Polymers articles from across Nature Portfolio

The transparent and flexible photocatalytic films composed of titanium oxide, organophosphonate-modified polysilsesquioxane, and poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) were prepared. The effects of hydroxy group ratio and organic substituent on phosphorus atoms in these films were evaluated by appearance and photocatalytic ability. Film using anchoring layer with APPS-low was formed large cracks, while films with other anchoring layers were formed no cracks. However, all films were formed small cracks after a 10-day durability test. All films showed photodegradation ability of methylene blue, photoinduced hydrophilicity, and photocatalytic bactericidal effects on Escherichia coli.

Growth constitutes a powerful method to post-modulate materials’ structures and functions without compromising their mechanical performance for sustainable use, but the process is irreversible. To address this issue, the authors here report a growing-degrowing strategy that enables thermosetting materials to either absorb or release components for continuously changing their sizes, shapes, compositions, and a set of properties simultaneously.

Producing functional soft fibers via existing spinning methods is environmentally and economically costly due to the complexity of spinning equipment, involvement of copious solvents, intensive consumption of energy. Here, the authors report a nonsolvent vapor-induced phase separation spinning approach under ambient conditions, which resembles the native spider silk fibrillation’.

The recycling of polyethylene terephthalate is of utmost importance to reduce environmental pollution and reliance on fossil resources however, the existing methods do not process colored or blended polyethylene terephthalate materials. Here, the authors demonstrate the acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate into terephthalic acid and simultaneous acidic degradation of dyes and additives

Thermoelectric devices have received significant attention for energy generation owing to their unique advantages over traditional heat engines. Here, the authors developed a well performing stretchable and self-healable iono thermoelectric material by optimizing the thermophoresis of protons in a polymer complex PEDOT:PAAMPSA:PA polymer.