Review
Polymer Science
Ashwani Kumar, Luke A. A. Connal
Summary: The widespread use of plastics and sustainability issues have led to an interest in biobased polymer feedstocks. Vitrimers, a novel polymer family, bridge the gap between thermoplastics and thermosets, enabling unique recycling strategies. However, understanding the origin of raw material feedstocks is crucial.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Pei-Xiu Tian, Yi-Dong Li, Yunxuan Weng, Zhi Hu, Jian-Bing Zeng
Summary: In this study, bio-based flame-retardant, reprocessable, and chemically recyclable epoxy thermosets were synthesized. These thermosets exhibited excellent mechanical performances, thermal and dimensional stabilities, and resistances to chemical/solvent corrosions. They also showed promising flame retardancy, making them a potential alternative to conventional epoxy thermosets.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinxin Yang, Chunyu Ren, Xiuxiu Liu, Penghao Sun, Xu Xu, He Liu, Minggui Shen, Shibin Shang, Zhanqian Song
Summary: This study presents a strategy to synthesize NIPUs by reacting CO2 with epoxides, alleviating environmental issues caused by CO2 and toxic isocyanates. The experiment demonstrates that NIPUs have excellent reprocessing and shape memory performance.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jia-Hui Chen, Jia-Hui Lu, Xiao-Lu Pu, Li Chen, Yu-Zhong Wang
Summary: In this study, we report a novel approach to prepare flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers with rapid recycling and multiple shape memory effects by introducing dynamic ester-linkages with catalytic transesterification activity into the crosslinking networks of epoxy resin (EP). The synthesized vitrimers exhibited high Tg, desirable thermal stability, excellent flame retardancy, and high malleability. The dynamic transesterification network also allowed the vitrimers to access multiple shape memory effect.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Bailiang Xue, Rui Tang, Danwei Xue, Ying Guan, Yongchang Sun, Wei Zhao, Jiaojun Tan, Xinping Li
Summary: In this study, high mechanical strength and lignin replacement rate of lignin-based epoxy vitrimers were successfully synthesized. These vitrimers exhibit excellent properties such as self-healing, reprocessing, and shape memory, suggesting their potential as renewable alternatives to bisphenol A epoxy vitrimers.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiyae Hong, Younggi Hong, Jisu Jeong, Dongki Oh, Munju Goh
Summary: This study reports durable and sustainable vitrimer films fabricated from a ternary aqueous solution of tannic acid, boric acid, and polyvinyl alcohol. The films exhibit excellent crosslinking density, tensile strength, and modulus. A carbon-fiber-reinforced vitrimer (CFRV) was prepared and showed high tensile strength and modulus, while also retaining the recyclability and reprocessability of the vitrimer. The synthesized biobased high-strength vitrimer films can contribute to the development of sustainable carbon-fiber-composite materials.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruiyang Li, Yunlong Ma, Tianfu Yang, Xiaoran Yang, Rao Tao, Yinghua Jin, Wei Zhang, Li Qiu
Summary: Incorporating an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect into polymers can create AIE-active polymers that have great potential in optoelectronics and sensing applications. This study successfully prepared a series of AIE-active polyimine vitrimers (TPE-PIs) by integrating AIE-active monomers into the polymer network. The TPE-PIs not only inherit the merits of PI vitrimers but also provide enhanced mechanical and luminescent properties compared to other AIE-active and AIE-inactive polymers. The possibility of significantly enhancing their photoluminescence intensity in an underwater environment makes them useful for underwater sensing and light-emitting applications.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Natanel Jarach, Hanna Dodiuk, Samuel Kenig, Shlomo Magdassi
Summary: This study introduces fully recyclable Reversible Covalent Bond-Containing Polymers (RCBPs) as a sustainable alternative to traditional polymers and plastics. It achieves low-temperature multiple printing and complete reversibility using polymers with reversible photopolymerization reactions and a microwave.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Antonela Gallastegui, Elena Gabirondo, Fermin Elizalde, Nora Aranburu, David Mecerreyes, Haritz Sardon
