Polymer Chemistry

RSC Desktop Seminar on Biodegradable polymers on 10 March 2026 at 12pm EDT/4pm GMT

Come to our next Desktop Seminar on Biodegradable polymers, featuring Prof. Patrizio Raffa of @rug.nl. The webinar is next Tuesday, 10 March 2026 at 4pm GMT/12pm EDT (note the start of Daylight Saving Time in the US and Canada). Register for free here: rsc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Issue 6 of Polymer Chemistry is now live!
Explore the latest research on dynamic polymer networks, degradable polymers, and more.

This issue’s cover features work by Anna Stasiuk, Marc Guerre et al. on boosting the robustness of thiol–thioester covalent adaptable networks.
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Also see inside front cover artwork representing research on the backbone engineering of N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine-based conjugated porous polymers toward enhanced electrochromic behavior by Mengfan Zhang, Xiujuan Zhong, Shouli Ming, Yan Zhang and Jinsheng

🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

In issue 5 of Polymer Chemistry see featured research on functional glycidyl triazolyl polymers exhibiting pH-controllable and time-dependent lower critical solution temperature by Taichi Ikeda

🧪 pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...
🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Don't miss your chance to nominate an early career polymer chemist for the Polymer Chemistry Lectureship!

Submit your nominations by 31st January!

𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦, 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 and 𝑅𝑆𝐶 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 are delighted to announce that our latest cross journal themed collection, 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰?, is now online and free to access until the end of April 2026. This collection brings together a selection of outstanding reviews, perspectives, papers and communications, which collectively provide a panoramic view of the field’s current vitality. The works range from recycling of polymer wastes, substitution of polymer carbon with oxygen (or sulfur), utilization of biomass to replace petroleum-based polluting polymers, copolymerization of CO₂ with other monomers, and converting polymers (either natural or synthetic ones) into platform chemicals.

New Themed Collection online: 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰?

💚 Collection ➡️ rsc.li/SusPol24
📖 Editorial ➡️ doi.org/10.1039/D5GC...
📝 More info ➡️ blogs.rsc.org/gc/2026/01/1...

@rsc.org @rscsustainability.rsc.org @polymerchem.rsc.org #GreenChemistry #ChemSky#Polymers #Sustainability

🧪 Issue 4 of Polymer Chemistry is out!

See front cover artwork by Wei Ding and Yibo Wu et al. representing their article on synthesising high molecular weight copolymers using renewable β-pinene
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Explore more research:
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Don't miss your chance to nominate an early career polymer chemist for the Polymer Chemistry Lectureship!

Submit your nominations by 31st January!

Issue 3 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read!

See the front cover artwork by Aya Saruwatari and Takeshi Ueki et al. resenting their article
🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

See the back cover artwork by Catherine Mollart and Abbie Trewin et al. representing their work
🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Issue 2 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read!

See the front cover artwork by Tomonari Tanaka representing their Review article on the "Recent advances in chemoenzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides"

🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

See the first issue of 2026 for Polymer Chemistry! 🧪

Artwork by Erika Saito, Jun Matsui and Ryohei Yamakado et al. representing their work on the construction of higher-ordered structures in alkylpyridinium-based polymers
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

#PolymerSynthesis

The nomination window for the 2026 Polymer Chemistry Lectureship is still open!

Be sure to submit your nominations before 31st January!

Find out more on our blog

From our collection Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers read “Tuning the properties of polysulfides using functionalised cardanol crosslinkers” by Mahsaalsadat Rokni, Manon Lambertac and Erin Leitao
➡️ doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Read the whole collection here
➡️ rsc.li/hybrid_polym...

🧪 #HybridPolymers

From our collection Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers read
“Stereogenic-at-silicon hybrid conjugated polymers” by Qifeng Jiang and Guest Editor Rebekka Klausen et al. ➡️ doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Read the whole collection here ➡️ rsc.li/hybrid_polym...

🧪 #HybridPolymers

Announcing an open call for papers to our Emerging Investigator themed collection in Polymer Chemistry

Submit your paper now ➡️ www.rsc.org/publishing/j...

See previous papers in published in the collection ➡️ pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...

