A new paper now adds another templating function to the list: the programmed construction of synthetic polymers. Materials scientists have always been intrigued and inspired by the unsurpassed ...

The synthetic polymer industry represents the major end use of many petrochemical monomers such as ethylene, styrene, and vinyl chloride. Synthetic polymers have greatly affected our lifestyle. Many ...

Synthetic 2D polymers made from well-defined monomers promise to expand the range of such materials, but are very difficult to synthesize. A collection of articles in this Focus highlights some of ...

A research team has succeeded in synthesizing simple, environmentally sensitive cells complete with artificial organelles. For the first time, the researchers have also been able to emulate natural ...

Kevlar is a new synthetic polymer which is extremely strong and light. The polymer chains are rigid and they pack together in sheets making Kevlar very strong. It can be used in aircraft wings ...

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 ...

These polymers are derived from renewable resources, such as plant starch, vegetable oils, or synthetic materials engineered ...