https://phys.org/chemistry-news/polymers en-us The latest science news on polymers Microplastics, plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, are littered across the world, contributing to global warming, disrupting food chains, and harming ecosystems with toxic chemicals. This is why Dr. Manish Shetty is working to break down plastics before they can get into the environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-catalysts-potential-microplastics-usable-fuel.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:22:03 EST news650204522 A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study is the first to describe an electrochemical strategy to capture, concentrate and destroy mixtures of diverse chemicals known as PFAS—including the increasingly prevalent ultra-short-chain PFAS—from water in a single process. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-pfas-aims-pollution-semiconductor-industry.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:12:03 EST news650203921 Mimicking how plants convert sunlight into energy has long been a dream for scientists aiming to create renewable energy solutions. Artificial photosynthesis is a process that seeks to replicate nature's method, using sunlight to drive chemical reactions that generate clean energy. However, creating synthetic systems that work as organically as natural photosynthesis has been a significant challenge until now. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-bioinspired-hydrogels-harness-sunlight-closer.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:21:03 EST news650114461 Bio-based thermoplastics are produced from renewable organic materials and can be recycled after use. Their resilience can be improved by blending bio-based thermoplastics with other thermoplastics. However, the interface between the materials in these blends sometimes requires enhancement to achieve optimal properties. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-thermoplastic-blends-polylactic-acid.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Mon, 04 Nov 2024 13:01:03 EST news649947661 Research on organic solar cells has been conducted for a long time. Recent advancements in understanding their molecular structures are now paving the way for the development of highly efficient solar cells. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-imaging-advance-clearer-picture-solar.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:40:03 EDT news649604401 USC researchers have developed a new process to upcycle the composite materials appearing in automobile panels and light rail vehicles, addressing a current environmental challenge in the transportation and energy sectors. The study recently appeared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-method-successfully-recycles-carbon-fiber.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:28:03 EDT news649603681 Effective thermal management is essential to ensuring the performance and lifespan of modern electronics. While polymers are widely used in electronic components, they inherently exhibit poor thermal conductivity, limiting their effectiveness in dissipating heat. To overcome this, researchers have been investigating the potential of integrating highly conductive fillers, such as liquid metals (LM), into polymers. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-liquid-metal-polymers-potential-electronics.html Polymers Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:04:03 EDT news649526641 A research study describes a systematic high-throughput design approach for virtual screening and creation of novel polypeptide-based molecules that form regular secondary structures that can be used in biology or materials science research. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-polypeptide-based-molecules-pave-polymer.html Biochemistry Polymers Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:02:03 EDT news649526521 Plastics contain a vast number of chemicals, some of which greatly impact the environment and human health. However, information on the presence of individual substances in plastic products is oftentimes not publicly available. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-database-plastic-products-highlights-substantial.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:35:32 EDT news649431328 Achieving a sustainable society requires the development of advanced degradable plastics, or polymers, which are molecules composed of long chains of repeating units. The goal of a resource-circulating society is now one step closer thanks to the efforts of a team from Osaka University that has developed tough biodegradable plastics by including movable crosslinking groups. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-advanced-biodegradable-plastics-predecessors.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:10:02 EDT news649428995 Increasing amounts of data require storage, often for long periods. Synthetic polymers are an alternative to conventional storage media because they maintain stored information while using less space and energy. However, data retrieval by mass spectrometry limits the length and thus the storage capacity of individual polymer chains. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-method-efficient-synthetic-polymer-storage.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:23:03 EDT news649329782 Conducting polymers exhibit a variety of properties in addition to their conductivity. Research has explored their use in light-emitting devices, electromagnetic wave shielding, and anticorrosion materials. One notable characteristic is paramagnetism. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-successful-diamagnetic-polymer.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:52:02 EDT news649327921 Professor Chiyoung Park of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST has developed a new material poised to advance high-sensitivity recyclable sensor technology. Working in collaboration with Professor U-hyeok Choi of Inha University, Park's team created a recyclable high-sensitivity sensor based on the dynamic polymer network. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-dynamic-polymer-network-material-recyclable.html Polymers Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:00:01 EDT news649083143 Researchers at University of Tsukuba have discovered that colloidal molecules with specific symmetrical shapes, such as polyatomic molecules, are spontaneously formed through self-assembly via the assembling of a blend solution of two types of conjugated polymers into clusters of micrometer-scale polymer droplets. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-spontaneous-synthesis-colloidal-molecules-polymer.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:17:13 EDT news648987431 Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth's land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing industrial chemicals from petroleum. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-lignin-molecular-property-discovery-trees.html Biochemistry Polymers Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:00:01 EDT news648462070 A new on-surface chemical reaction enables the appearance of solitons in π-conjugated polymers. The reaction, called indenyl coupling, reveals that structural parity drives the appearance of solitons in odd-membered π conjugated polymers. The results are a collaboration among scientists at IMDEA Nanociencia, CiQUS (Spain) and the Czech Academy of Science. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-surface-synthesis-enables-soliton-states.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Fri, 18 Oct 2024 04:29:48 EDT news648444586 Scientists at the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have been working for years to find out what types of plastics have the shortest and longest lifespans in the ocean, and what types of plastic products, like straws and food wrappers, most commonly contribute to plastic pollution. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-fastest-degrading-bioplastic-seawater.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:28:04 EDT news648379682 Scientific literature has shown that barnacles that cling to rocks at the seashore use naturally occurring chemicals to clear rock surfaces of bacteria in preparation for laying down their sticky "glue." Since bioengineering professor Abraham Joy's lab had already designed a synthetic polymer that adheres well to wet surfaces, researchers wondered if they could use the material to loosen bacteria from their moorings in other settings, including human tissue and industrial pipes. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-barnacle-polymers-antibiotics.html Biochemistry Polymers Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:16:04 EDT news647770562 A new technique could create waterproof coatings for clothes from discarded textiles—far safer for humans and the environment than current coatings, which are typically made with harsh chemicals and carcinogens. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-temperature-synthesis-technique-upcycled-textile.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 09 Oct 2024 16:29:30 EDT news647710165 Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and managing plastic waste is a global problem. In addition to developing more reasonable production methods and ways to use plastic, one solution to the problem is to develop biorecycling technology. The very nature of plastic, made with highly resistant polymers in order to not break down, makes this a huge scientific challenge. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-reprogramming-wood-degrading-mushroom-enzymes.html Biochemistry Polymers Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:54:20 EDT news647697258 In a bid to combat the rising threat of antibacterial resistance, researchers from the Research Center for Biomass and Bioproducts, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), have delved into the characteristics and applications of biomass-derived antibacterial agents. The study, led by Nissa Nurfajrin Solihat and a team of international collaborators, presents a comprehensive analysis of how naturally abundant biopolymers can be harnessed to develop sustainable antibacterial solutions. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-naturally-abundant-biopolymers-biomass-derived.html Biochemistry Polymers Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:41:02 EDT news647520061 Sustainability is a complex problem with many different players and influenced by policies, society, and technical perspectives. Scientists within ASU's School of Molecular Sciences (SMS) and the Biodesign Institute's Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing (SM3) are pursuing a multi-pronged approach towards a more circular economy, with projects focused on biosourcing, recycling, water purification, or carbon capture to name a few. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-polymer-technology-failure-sustainability.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:56:09 EDT news647513764 Plastics underpin much of modern life—areas like medicine, technology, and food safety would be unrecognizable without plastics and their useful properties. However, the toughness of plastics, which is often desirable, also makes them a dangerous pollutant and difficult to recycle. The solution to this serious and growing problem is making plastics easier to recycle. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-polymer-tradeoff-toughness-recyclability.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:00:01 EDT news647250512 Lignin is one of the most plentiful organic polymers on Earth, making up about 20% to 30% of the dry mass of wood and other plants. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-mechanocatalytic-method-efficient-approach-biomass.html Biochemistry Polymers Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:19:03 EDT news647252341 Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics. Their study has identified a secure way to attach chemical additives to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The work is published in the journal Chem. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-method-pvc-products.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:00:47 EDT news647190035 Plastic waste, harmful to the environment, has been increasing continually in Germany in recent years. Packaging generates particularly high volumes of waste. Plant-based coatings for paper packaging could provide a sustainable alternative in the future. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-plasma-coated-paper-plastic-alternative.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:31:04 EDT news646997462 An international research team headed by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the University of Siegen has synthesized a new compound, which forms a so-called covalent organic framework. The compound, which is based on condensed phosphonic acids, is stable and can, for example, be used to capture carbon dioxide (CO2), as the researchers describe in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-sustainably-covalent-frameworks-efficient-capture.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:19:03 EDT news646993141 Scientists have developed a bioinspired yarn capable of harvesting water from fog, providing an innovative solution to water scarcity in arid regions. By imitating the alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterns seen in desert beetles and the water-transporting abilities of micro/nanoscale one-dimensional spider silk, this double-strand yarn accelerates droplet formation, offering a promising approach to tackling the global water crisis. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-bioinspired-yarn-harvest-fog.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:34:37 EDT news646929270 Researchers have succeeded in making artificial muscle fibers from rubber thread, paving the way for sewing the muscles into a blouse and giving renewed strength to the wearer. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-artificial-muscles-weakened-people-strength.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:26:51 EDT news646925207 A study in Science Bulletin explores the recent advancements in the development of processable natural biopolymers and their myriad applications. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-advances-natural-biopolymers-cellulose-chitosan.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:15:03 EDT news646913702