Summary: The study introduces a method to synthesize recyclable thermosetting materials using glycerol and diglycerol, demonstrating the potential for chemical recycling by adjusting the ratio of raw materials to obtain materials with different properties.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruhan Yang, Weijie Li, Ruibin Mo, Xinya Zhang
Summary: In this study, a series of recyclable biobased dynamic cross-linking epoxy polymers were synthesized using biobased materials under solvent-free conditions. The triamine cross-linker significantly influenced the properties of the polymers, and the polymer with polyetheramine T403 showed a good shape memory effect. The polymers exhibited good recyclability when the dynamic bond content was appropriate.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Huanbo Wang, Yuan Fu, Yue Liu, Jinpeng Li, Xianzu Sun, Tian Liu
Summary: A bio-based two-functional imine modifier was synthesized and reacted with isocyanates to prepare imine vitrimers with high biomass content. The imine vitrimers exhibited moderate strength, excellent ductility, and fast stress relaxation. They also demonstrated high efficiency in healing and recycling.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jonas C. Koelsch, Christian M. Berac, Francisco Lossada, Oliver S. Stach, Sebastian Seiffert, Andreas Walther, Pol Besenius
Summary: This study reports a biobased vitrimer prepolymer synthesized from renewable resources. The obtained vitrimer materials, which are based on cross-linkers, show elastomeric properties and can be easily controlled in terms of rheological properties and recycled. The findings provide a sustainable solution for vitrimer networks that were previously limited to epoxy-based networks.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jules Stouten, Geraldine H. M. Schnelting, Jerzy Hul, Nick Sijstermans, Kylian Janssen, Tinashe Darikwa, Chongnan Ye, Katja Loos, Vincent S. D. Voet, Katrien V. Bernaerts
Summary: This study describes the synthesis of a photo-cross-linkable molecule containing dynamic imine bonds based on biobased vanillin and dimer fatty diamine. The resulting mixtures, containing reactive diluent and a photoinitiator, could be rapidly cross-linked under UV light, yielding recyclable thermoset products.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yingchun Sun, Miaomiao Wang, Zhen Wang, Yifan Mao, Ling Jin, Kui Zhang, Youyi Xia, Hong Gao
Summary: Developing amine-cured epoxy vitrimers is more significant than conventional epoxy-carboxylic acid vitrimers due to the wider usage of amines as curing agents. By synthesizing aliphatic and aromatic glycidyl esters and curing them with amine-curing agents containing disulfide bonds, dual dynamic vitrimers with integrated hydroxyl esters and disulfide bonds in the cross-linked network can be obtained. The properties of these vitrimers can be easily adjusted by changing the proportion of aromatic and aliphatic glycidyl esters, and the addition of aromatic glycidyl esters can enhance and toughen the materials without sacrificing their curing activity and reprocessing property.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhiqiang Chen, Chenyu Jin, Zhen Li, Xiuzhao Li, Liuyu Yang, Tiejun Wang
Summary: Progress in vitrimer chemistry enables the production of reprocessable thermosets, but the conflict between mechanical performance and dynamic reactivity hinders its industrial applications. In this study, a universal material design strategy is proposed to create tough epoxy vitrimers with excellent reprocessability. By copolymerization and bond exchange reactions, a hybrid dynamic covalent polymer network containing hard and soft segments is formed. Controllable mechanical and thermal properties are achieved by adjusting the ratio of hard-to-soft components. The resulting epoxy vitrimer exhibits a balance between strength and stretchability and improved fracture toughness compared to pristine vitrimers. It also shows great potential in various applications such as composite fabrication, welding, reshaping, and shape memory functions.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Zhang, Ning Tang, Xia Yu, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: This paper presents a strategy to prepare strong and tough physical eutectogels using a solvent-replacement approach. By replacing water with deep eutectic solvents, the interactions between polymer chains can be restrengthened, resulting in eutectogels with high strength, toughness, and tear resistance, as well as excellent stretchability, repairability, and adhesive performance.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Feng Yin, Jinguo Liu, Jun Hu, Yong Ju
