The 13th Global Conference on Polymer and Composite Materials (PCM 2026)

Abstract: Stimulus-responsive fusion and fission phenomena are observed in both biological tissues and artificial materials. However, designing a precisely reversible fusion and fission system remains a great challenge. This report introduces the precisely reversible fusion and fission achieved by graphene oxide (GO)-based materials, along with the preparation of high-performance fibers based on this discovery. Upon dehydration, multiple GO materials fuse into a single ensemble through adaptive deformation-induced interfacial interlocking. Conversely, the ensemble precisely fissures back into the original multiple materials through rehydration-triggered interfacial repulsion. This precisely reversible fusion-fission property is extended to different traditional fibers (e.g., stainless steel wires, silks, nylon, basalt fibers, and glass fibers) and other materials (e.g., SiO2 nanoparticles, PVA, CNTs, and Na-MMT). Based on the discovery, high-performance graphene fibers and aramid fibers are prepared. The finding shows important applications in material structure customization, high-performance fiber preparation, advanced composite material design, and controllable biocatalysis.

Abstract: The strong carbon-fluorine (C–F) bonds in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) endow them with extreme environmental persistence, resulting in their accumulation in soil, water, and living organisms. This scenario calls for innovative, sustainable, effective, and feasible treatment approaches. Adsorption, degradation, and mineralization are the major strategies for PFAS removal from contaminated media. Among these, interfacial interactions, reduction, oxidation, photodegradation, and electrochemical degradation serve as the core principles and pathways underlying the aforementioned strategies. Given that reduction, oxidation, and even advanced oxidation only achieve partial degradation and mineralization of PFAS, these methods are suitable for wastewater treatment but not feasible for drinking water purification. This report focuses on feasible pathways for removing low-concentration PFAS from drinking water, namely the coupling of adsorption and mineralization on activated carbon-based composites. These composites include activated carbon-supported layered double hydroxides (LDHs), activated carbon-supported graphene, and fluorine/nitrogen (F/N) co-doped activated carbon composites. By enhancing interfacial interactions—such as van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and F-F interactions—these adsorbents exhibit superior adsorption capacities for both long-chain and short-chain PFAS. Subsequently, most of the adsorbed PFAS can be thermally degraded and mineralized, accompanied by the regeneration of activated carbon-based composites and the catalytic effect of the supported active components. This strategy avoids the addition of chemicals and the generation of secondary oxidative free radicals in the treated water. Furthermore, the activated carbon can be regenerated and reused to reduce the cost and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the rational design of activated carbon-based composites is an effective route for the remediation of PFAS-contaminated media.

Abstract: Various types of porous biodegradable polymers based on polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactide (PLA), and polyurethane were synthesized and used as drug delivery vehicles for bupivacaine and carboplatin. Porous biodegradable microspheres were fabricated by successful RAFT polymerization of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) onto PCL and PLA, which was first synthesized by ring opening polymerization of lactide followed by an oil/water emulsion-evaporation method, then finally photodegradation of PMVK blocks by UV irradiation. Biodegradable porous polyurethane nanoparticles have also been fabricated using water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion and solvent evaporation methods. These nanoparticles are composed of biodegradable and biocompatible polyfumarateurethane (PFU) and L-threonine polyurethane (LTHU), designed for degradation through hydrolysis and enzymatic activity, facilitated by the presence of ester bonds and peptide bonds within the polymer backbone. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to evaluate the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution and monitored the photodegradability of the block copolymers. For photodegradation by UV light under dried condition, the molecular weight of triblock copolymer was decreased gradually with UV irradiation time, reaching close to that of macro-CTA, meaning that 90% of PMVK block was photodegraded after 24 h of UV irradiation. The morphology of microspheres was spherical with smooth surfaces before UV irradiation. Microspheres fabricated only from PCL homopolymers could also retain their smooth surface after UV irradiation. However, those from PCL-PMVK and PCL-PLA-PMVK block copolymers had rough surfaces and porous structures after UV irradiation due to the photodegradation of PMVK blocks as a porous template. The porosity and shape of the microspheres and shape of microspheres were dependent on the PMVK contents and size of microspheres. In addition, the drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release profiles, using UV-Vis spectroscopy, showed the highest encapsulation efficiency with 2.5% drug, and sustained release profile.