Polymers and soft materials news, August 2017

By interpenetrating two polymers, scientists have developed a novel supercapacitor that is flexible and can store a lot of charge very quickly.

By incorporating reversible bonds, scientists have developed a new type of rubber that is as tough as natural rubber but can also self-heal.

Scientists have created a light foam from two-dimensional sheets of hexagonal-boron nitride that absorbs carbon dioxide.

Simultaneous design and nanomanufacturing speeds up fabrication.

Microbot origami helps tiny devices move and capture cells.

Scientists have simultaneously designed an optimal material for light management in solar cells and fabricated the nanostructured surfaces.

Understanding the design principles of dragonfly wings could help improve the design of artificial wings on micro-air vehicles.

Expanding and straightening the molecular chains in plastics makes it easier for heat to pass through them.

A composite of a polymer and a 2D material can store energy at operating temperatures well above current commercial polymers.

Scientists have used a laser to turn the surface of pine wood into a form of graphene, potentially offering a way to produce biodegradable electronics.

For the first time, scientists have observed the formation of a crystal gel with particle-level resolution.

Naturally occurring fatty acids that cover insect wings can be used to form ‘mechanobactericidal’ coating.

A new super-strong ‘tough adhesive’ is biocompatible and binds firmly to biological tissues even when they're wet.

Using 'click chemistry', scientists have developed an efficient way to make sulfur-containing polymers that will lower the cost of large-scale production.

Scientists have used a molecular pulley binder to create high-capacity silicon anodes for use in lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers have developed supramolecular materials that spontaneously assemble themselves and then disintegrate after use.

Scientists have developed a way to coat a hydrogel onto elastomer-based medical devices to provide a softer, more slippery exterior.

Nanofibrous, conductive polymer structure mimics the properties of natural extracellular matrix to support regeneration of heart tissue.

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