Summary: This article introduces a new type of color changeable shape memory hydrogel, which is achieved by simply incorporating polyvinyl alcohol and copper acetate into a polyacrylamide network. Copper ions serve as reversible crosslinks after heating, showing excellent shape memory effect, color shifting, and self-healing ability, and have potential applications in various fields.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jinguo Liu, Feng Yin, Jun Hu, Yong Ju
Summary: This study elucidates the mechanism of chirality control in supramolecular self-assembly by synthesizing three isomeric amphiphiles and regulating their supramolecular chirality through the conformation and strength of intramolecular H-bonds. Additionally, the helical topologic transformation and chiroptical activity transitions modulated by metal ions were reported. These findings provide insights into the chiral self-assembly processes and advance the applications of triterpenoid-based assemblies in chiral nanomaterials.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kailun Wei, Kefei Zhao, Yuxia Gao, Hao Zhang, Xia Yu, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: In this study, a near-infrared responsive poly-sulfide carrier (SOCT) was prepared using industrial waste sulfur, bio-based soybean oil, and agricultural waste biochar. The carrier exhibited good photothermal property and stable release behavior, allowing for controlled release of the pesticide. It also showed excellent fungicidal activities and high biosafety for plants and fish. The carrier material can be completely degraded in specific conditions, making it sustainable and multi-functional. This research provides an effective approach for developing pesticide formulations with improved performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Hao Zhang, Jianqiao Wu, Junbo Guo, Jun Hu
Summary: With the concept of sustainable development becoming increasingly prominent, the world is shifting from a fossil fuel-driven energy economy to one that relies more on renewable and sustainable materials. Terpenoids, a category of natural products found in plants, microorganisms, and marine animals, have numerous modification sites and diverse functions. They can be used to create sustainable materials with simplified synthesis processes, distinctive stereoscopic configurations, superior bioactivity, and biocompatibility, enabling greater applications in various fields. This review focuses on the recent advances in the preparation, properties, and development directions of sustainable and multifunctional materials derived from terpenoids, including terpenoid-derived thermoplastics, cross-linked polymers, and supramolecular materials. It aims to raise awareness of natural terpenoids, promote their exploitation and utilization, and provide more alternatives for the advancement of sustainable functional materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huangjie Lu, Hailong Huang, Junpu Yang, Zhaofa Zheng, Xue Dong, Lianjie Zhao, Chao Xu, Jun Hu, Hongtao Liu, Yuan Qian, Jian-Qiang Wang, Jian Lin
Summary: Developing UV radiation sensors with high sensitivity, easy operation, and rapid readout is desired in various fields. Enhancing the sensitivity of UV detection, particularly for photochromic materials, has been a challenge. In this study, a viologen derivative incorporated with a hydrogel-based UV sensor was formulated, which exhibited a reversible photoelectrochromic response and improved UV sensitivity by two orders of magnitude. The proposed strategy of constructing photoelectrochromic hybrids could potentially enhance the UV sensitivity of other photochromic materials as well.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lianjie Zhao, Hao Zhang, Ning Tang, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: Phytic acid-assisted PANi/PVA hydrogel with self-reinforcing features is developed, showing enhanced mechanical performance. Phytic acid plays a crucial role in salinizing aniline and forming hydrogen bonds with PVA, resulting in conductive PANi and structure orientation. The hydrogel exhibits improved fracture strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness after repetitive stretching, attributed to the anisotropic structures fixed by hydrogen bonds. The PVA/PA/PANi hydrogel shows good mechanical durability and reusability, making it a reliable strain sensor.