Liang Jiang

An emulsifier- and organic solvent-free one-step method is introduced for the fabrication of NePCMs. The resulting NePCM exhibited a unique interpenetrating core–shell structure, and demonstrated a high encapsulation efficiency of 96.3%.

A dynamic disulfide-crosslinked PEG phase-change network integrates programmed black-white-black thermochromism, latent-heat storage, temperature-dependent recognition of QR-code encryption, and NIR-triggered self-healing.

Conventional materials typically maintain a stable solid state under specific application conditions. However, materials that combine high mechanical strength with reversible switching states are highly desirable for advanced technologies. Here, we present hydrogen-bond nanoconfined self-destructive polymers (HNSPs) that have robust mechanics and reversible solid-fluid switching capability at 25 °C. Upon exposure to moisture, HNSPs spontaneously transition from solid to fluid, with humidity-tunable switching rates. HNSPs with weight ratios (Rm) of 1.7 is 1.69 times higher self-destructive rate than those with Rm of 2.1, and at 90% relative humidity (RH), Rm=2.0 samples exhibit an 804.27% higher self-destructive efficiency than at 60% RH. Heating can reverse the fluid back to a solid, enabling reversible, humidity-programmable behavior. Mechanistically, large ordered hydrogen-bond clusters, reduced chain entanglement, and abundant hydrophilic groups collectively facilitate switching. This work provides a simple yet versatile strategy for designing robust, switchable self-destructive polymers, broadening their potential in next-generation devices.

Realizing organic phase-change material networks with excellent recyclability while maintaining high latent heat still faces great challenges due to the difficult trade-off between network composition. Herein, the high latent heat and recyclable phase-change materials (RPCMs) were developed by integrating linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) multimers as phase-change components and the dynamic covalent cross-linking polyurethane network components in a semi-interpenetrating polymer network structure. The latent heat (54.7-145.0 J/g) can be readily tuned by the weight fraction of linear PEG multimers and the molecular weight of PEGs used in RPCMs. The RPCMs have excellent recyclability/reprocessability with activation energy of 81.23-125.84 kJ/mol by introducing dynamic disulfide bonds in the cross-linking network structure components in RPCMs while enabling the adjustable mechanical stress (10.72-14.04 MPa) and strain (7.40-266.22%), high thermal reliability, and high thermal stability. Efficient photothermal RPCMs were realized by introducing polydopamine particles in the RPCM matrix. The thermal management system and the photothermoelectric generator were designed based on the advantages of high latent heat and efficient photothermal ability of RPCMs and further demonstrated the excellent thermal management ability and photothermoelectric properties.