Polymer chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Pentagonal polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based giant atoms self-assemble into Frank–Kasper phases that have not been previously observed in soft-matter systems.

Utilizing an epoxy-amine chemistry, the authors demonstrate a thermoset epoxy that is reprocessable and tough, achieving improved sustainability for this widely used plastic material.

Natural rubber exhibits the strain-induced crystallization (SIC). By using WAXD, the orientation of NR crystal formed by SIC under planar elongation was revisited. We found that the orientational state of the crystal lattice possesses a continuous margin of the orientation angle between 6.4 and 19.6° for the ac plane with respect to the surface of the specimen sheet in the real NR specimen. This orientational state could be accomplished as a result of balancing the preferential parallel orientation of (120) planes (the slip planes) and C = C planes with respect to the surface of the specimen sheet.

Polyimides are attractive dielectrics for communication devices, but there is a need to reduce their high-frequency dissipation factor. Here, a series of polyimides are fabricated and characterized, finding that those that contain ester groups and ether bonds in their molecular structure have low dissipation factors.

The turn-off time is generally faster than the turn-on time in accumulation mode organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), but the mechanism is less understood. Here the authors find different transient behaviours of turn-on and turn-off in accumulation mode OECTs, and ion transport is the limiting factor of device kinetics.

Photo-crosslinking polymerization facilitates precise control of hydrogel formation for various applications including tissue engineering, but most existing photo-crosslinking methods fail to achieve deep-tissue penetration, especially within bone structures. Here the authors report a strategy of low-dose X-ray-activated polymerization that enables deep-tissue hydrogel formation.

Pentagonal polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based giant atoms self-assemble into Frank–Kasper phases that have not been previously observed in soft-matter systems.

Communications Chemistry is pleased to introduce a Collection of articles focused on organomediated polymerization. Here, the Guest Editors highlight the themes within and look towards the future of this research field.

Semiconducting polymers require narrow molecular weight distributions for optimal efficiency. Synthesizing such polymers is no easy task, however a combined ultrasonication-assisted Stille polymerization reaction could be the solution to this problem.

Acid triggers the formation of radicals by Flory autoinitiation of acrylic monomers and enhances polymerization rates.

An article in Nature Chemistry discovers that the two light-controlled isomers of azobenzene also have very different rupture forces.