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiran Zheng, Jiawei Li, Kailun Wei, Ning Tang, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: This study develops an integrated auxetic elastomer (IAE) that can exhibit transverse expansion while being axially stretched. By using high-modulus cross-linked poly(urethane-urea) as a skeleton and low-modulus non-cross-linked poly(urethane-urea) as a complementary-shape matrix, along with the dual dynamic interfacial healing promoted by disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds, the resulting IAE possesses flat, void-free, and sharp soft-to-hard interface-free characteristics. Moreover, the fracture strength and elongation at the break of the IAE are significantly improved compared to those of the corrugated re-entrant skeleton alone, while maintaining the negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) within a certain strain range. Finite element analysis further confirms the advantageous mechanical and auxetic properties of this elastomer.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Baoyan Zhang, Tiantian Cui, Xuewei Jiao, Yaning Ma, Liang Gao, Jun Hu
Summary: A catalyst-free covalent adaptable network with high mechanical and thermal properties is developed for carbon fiber-reinforced composites. The material possesses rapid transesterification reactions, allowing for reprocessing, repairing, and degradation. Moreover, the composite exhibits good welding ability and can be efficiently and non-destructively recycled.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Junbo Guo, Hao Zhang, Tiantian Cui, Jiawei Li, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: In this study, a viewable in situ programmed humidity-driven monolayer actuator was reported, which consisted of hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAAm), and tannic acid (TA). The inclusion of TA as a physical cross-linker allowed for precise control of modulus distribution, while also providing fluorescence in the solid state. The resulting film exhibited high optical transparency, good mechanical properties, bright fluorescence, and reversible fast humidity-response. This viewable and programmable approach will greatly aid in the design of humidity-driven actuators for various applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xia Yu, Jiawei Li, Hao Zhang, Min-Hui Li, Jun Hu
Summary: Using natural glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) with good self-assembly ability and hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) with thermoresponsive capacity, we synthesized amphiphilic trans-/cis-TPE-GA-PEG isomers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The trans isomers formed nanospheres with typical AIE features, while the cis isomers displayed a fluorescence-enhanced property and generated nanovesicles. Both isomers underwent reversible phase transitions in tetrahydrofuran/water solution, with the cis isomers having a lower phase transition temperature compared to the trans-TPE-GA-PEG. The morphologies of the isomers transformed into helical fibers and irregular aggregates, respectively, due to the disruption of interactions between PEG chains and water molecules.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongkai Guo, Xuewei Jiao, Kailun Wei, Jianqiao Wu, Jun Hu
Summary: In this study, a series of itaconic acid-based vitrimers with dual-dynamic networks were prepared by one-pot inverse vulcanization, which resolved the challenges of competitive raw materials and tedious preparation process for application of sustainable polymers. These vitrimers exhibited good solvent resistance and thermal stability, and could be physically recycled, repaired, welded, and chemically degraded at a mild temperature.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ning Tang, Yujia Jiang, Kailun Wei, Zhiran Zheng, Hao Zhang, Jun Hu
Summary: A stepwise-enhanced strategy is presented to fabricate ultrarobust eutectogels. The strategy involves complementary annealing and solvent exchange processes to optimize polymer networks and enhance mechanical properties. The resultant eutectogel exhibits exceptional mechanical performance and can be programmed through photolithography.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Zhang, Junbo Guo, Jun Hu, Ming Zhou
Summary: With the advancement of supramolecular chemistry, the focus is shifting towards the development of multifunctional supramolecular materials. Natural small molecules are preferred over synthetic molecules due to their lower toxicity, better biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. Terpenoids, with their wide range of supply sources, numerous modification sites, and abundant functions, have become a promising platform for constructing supramolecular materials. Many terpenoid-based supramolecular materials have been successfully developed, playing important roles in various fields such as tissue engineering, biomedicine, food science, and flexible electronics.
SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)