#EmergingInvestigators #PolymerChemistry 🧪

2025 was my first full year as Editor-in-Chief and it reinforced what I love about the journal and the polymer community. In 2026, I hope we can raise the bar for polymer chemistry even higher. Thank you to the whole polymer community for their support. - Christine Luscombe

Check out the Editorial for our Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers themed collection guest edited by Rebekka Klausen, Saurabh Chitnis and Erin Leitao!

Read about their thoughts on this collection of great work ⬇️
doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Read the whole collection here ⬇️
rsc.li/hybrid_polym...

Structure–property relationships in poly(olefin sulfone) copolymers and terpolymers derived from linear and cyclic alkenes Poly(olefin sulfone)s (POSs), formed via alternating copolymerizations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and olefins, remain understudied with respect to systematic structure–property relationships. In this wor...

Matson lab is ready to flaunt another brand new publication! Congrats to Isaac and Anna on their brand new paper on poly(olefin sulfone)s in @polymerchem.rsc.org !! We thank NSF Division of Chemistry and semiconductor research corporation for the funding!

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

We are very pleased to present our themed collection on Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Polymers guest edited by Professors Rebekka Klausen, Saurabh Chitnis and Erin Leitao!

All papers are FREE to read until 31 January 2026

Visit the collection here ⬇️
rsc.li/hybrid_polym...

🧪 #HybridPolymers

We are delighted to welcome Professor Hatice Mutlu to the Polymer Chemistry Editorial Board as an Associate Editor!

Hatice’s area of research focus on green polymer synthesis, light-driven polymerization and circular materials design.

Submit your manuscript to Hatice: mc.manuscriptcentral.com/py

The nomination window for the 2026 Polymer Chemistry Lectureship is still open!

Be sure to submit your nominations before 31st January!

Find out more on our blog

Issue 44 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read!

See cover artwork from Elisabeth Rossegger et al. representing their #OpenAccess research on the synthesis of tetramethylguanidine-based photobase generators

🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

#Photobases #DynamicPolymerNetworks #PolymerSynthesis

Take a look at issue 43 of Polymer Chemistry now!

The artwork for this issue was created by Tianbai Xiong, Jia Wang, Xin Wang et al. representing their work on ambient and metal-free cross-coupling polymerization, for the synthesis of polyarylacrylonitriles
🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Molecular dynamics as a tool for unveiling protein-like folding behavior in urethane-based macromolecules: the effect of chain length on the secondary structure of oligourethanes Sequence-defined and stereocontrolled polymers represent an emerging class of macromolecules, offering the potential to design protein-like molecular architectures based on abiotic polymer backbones. ...

Don't miss issue 42 of Polymer Chemistry!

See the latest research on RAFT polymerization by Huanyu Lei, Zhao Wang et al.
🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

And #OpenAccess research on revealing macromolecule behaviour through simulations by Róża Szweda, Tadeusz Andruniów et al.
🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Issue 41 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read, featuring cover artwork by Takehiro Kawauchi et al.

See their work on modulating the luminescence properties of coronene molecules via inclusion complex formation with helical syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) 🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

We're now accepting nominations for the 2026 Polymer Chemistry Lectureship!

This award celebrates an early-career scientist making waves in the polymer field.

Learn more about the lectureship, including eligibility criteria and how to nominate, on our blog 👉 blogs.rsc.org/py/2025/10/2...

Issue 40 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read, featuring cover artwork by Yu Jia, Nao Harada, Toru Wada, Yuushou Nakayama, Takeshi Shiono and Ryo Tanaka

See their work on a cocatalyst approach for tuning polyolefin branching 🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

In honour of the 2025 #NobelPrize in Chemistry, we’ve curated a collection of impactful articles from across RSC journals on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) 🏆

Free to read until the end of November 👉 pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...

Issue 39 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read, featuring cover artwork by Tadashi Naito, Ryohei Ogawa and Yusuke Mizobuchi.

See their work on designing degradable polyethylene copolymers through selective ethylene–butadiene copolymerization

🧪 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...

Issue 38 of Polymer Chemistry is now available to read, featuring cover artwork by Manman Jia, Dongmei Yue et al.

See their work on the 'Preparation of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber with pendant vinyl groups and its post-functionalization via cross-metathesis'

🔗 doi.org/10.1039/D5PY...