A simple, two-stranded, DNA motif can be programmed to self-assembly into large structures by hybridization between the sticky ends (single-stranded overhangs) of the motif. Depending on the detailed configurations (length, complementarity) of the sticky ends, the final structures can be either one-, two-, or three-dimensional supramolecular polymers.

This review highlights the structural diversity of emerged unconventional 2D morphologies including the bottom-up self-assembly of block molecules such as block copolymers, liquid crystals, giant molecules, etc., together with the state-of-the-art top-down nanofabrication technologies using direct self-assembly of block copolymers.

A series of spirocopolymers are successfully constructed through the catalyst-free four-component spiropolymerization of diisocyanides, activated alkynes, and two different kinds of monomers with reactive carbonyl groups. The spirocopolymers display the unique cluster-triggered emission and aggregation-induced emission properties, and their emission properties can be well-modulated by altering the ratio of comonomers.

We provide here a novel value-added method for the chemical recycling of bio-based poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) to high-performance poly(ethylene-co-isosorbide furanoate) (PEIF) copolyesters by the combination of cyclodepolymerization method with cascade polycondensation-coupling ring-opening polymerization (PROP). The prepared sustainable PEIF fibers show excellent thermal and mechanical properties with bio-degradability.

A homologous series of dendronized helical poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) carrying dendritic oligoethylene glycols (OEGs) with different branching density were synthesized. These dendronized PPAs exhibit different thermoresponsiveness according to branching density of the OEGs, and their helicities are relevant to polymerization solvents due to varied shielding effect from the dendritic OEGs.

This work successfully synthesized a series of β-thiolactones with β-geminal dimethyl substitution and varied alkyl side groups. By virtue of Thorpe-Ingold effect, the ring-opening polymerization was highly controlled and the obtained polymers were completely depolymerizable. Moreover, a preliminary structure-property relationship between side chain structure and material thermal property was established.

This work designed a new type of multicomponent reactions, namely 3-component 2-product (3C2P) reactions, and further developed the corresponding polymerizations, which could simultaneously generate polythioureas and thioformamide in equal equivalent. Furthermore, the cheap scale-up synthesis of sequence-controlled polythioureas was achieved and the obtained functional polythiourea materials possessed tunable properties.

We report the first example of in situ oxidation-polymerization that has enabled successful synthesis of mechanically strong poly(imine-amide) covalent adaptable networks. These hybrid materials exhibit high Young’s modulus and tensile strength while maintaining their reprocessibility and recyclability. This work demonstrates the great potential of the in situ transformation strategy.

Using the novel pyrene-1,5,6,10-tetracarboxyldiimide (PyDI) as the electron acceptor, two new D-A conjugated polymers are synthesized. In solution-processed FETs, these polymers display impressive electron mobility of 0.18 and 0.20 cm2·V⁻¹·s⁻¹, demonstrating the optimal potential of PyDI for the development of high-performance electron-transporting materials.

A new kind of contact electrification spectrum has been developed based on highly repeatable electric signal patterns generated by single trigger to better understand the performance enhancement mechanism of surface microstructures for triboelectric nanognenerators.

We designed and synthesized a series of fluorinated colorless polyimides (CPI) through one-step polymerization of 2,5-substituted m-phenylenediamine diamine and CHDA dianhydride. Excellent combination of high heat-resistance, high transparency and low birefringence was achieved in these CPIs with simple chemical structures.

A post-polymerization modification is developed to prepare a new family of bulky tert-butyldimethylsiloxy modified polyimide films with significantly improved optical, dielectric and solubility properties.

A huge improvement of microporosity, solubility and gas separation properties for two intrinsic microporous polyimides were reported by incorporating of the paracyclophane with topological ultra-micropore (3.09 Å) into the polyimide backbone. This strategy of using topological ultra-micropore subunit to construct polymers paves a new way to search for advanced membranes for gas separation applications.

Thin film photodiode based on narrow-bandgap polymer PPCPD achieved high detectivity and quantum efficiency and realized high pixel-density image arrays without pixel-level-patterning. Short-wavelength infrared imaging could be scanned and read out by a 1 × 256 linear array with 25 μm × 25 μm pixel pitch.

A vapor-induced coating method is proposed for generating unidirectional and stable Marangoni flow to prepare uniform and well-aligned organic semiconductor stripe crystals, which show good performance in organic field effect transistors and superior solar-blind polarization sensitivity in photodetectors.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel hybrid membranes with embedded poly(Nisopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid) microgels were constructed by simple mixing and subsequent freezing-thawing process. The temperature and pH responsiveness of the P(NIPAM-AA) microgels in the membranes matrix were retained and the obtained hydrogel membranes exhibited extraordinary responsiveness to temperature and pH, with microgels functioning as the responsive valves.

This work proposed a post-synthesis strategy to fabricate liquid crystal actuators through a volatile catalyst triggering reversible reactions. The method balances the stability and reprogrammability of LCEs crosslinked by extensively used two-stage thiol-acrylate Michael addition and photopolymerization (TAMAP) reaction. It has potential to be extended to other covalent adaptable networks.