Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials

Muhammad Asadullah Khan; Obaid Iqbal; Zi-Hao Wang; Fu-Zhou Wang

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3675-9

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Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials

REVIEW | Updated：2026-07-27

- Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials
- Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 2026年44卷第8期页码：2453-2483
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Department of Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
  b.Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Author bio：
  
  chemistdrasad@gmail.com (M.A.K.)
  obaid@mail.ustc.edu.cn (O.I.)
  wangzh428@mail.ustc.edu.cn (Z.H.W.)
  wangfuzhou@ahu.edu.cn (F.Z.W.)
- Funds：
  
  This work was financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2025ZD0613804), the Anhui Province Science and Technology Innovation Tackling Key Project (No. 202423i08050025), and Hefei Zhongke Kele New Materials Co. Ltd. (No. 2024340104003776). We also thank the Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-friendly Polymer Materials, Excellent Research, and Innovation Team Project of Anhui Province (No. 2022AH010001). We are also grateful for the mentorship and support from Professor Changle Chen (USTC).;Muhammad Asadullah Khan obtained his M.S. degree from Anhui Agricultural University, China, in 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Zhen Chen. He then joined the research group of Prof. Changle Chen as a Ph.D. candidate, where he conducted research on catalyst development and polymerization chemistry, earning his Ph.D. degree in 2025. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at Anhui University under the supervision of Prof. Fuzhou Wang. His current research focuses on the development of advanced catalysts and innovative methodologies for olefin polymerization and copolymerization, with particular interests in catalyst design, polymer microstructure control, and sustainable polymer synthesis.Obaid Iqbal received his M.S. degree in 2015 from University of the Punjab. He carried out his doctoral work in polymer processing engineering at University of Science and Technology of China under the direction of Prof. Liangbin Li from 2016 to 2021. Subsequently, he joined Prof. Fuzhou Wang group at Anhui University each year as a research assistant. In 2024, he joined Anhui University as a lecturer. His current research interest is focused on olefin polymerization, olefin processing and engineering.Zi-Hao Wang obtained his B.S. degree from Hefei University of Technology. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, under the supervision of Prof. Changle Chen. His research focuses on olefin (co)polymerizations and the synthesis of functionalized polyolefin materials.Fu-Zhou Wang received his Ph.D. degree from Hiroshima University under the direction of Prof. Takeshi Shiono from 2013 to 2017. Subsequently, he joined Prof. Changle Chen's group at the University of Science and Technology of China for 1 year as a research assistant. In 2018, he joined Anhui University as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 2025. He leads a polyolefin R&D team dedicated to the industrial development and application of high-performance polyolefin materials. Meanwhile, as the deputy director of the Chuzhou Research Institute of Anhui University, he also leads an entrepreneurial team committed to the development of vehicle systems utilizing new energy batteries/photovoltaic technologies, and high-polymer processing precision equipment.The authors declare no interest conflict.
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3675-9
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2026-02-07，
  
  录用：2026-03-18，
  
  网络首发：2026-07-15，
  
  纸质出版：2026-08-15
- Accepted：
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Khan, M. A.; Iqbal, O.; Wang, Z. H.; Wang, F. Z. Recent Advancements in nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization: molecular design, mechanistic insights, and sustainable polyolefin materials. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 2453–2483

Muhammad Asadullah Khan, Obaid Iqbal, Zi-Hao Wang, et al. Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(8): 2453-2483.
Khan, M. A.; Iqbal, O.; Wang, Z. H.; Wang, F. Z. Recent Advancements in nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization: molecular design, mechanistic insights, and sustainable polyolefin materials. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 2453–2483 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3675-9.

Muhammad Asadullah Khan, Obaid Iqbal, Zi-Hao Wang, et al. Recent Advancements in Nickel-catalyzed Olefin Polymerization: Molecular Design, Mechanistic Insights, and Sustainable Polyolefin Materials[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(8): 2453-2483. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3675-9.

摘要

A versatile platform of late transition metal catalysts has been developed for the precision polymerization of ethylene. By leveraging tunable ligand designs and controlled chain-walking mechanisms

these catalytic systems enable the tailored synthesis of diverse polyethylene architectures

ranging from highly branched LDPE to linear HDPE and UHMWPE. Furthermore

the catalysts demonstrate exceptional regio- and stereo-specificity

facilitating the direct copolymerization of ethylene with polar monomers to produce advanced

functionalized polyolefins.

Abstract

Polyolefins

defined as polymers that are widely synthesized

are significant to modern civilization owing to their flexibility and affordability. Nevertheless

conventional polyolefins have limitations in terms of their sustainability and usefulness. Recent innovations in nickel-based catalysts have radically altered olefin polymerization

facilitating precise regulation of the polymer microstructure and integration of polar monomers. This review addresses the recent developments in

-diimine nickel catalysts

SHOP-type systems

and iminopyridyl-based complexes

focus

ing on the impact of steric and electronic ligand alterations on thermal robustness

catalytic activity

and molecular weight control. To clarify its function in adjusting the mechanical and thermal characteristics

the chain-walking mechanism

which is essential for creating branched architectures

was broken down. Breakthroughs

including supramolecular shielding and fluorine effects

in addition to dinuclear architectures

have led to ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylenes (UHMWPEs)

semicrystalline materials

and thermoplastic elastomers directly from ethylene. In addition

the resulting approaches for copolymerizing ethylene with polar monomers (acrylates

norbornene) or carbon monoxide have revealed routes to functionalized and photodegradable polyolefins. Despite these outcomes

challenges remain in accomplishing highly polar comonomer incorporation and commercial scalability. This review highlights nickel catalysts as an adaptable framework for sustainable polyolefin innovation

connecting academic research with applications in packaging

biomedicine

and recyclable materials.

关键词

Keywords

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