Recent Advances in Environmentally Friendly Dual‐crosslinking Polymer Networks

Abstract

AbstractEnvironmentally friendly crosslinked polymer networks feature degradable covalent or non‐covalent bonds, with many of them manifesting dynamic characteristics. These attributes enable convenient degradation, facile reprocessibility, and self‐healing capabilities. However, the inherent instability of these crosslinking bonds often compromises the mechanical properties of polymer networks, limiting their practical applications. In this context, environmentally friendly dual‐crosslinking polymer networks (denoted EF‐DCPNs) have emerged as promising alternatives to address this challenge. These materials effectively balance the need for high mechanical properties with the ability to degrade, recycle, and/or self‐heal. Despite their promising potential, investigations into EF‐DCPNs remain in their nascent stages, and several gaps and limitations persist. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, properties, and applications of recent progress in EF‐DCPNs. Firstly, synthetic routes to a rich variety of EF‐DCPNs possessing two distinct types of dynamic bonds (i.e., imine, disulfide, ester, hydrogen bond, coordination bond, and other bonds) are introduced. Subsequently, complex structure‐ and dynamic nature‐dependent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of EF‐DCPNs are discussed, followed by their exemplary applications in electronics and biotechnology. Finally, future research directions in this rapidly evolving field are outlined.