We are excited to share that a new research paper, “Functionalised Polyaniline-Based Porous Organic Polymers for Catalytic Conversion of CO₂ into Cyclic Carbonates,” authored by Ulzhalgas Karatayeva and Charl F. J. Faul, has been published Open Access in Chemical Communications!

This work introduces a sustainable strategy for CO₂ capture and conversion using carboxylic-functionalised polyaniline-based porous organic polymers. These materials enable the efficient production of cyclic carbonates with high conversion rates and excellent recyclability, all without the need for solvents or co-catalysts. This study highlights the potential of heterogeneous catalysts to advance green and cost-effective CO₂ utilisation.

🔗 Click here to read the full paper!

A new review paper titled “Exploring conjugated microporous polymers for hydrogen storage: A review of current advances” authored by John Worth, Valeska P. Ting, and Charl F. J. Faul, was recently published Open Access in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy!

This extensive review offers design guidelines and insights to support the development of conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) as physisorption-based materials for hydrogen storage, serving as a valuable reference for future research on the related fields. Check the paper for more details!

A new paper titled “Self-Assembly, Aggregation Mechanisms, and Morphological Properties of Asymmetric Perylene Diimide-based Supramolecular Polymers” authored by Helal Alharbi, Xue Fang, Robert L. Harniman, Charl F. J. Faul, is recently published Open Access in Chemistry – A European Journal!

This study features in the synthesis of various asymmetric perylene diimide (PDI) derivatives and investigates the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups on the properties of the resulting supramolecular polymers (SMPs). The PDI self-assemblies were induced by THF/H₂O mixtures as an optimal system and characterized via UV/Vis, AFM, and TEM, revealing the formation of nanofiber-based supramolecular structures that exhibit a coiling tendency. Check the link for more details!

A new paper titled “Electric Field Driven Soft Morphing Matter” authored by Ciqun Xu (former joint PhD student with Bristol Robotic Laboratory), Charl Faul, Majid Taghavi, and Jonathan Rossiter, is now published Open Access in Advanced Materials!

This study demonstrated an electric field-driven soft morphing matter, termed electro-morphing gel (e-MG), with extremely high morphological adaptability and complex multimodal electric field response. The remote-control strategy opens a wide range of applications in soft and bio-inspired robotics, dexterous manipulation, and space exploration. Check the supporting video for a cool swinging gymnast for more details!