Synergistic Supramolecular Bonding Enables Self‐Reinforcing and Chemically Recyclable Sustainable Materials
Developing polymer materials that break the long-standing trade-off between long-term durability and efficient chemical recyclability remains a fundamental challenge. We report an environmentally self-reinforcing and easily recyclable unprecedented biomass-derived supramolecular polyester that circumvents this limitation through the synergistic integration of dynamic hydrogen bonds and halogen-bond-assisted depolymerization. Amide-mediated hydrogen-bond networks undergo environment-activated supramolecular rearrangement under hygrothermal, ultraviolet, and electrical aging conditions, promoting chain realignment, recrystallization, and network densification. As a result, the material exhibits self-reinforcing behavior, achieving an ultrahigh tensile strength of 138.4 MPa (61% increase) and a UV-shielding efficiency of 98% (36% increase) while maintaining excellent electrical insulation. Simultaneously, halogen-bond interactions enhance solvent penetration and facilitate ester activation, enabling rapid depolymerization in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. Monomers are recovered with >99% purity and >90% yield for closed-loop repolymerization, while also enabling molecular upcycling into supramolecular adhesives exhibiting exceptional chemical resistance and an ultrahigh cryogenic bonding strength of 11.0 MPa at -196°C. This work establishes a supramolecular design principle that decouples service-life reinforcement from end-of-life chemical deconstruction, providing a general strategy for reconciling durability and recyclability in polymeric materials.
Authors
- Wang Xiu‐Li
- Teng Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2250-2453)
- Yao Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7926-7597)
- Yu‐Zhong Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8694-4106)
- Ning Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3569-3850)
- Xing‐Liang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6098-6233)
- Zhen Zhou
- Xiao‐Yang Xu
- Zheng‐Ming Li
Institutions
- Ingenierie des Materiaux polymeres (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2026-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.4709247
- Primary Topic
- Polymer composites and self-healing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province