PLPL-1460
Supramolecular Polymerization for a Sustainable Future
Topic
PL. Plenary Lectures
When and Where
Sep 29, 2026
10:00 - 10:40
Room 205 (Summit Hall)
Session Chairs
Ildoo Chung
Presenter(s)
Takuzo Aida (RIKEN and The University of Tokyo)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The issue of plastic waste is emergent, and many strategies have been proposed to address this critical issue for our planet. We focused attention on the concept of supramolecular polymers, which I have tightly committed from the beginning [1–12]. At the end of November 2024, we reported supramolecular plastics [13, 14], as a strategic extension of the concept of supramolecular polymers using salt-bridge-forming ionic monomer pairs. This new class of polymeric materials disassembles into monomers when exposed to salts in the natural environment and is then metabolized by microorganisms. Unlike conventional plastics, supramolecular plastics do not generate microplastics. Despite their eco-friendly characteristics, these plastic materials possess mechanical properties that are comparable or even better than those of conventional plastics. Quite recently, we developed an ultrathin low-density artificial luffa sponge from resorcinol and formaldehyde in electric bilayer [15].
References
[1] Aida, Meijer, Stupp, Science 2012, 335, 813–817. [2] Aida, Meijer, Israel J. Chem. 2020, 60, 33–47. [3] Aida, Adv. Matter. Essay, 2020, 1908140. [4] Meijer, Aida et al., Prog. Polym. Sci. 2020, 101250. [5] Aida et al. Chem. Commun. 1988, 391–393. [6] Yanagisawa, Aida et al., Science 2018, 359, 72–76. [7] Yamagishi, Aida et al., Science 2018, 361, 1242–1246. [8] Yano, Aida et al., Science 2019, 363, 161–165. [9] Fujisawa, Aida et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 15279–15285. [10] Meng, Aida, Sato et al., Nature 2021, 598, 298–303. [11] Chen, Aida et al., Nature Mat. 2022, 21, 253–261. [12] Itoh, Chen, Aoki, Aida et al., Science 2022, 367, 738–743. [13] Cheng, Hirano, Meijer, Aida et al., Science 2024, 386, 875–881. [14] Chen, Hong, Inuzuka, Mizukami, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 44507–44514. [15] Hao, Aida et al., Nature 2024, 636, 92–99. [15] Itoh, Aida et al., Science 2025, 389, 73–77.
References
[1] Aida, Meijer, Stupp, Science 2012, 335, 813–817. [2] Aida, Meijer, Israel J. Chem. 2020, 60, 33–47. [3] Aida, Adv. Matter. Essay, 2020, 1908140. [4] Meijer, Aida et al., Prog. Polym. Sci. 2020, 101250. [5] Aida et al. Chem. Commun. 1988, 391–393. [6] Yanagisawa, Aida et al., Science 2018, 359, 72–76. [7] Yamagishi, Aida et al., Science 2018, 361, 1242–1246. [8] Yano, Aida et al., Science 2019, 363, 161–165. [9] Fujisawa, Aida et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 15279–15285. [10] Meng, Aida, Sato et al., Nature 2021, 598, 298–303. [11] Chen, Aida et al., Nature Mat. 2022, 21, 253–261. [12] Itoh, Chen, Aoki, Aida et al., Science 2022, 367, 738–743. [13] Cheng, Hirano, Meijer, Aida et al., Science 2024, 386, 875–881. [14] Chen, Hong, Inuzuka, Mizukami, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 44507–44514. [15] Hao, Aida et al., Nature 2024, 636, 92–99. [15] Itoh, Aida et al., Science 2025, 389, 73–77.
