Cover: A light responsive microgel based on host-guest interaction and Michael addition click reaction has been designed and synthesized under ambient conditions. The reversible size control of the microgel particle could be achieved by alternative UV and visible light irradiations. Further details can be found in the article by H.-J. Zhang, Y. Xin, Q. Yan, L.-L. Zhou, L. Peng, and J.-Y. Yuan* on page 1952.

Why are polymers with UCST in water underrepresented in academic and applied research? This review tries to answer this question. Furthermore, a guide for the synthesis of novel UCST polymers is presented and possible handles to tune the phase transition temperature, sharpness of transition, hysteresis, and effectiveness of phase separation are discussed.

In situ RAFT polymerization as a novel route to prepare PS@BaTiO₃ core–shell structured nanocomposites with excellent dielectric performance is reported. The insulating PS shells are robustly anchored on the BaTiO₃ surface to prevent the agglomeration of the nanoparticles, and also act as the polymer matrix. The PS@BaTiO₃ nanocomposites exhibit high dielectric constants, low dielectric loss, and weak frequency dependence over a wide range of frequencies.

Low-bandgap conjugated copolymer based on a donor–acceptor structure can be synthesised via palladium-complex catalysed direct arylation polymerisation. The polymerisation condition has been optimised to afford high-molecular- weight polymers up to M_n = 70 k using NMP as a solvent. The obtained polymers are used to fabricate organic photovoltaic devices with fullerene derivatives.

Intrinsic viscosities [η] for joint aqueous solutions of dextran and pullulan are measured as a function of the composition of the polymer blend. The deviations from additivity testify highly favorable interactions between the chemically identical but sterically different monomeric units of the two polysaccharides.

Yes they can! Basic organocatalysts of the guanidine (TBD), amidine (DBU), and phosphazene (BEMP) type effectively polymerize β-butyrolactone (BL). Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)s (PHBs) with controlled molecular features, that is, controlled molar masses, narrow molar mass distributions, and well-defined functional end groups, are thus formed in a living process at 60 °C from bulk monomer.

A novel way of online SEC–IR coupling is presented. Collecting IR spectra with fully optimized sensitivity in special designed flow cells allows mathematical solvent suppression. This enables a universally applicable SEC–IR measurement in potentially all common SEC eluents. The 2D spectral chromatogram of a PS–PMMA blend in THF was recorded and serves as proof-of-principle.

A light responsive microgel system based on host–guest interaction and Michael addition click reaction has been designed and synthesized under ambient conditions. The dissociation and association of β-CD/azobene inclusion interaction could be tuned reversibly by alternative UV and visible light irradiations, which results in the reversible size control of the microgel particle.

A biocompatible photo and thermoresponsivespiropyran-conjugated Pluronic has been synthesized. The spiropyran retains its photochromic properties within the polymer after exposure to different condition. SP form of SP-PL is colorless but after irradiation with UV–Vis light, it converts to purple-colored zwitterionic MC form wherein after exposure to heat orange-colored quoinoidal form is appeared.

PDADMAC/PSS 11 layer PEM assembled at 3 M NaCl collapse at low ionic strength and fully rehydrated at 3 M NaCl. PEMs have been studied by QCM and AFM and it has been observed that at low ionic strengths there is a reduction, approximately a 46%, of the original thickness, and release of water. The original thickness and water content are recovered when the PEM is exposed back to 3 M NaCl.