polymer

Nature Communications, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74246-y Although desirable, it is still challenging to improve multiple different mechanical properties in polymer gels. Here, the authors report the development of gels with hierarchical design for regulation of interactions at different scales, and therefore improved control of properties.

A light, flexible polymer material developed at the University of Waterloo could replace the lead in heavy X-ray aprons, providing the same protection from harmful radiation while reducing their weight by almost 90 per cent.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 07 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-56745-6 Role of polyacrylonitrile fiber diameter and aspect ratio on mechanical performance and pore structure of cementitious mortars

fields and particles in particle physics and in the standard model of particle physics: matter field fermions (spinors, Dirac fields) (also: antiparticles) hadrons (bound states of the above quarks) bosinos: dark matter candidates Exotica The chemical element with atomic number 6. The allotropes of carbon include diamond, graphite and Fullerenes. At least some aspects of the carbon atomic nucleus…

Nature Communications, Published online: 06 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74014-y Zinc dendrite growth and corrosion limit zinc metal electrode performance. Here, authors design a weakly bound water-mediated shear-thickening electrolyte that integrates chemical regulation with mechanical reinforcement to suppress dendrites and corrosion, enabling stable zinc metal electrodes.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02172-z The integration of graphene nanoribbons into single-ribbon devices is impeded by strong inter-ribbon aggregation. Now a cyclophane-based shielding approach has been developed to sterically protect the graphene nanoribbon backbone while imparting internal strain, enabling singly dispersed graphene nanoribbons and modu…

The prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) supports emerging researchers who demonstrate exceptional potential to advance science and engineering The post Three Materials Science PhD Students Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program appeared first on USC Viterbi | School of Engineering .

Researchers have developed tough, conductive RBA hydrogels using a hyperbranched multi-arm crosslinking strategy. The hydrogels form a dense, stable network that enables wearable sensors to monitor full-body motion and support Morse-code-based human-machine interaction.

A new paper describes a single screw extruder concept for producing ABS composite filament reinforced with carbon and Kevlar fibers, a combination that could deliver tougher, stiffer feedstock for FFF users. The post Single Screw Extruder Targets ABS Carbon Kevlar Filament appeared on Fabbaloo .

With help from a novel cross-linking molecule, MIT chemists have shown they can substantially improve the ballistic impact resistance of common polymers, including polystyrene and a type of rubber used to make shoe soles. Polystyrene is a hard, glassy polymer that is used to make many types of plastic containers, such as bottles and mugs, […]

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10557-w Embedding a small fraction of force-sensitive mechanophores as cross-links into common polymers enhances ballistic energy dissipation.

Researchers have developed a new polymer electrolyte that enables lithium metal batteries to operate safely at high voltages and across an extreme temperature range, from -40 deg.C to 55 deg.C.

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74054-4 Contact electrification is a phenomenon that provides mechanical driven power generation, key process for sustainable energy conversion. Here the authors develop a multiscale quantitative method for characterizing contact-induced charges, enabling precise measurement and in-situ observation of mechano-electric c…

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73860-0 It is challenging to balance molecular selectivity without compromising mechanical properties. Here, the authors introduce network completeness as a key descriptor to guide the design of subnanometer diffusion channels in hyper-crosslinked polymer membranes. By linking bridge connectivity to separation performan…

Lucía Salazar, a Master's student in Biomaterials at the Complutense University of Madrid, has presented the results of her research carried out within the BIOMET4D project.

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73833-3 The authors report rationally designed polymers of intrinsic microporosity tailored for visible light-driven photoredox continuous-flow reactions coupled with nanofiltration.

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73849-9 Achieving Frank-Kasper phases in block copolymers is challenging, as is control over these morphologies. Here, the authors report the use of ionic liquids for direction of assembly to give control over micelle packing to obtain range of phases and transitions.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 01 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02169-8 Achieving simultaneous gains in power density and operational stability in proton-exchange membranes remains a formidable challenge. Now it has been shown that cation-directed assembly and sequential functionalization enable superprotonic polyanion–organic frameworks to serve as multifunctional fillers, delivering bo…

A new catalyst design offers a cleaner route for removing phenolic pollutants from water by changing not only how fast contaminants disappear, but also what happens to them during treatment.