in 3D printing.

A new synthetic method that generates a middle block sulfonated SEBS proton exchange membrane through partial hydrogenation of polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene and a subsequent thiol–ene click reaction and oxidation.

Bio-based PLA-b-PO₃G_n-b-PLA copolymers were synthesized via ROP of L-/rac-lactide using PO₃G_n macroinitiators. Their chemical structure, thermal behaviour, and nanoparticle self-assembly into nanoparticles were thoroughly studied.

The synthesized poly(cationic-co-anionic) based hydrogels are very effective in simultaneous removal of dyes (both cationic and anionic dyes) and heavy metals from an aqueous medium.

Highly stereoregular conjugated polysilanes were synthesized from well-defined diastereomeric building blocks.

The ketimide half-titanocene catalysts 1–3 yielded high molar mass propene-norbornene copolymers (P-co-N) with efficient N incorporation and tensile properties ranging from ductile and tough materials to stiff and fragile ones as N content increases.

Fully biobased thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) via RAFT polymerization with terpenoid methacrylates glassy blocks. Demonstrating the efficacy in producing high-performance, sustainable TPEs offering a viable alternative to conventional TPE materials.

We introduce trioxanes as a new motif for on-demand photolysis of 3D printed polymer networks via an orthogonal light source using photoacid generators (PAGs).

Roadmap to obtain acrylate-specific rate coefficients/Arrhenius parametersrr via PLP-SEC.

N-Acylated poly(amino esters) (PAEs) synthesized via organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) offer potential for tailored, functional and degradable polymers.

A series of cationic ring opening polymerisations (CROP) were conducted on a library of electronically diverse para-substituted 2-phenyl-2-oxazolines.

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) is well established as the gold standard for routine molecular weight analysis of polymers giving both mass and mass dispersity information.

This work pioneers CNC-stabilized waterborne non-isocyanate polyurethane latexes via Pickering emulsion polymerization, achieving surfactant-free, fluorescent and sustainable materials.

The addition of glutathione facilitated successive disulfide exchange reactions in the polymersome, resulting in the crosslinking of the membrane. This decreased the membrane permeability, enabling the controlled gradual release of the loaded cargo.

Furfural-derived cyclic hemiacetal esters did not undergo cationic homopolymerization, while cationic copolymerization with oxiranes and terpolymerization with vinyl ethers and oxiranes successfully proceeded to yield acidically degradable polymers.

The influence of irradiation conditions on the livingness in xanthate supported photo-iniferter RAFT polymerization is investigated. Multiblock and diblock systems are used to assess chain extension in batch and flow.

Photoiniferter (PI)-RAFT polymerisation is a promising approach to synthesise a broad range of polymers due to its' "living" nature. We have investigated the effect of illumination, solvent and temperature on the PI-RAFT polymerisation of PEGMA.

We present the pressure-induced polymerization of 1,4-cyclohexadiene, wherein thermal methods may access multiple reaction pathways. In contrast, light enables solely cyclobutane-based nanothreads to arise from a single viable reaction pathway.

A dual catalytic strategy converts cycloaliphatic dienes into high T_g polyesters, offering an innovative route to advanced polymer materials.

Poly((−)-dihydrocarvide) is synthesized via yttrium-mediated ring-opening polymerization. Block copolymerization and functionalization yield semi-crystalline and brush polymers, highlighting its versatility in copolymer design.

We introduce a streamlined synthesis of non-symmetric isoindigo-based polymers to enhance specificity and tunability. Structural and mechanical characterization was conducted to elucidate the effects of symmetry-breaking on key material properties.

Carotenoids are ideal building blocks for degradable π-conjugated polymers due to their intrinsic single-molecule conductance and well-documented degradation pathways.

Biohybrid polycarbonates with a controlled degree of functionality can be prepared catalytically from (a)cyclic terpene oxides and CO₂ under practical conditions, and selectively depolymerized affording the original oxirane monomers.

New electron-deficient p–π* conjugated polymers with thiaborin-based building blocks showed extended conjugation through the boron p orbital, strong absorption in the visible to near-infrared region, and deep LUMO energy levels lower than −3.6 eV.

Tuning molecular structure and hydrophobicity enables co-assembled di- and tri-block amphiphiles to undergo cascade mesophase transitions with controlled timing—advancing the design of programmable enzyme-responsive materials with complex behavior.

The first RAFT emulsion polymerisation formulation in ionic liquid yields transparent diblock copolymer nanoparticle dispersions with improved efficiency and control.

Disulfide-based epoxy vitrimers enable full relaxation without excess amine. Introducing up to 32% non-dynamic epoxy enhances material properties while maintaining dynamic features like repairability, recyclability, and reprocessability.