Themed collection Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers


Developments in polytellurophenes and tellurophene-containing polymers: from synthesis to 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.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 3187-3210
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00439J
Hydrosilylation-derived silicon-containing hydrocarbon-based polymers exhibiting ultralow dielectric losses and high thermal stabilities
Hydrosilylation-derived polymers combining siloxane and hydrocarbon units exhibit ultralow dielectric losses and outstanding thermal stability up to 110 GHz, offering promising performance for next-generation high-frequency applications.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 3683-3692
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00431D
Polynorbornene with silicon cluster pendant groups
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) on a norbornene-terminated Si[2.2.2] oligosilane enables access to the first polymers with multicyclic silicon cluster pendant groups. These are materials of interest for ultrathin dielectrics.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 3523-3531
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00465A

Stereogenic-at-silicon hybrid conjugated polymers
Highly stereoregular conjugated polysilanes were synthesized from well-defined diastereomeric building blocks.
Polym. Chem., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00405E
Enhancement of the adhesion of polysiloxane-based adhesives through catechol functionalization
Catechol-functionalized polysiloxane-based adhesives (PDMS-PS-Ph(OH)2) were used to adhere aluminum plates, exhibiting high tensile shear strength (12.7–21.7 MPa) and retaining strong adhesion under impact loads and at high temperatures (180–190 °C).
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 3237-3243
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00442J
Tuning the properties of polysulfides using functionalised cardanol crosslinkers
This study presents the synthesis, characterisation, and property analysis of surface-functionalised polysulfides synthesised via inverse vulcanisation of elemental sulfur with cardanol and its silane-functionalised derivatives.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 3138-3145
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00478K

Synthesis of electron-deficient polymers based on sulfur-bridged dithienylboranes as a building block
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.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 2751-2756
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00203F
Deep eutectic ion-conductive hybrids produced by combining hydroxyl-functionalized silsesquioxane and mono-/difunctional hydrogen bond acceptors
Deep eutectic silsesquioxane (SQ) hybrids were developed by simply mixing hydroxyl-functionalized SQ with imidazolium- and ammonium-based organic salts acting as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) in the presence of a small amount of difunctional HBAs.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 2378-2388
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00192G
Preparation of highly thermally stable and soluble ethylene-crosslinked ladder-like polymethylsiloxanes via template polymerisation
Soluble ethylene-crosslinked ladder-like polymethylsiloxanes were prepared via template polymerisation. These polymers exhibited significantly high thermal stability, and their cast films demonstrated high transparency.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 2154-2161
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00058K

The origin of the thermally stable white-light emission property of POSS-conjugated polymer hybrid films
We revealed that bulky substituents on POSS and similar emission quantum yields between the POSS (ΦDonor,film) and the π-conjugated polymer (ΦAcceptor,film) are the key factors for creating hybrid films with thermally stable white-light emission.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 1813-1821
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5PY00144G

Preparation of phenyl-substituted open-cage silsesquioxane-pendant polysiloxanes and their thermal and optical properties
Sol–gel reaction of phenyl-substituted corner-opening type POSS (CO-POSS) bearing tris(dimethoxysilyl)-groups provided optically transparent free-standing films.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 1365-1372
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PY01460J

Polymethylene with cage silsesquioxane: densely grafted structure prevents side-chain crystallization
A polymethylene with cage silsesquioxane in the side chain was synthesized to suppress crystallization via a densely tethered structure. Unlike its polyacrylate counterpart, which formed a turbid film, this polymer gave a clear, uniform film.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 1155-1161
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PY01222D

Sulfur-containing block polymers from ring-opening copolymerization: coordinative encapsulants for transition metals
Sulfur-containing block copolymers were synthesized via ring-opening copolymerization, forming self-assembled aggregates with sulfur-rich cores that enable tunable metal coordination.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 1003-1009
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PY01415D
Preparation and nanoaggregate formation ability in water of amphiphilic ladder-like polymers with parallelly linked hydrophilic polyether and hydrophobic polysiloxane chains
An amphiphilic ladder-like polymer (PGE–PAMS) was successfully prepared. PGE–PAMS formed nanoaggregates in water, which were stable even at high temperatures.
Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 850-857
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PY01316F
About this collection
This themed collection on Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers celebrates research on the interplay between organic and inorganic structural motifs that achieves new macromolecular functions and motivates innovative synthetic approaches. The collection aims to present cutting edge research related to the chemistry and basic science of hybrid inorganic-organic polymers, with a focus on synthesis, structure-property relationships, novel structures, and mechanistic insight (including computational research). Our aim is to highlight and promote fundamental discoveries in this class of macromolecules. This themed collection is Guest Edited by Professor Rebekka Klausen (Johns Hopkins University, ORCID: 0000-0003-4724-4195), Professor Saurabh S. Chitnis (Dalhousie University, ORCID: 0000-0001-9180-7907) and Dr Erin Leitao (University of Auckland, ORCID: 0000-0003-3738-0425).