Ultrathin Films of a 2D Polymer Provide Airtight Seal

New Proofs Probe Soap-Film Singularities

Mathematicians have broken through a long-standing barrier in the study of “minimizing surfaces,” which play an important role in both math and physics.

Ultrathin films of a 2D polymer provide airtight seal

A polymer with a 2D molecular structure stacks into tightly packed layers — forming films of nanoscale thicknesses that are nearly impermeable to gases and moisture. A polymer with a 2D molecular structure stacks into tightly packed layers — forming films of nanoscale thicknesses that are nearly impermeable to gases and moisture.

Recyclable Silicone Elastomers from Non-Carbon Heteroatomic Polymer Backbones

Silicone materials are indispensable across industrial and consumer domains, yet their robust Si–O–Si backbones resist depolymerization and typically require chemical crosslinking to attain elastomeric properties. Here we report a modular synthesis to access non-carbon heteroatomic...