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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Modern integrated microelectronic devices are often poorly repairable and difficult to recycle. Debondable adhesives play a key role in the transition to a circular economy with sustainable resources, less waste, and intelligent repair/recycling strategies. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a research team has now introduced a method for making adhesives that can be deactivated "on command." https://phys.org/news/2024-09-mussel-adhesive-unglued.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:06:23 EDT news645966381 Biological systems are renowned for their ability to create strong yet resilient structures. A sea sponge, for instance, grows in layers, forming unique patterns that integrate minerals with softer regions, creating an ideal balance of strength and flexibility. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nature-patterns-boost-polymer-toughness.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:24:04 EDT news645888242 If you've ever opened a box from IKEA and wished the pieces inside could somehow spontaneously merge to form a table or chair, then a simple virus could have a thing or two to teach you. Self-assembly of complex molecules is essential for a wide array of biological structures, including proteins, cell membranes, or even entire viruses. Supramolecular chemistry is a field of study that attempts to build large molecules out of a discrete number of smaller building blocks. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-smart-supramolecular-additives-spherical-microparticles.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:11:03 EDT news645369061 Despite their identical composition, molecules that are mirror images can interact differently with light and electrical current depending on their "handedness," which is called chirality. In a study published in Chemical Communications, a research team from Osaka University has produced spin-coated chiral copolymer films that display strong spin polarization, which enables the films to act as "spin filters" that behave differently toward currents with opposite polarization directions. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-fussy-molecules-chiral-copolymer.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:30:14 EDT news645355805 Water polluted with heavy metals can pose a threat when consumed by humans and aquatic life. Sugar-derived polymers from plants remove these metals but often require other substances to adjust their stability or solubility in water. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-carbohydrate-polymers-sweet-solution-purification.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:02:57 EDT news645271371 Pharmaceuticals and personal care products pose a major environmental threat. These chemicals, found in everyday items like medicines and cosmetics, can pollute waterways, harming the plants and animals living in the waterways and the humans who use the water. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-filter-chemical-contaminants.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:19:04 EDT news644753942 A team of researchers has reshaped our understanding of developing gas storage materials known as porous coordination polymers (PCPs), which is also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). https://phys.org/news/2024-09-porous-gas-adsorbing-materials-reveal.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:53:04 EDT news644579581 A new type of gel, developed by chemists at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), could help to make lithium-ion batteries safer and more powerful. The gel is designed to prevent the highly flammable electrolyte fluid from leaking. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-chemists-gel-leaks-boost-lithium.html Polymers Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:50:23 EDT news644507420 A research team led by Professor Kotohiro Nomura from Tokyo Metropolitan University has developed a method for the depolymerization of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) using alcohols and an inexpensive, readily available iron trichloride catalyst. This method can be applied to the selective chemical recycling of both textile and plastic waste mixtures. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-depolymerization-method-exclusive-chemical-recycling.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 02 Sep 2024 09:36:02 EDT news644488561