Cast Films Research Articles

Morphological and biological assessment of films based on hyaluronic acid doped with cerium oxide and aluminum oxide for wound healing applications

Developing wound bandages with advanced properties to be qualified in improving the period of healing to avoid the harmful inflammation and the danger of the side effects that may be caused by the long period. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was fabricated and doped with several oxides; Alumina oxide (Al2O3) and Cerium oxide (CeO2) via film casting method. Furthermore, XRD, FTIR, SEM, TGA, water contact angle, and cell viability were used to characterize the fabrication process of the scaffolds. Rough and porous surface were a mutual morphological properties for all the fabricated scaffolds which may lead to good adhesion and easy transfer of therapeutic fluids and moisture movement through the wound. TGA shows a great thermal stability for CeO2/Al2O3/GO@HA according to the three stages of degradation that the scaffold went through. These stages started from temperature under 200 °C to the final degradation stage that occurred at 599.2 with mass loss about 67 % of total components. Furthermore, the assessment of cell viability was employed to evaluate the biological compatibility of the scaffold with normal lung cells for a period of three days in vitro. The concentration of the substance was first set at 2500 μg/ml, and the Ic50 value was subsequently discovered to be 625 μg/ml. The decrease in drug concentration is associated with an increase in cell growth that estimated by 95.3 % with 4.4 μg/ml of concentration.

Investigation of physical, thermal, mechanical and gas permeability properties of low‐density polyethylene/ poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) blend films and their utilization for fresh‐cut fruit and vegetable packaging applications

AbstractIn this study, low density polyethylene/poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) (LDPE/PMP) blend films were prepared by melt compounding in a twin‐screw extruder then film casting in a single screw extruder equipped with a cast‐film. Morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of flexible blend films were characterized by XRD, SEM, DSC analysis, and tensile tests. Solid‐state viscoelastic properties of samples were also quantified by measuring creep behaviors in DMA. Oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability values of films were measured. Their packaging film application performances were evaluated by observing the textural properties of fresh‐cut bananas stored into LDPE and a blend film bag and monitoring the ethylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide concentrations into the bags for 14 days. It was found that LDPE/PMP blends showed partially miscible structure but yielded highly transparent films. DSC results pointed out that the PMP significantly reduced the degree of crystallinity value of LDPE. On the other hand, PMP improved tensile strength and elastic modulus of LDPE. Creep tests indicated that the PMP addition significantly reduced the creep resistance and relaxation time of LDPE. This study clearly signified that the PMP dramatically increased the oxygen permeability value of LDPE. It has also been concluded that LDPE/PMP blend films can be used as a highly permeable packaging material for successfully extending the shelf life of fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables.Highlights LDPE/PMP films, despite being partially miscible, are highly transparent and made through melt compounding and film casting. Adding PMP to LDPE reduces crystallinity but improves tensile strength and elasticity, as shown by DSC tests. PMP reduces LDPE's creep resistance and quickens relaxation time, according to DMA creep tests. PMP greatly increases LDPE's oxygen permeability, ideal for gas‐transmitting packaging. LDPE/PMP film packaging prolongs the shelf life of fresh produce, proven in a banana storage study.

A “Creating God” Experience of Chinese Film Industry and Aesthetics: Conversation with Wuershan, Director of Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Abstract Wuershan is a well-known Chinese film director, screenwriter, and producer, who is known for his directorial blockbusters The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordman (Daojianxiao, 2011); Painted Skin: The Resurrection (HuapiⅡ, 2012); Mojin: The Lost Legend (Guichuideng Zhi Xunlongjue, 2015); and Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms (Feng shen: zhao ge feng yun, 2023). This interview was conducted between Wuershan and Xuguang Chen on October 12th, 2023 in Wuershan’s Director Studio, Beijing. In this in-depth interview, they focused on the experience of the Chinese film industry and the aesthetics of Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms. First, they discussed industrialized operations of filmmaking in terms of film creativity, screenwriting, production, and casting. Second, they emphasized the classical aesthetic elements involved in the movie, including selection criteria and their creative transformation, and the inheritance and innovation of traditional values. They also analyzed the characters and stories of the movie in the third part, which are derived from Chinese historical texts, and rewritten to meet the requirements of both a mythological movie framework and the contemporary times. And then they explored the role of technology in cinema, the place of authorship within the system, and the consumption of imaginative films. In the end, they discussed the issue of cross-media operations and the international communication of Chinese films.

Effect of screw speed in compounding of poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch blends and their processability by cast extrusion

AbstractBlends of bio‐polyesters cover a wide percentage of the market share and possess properties comparable to the ones of conventional polymers. Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is a fossil‐based compostable bioplastic, which possess good mechanical properties and processability. Blending PBAT with thermoplastic starch (TPS) allows to lower the cost of the final products and to increase the amount of bioderived material. The influence of the processing parameters on the morphology and on the mechanical properties of PBAT/TPS blends is studied. The compounds were produced via twin‐screw extrusion and then films were produced via cast film extrusion. The quality of the dispersion is strongly related to the screw speed adopted during the compounding process. The quality of the film and their processability depend on the parameters adopted during the compounding process.

Enhanced UV protection in silk fibroin based electrospun fabrics realized via orientation induced high efficiency of azobenzene isomerization

Due to the poor UV protection capability, natural silk fabrics not only suffer from easy damage by sunshine but also induce possible sunburn in the human body. Efficient azobenzene isomerization and enhanced UV shielding are realized by replacing the natural silk with natural protein silk fibroin (SF) and electrospinning together with light-responsive copolymer P(MEO2-co-OEG300-co-AHMA). Compared to a solution cast film, the absorption peak intensity at 355 nm is 60 % higher in UV–Vis spectra of the electropsun SF/P(MEO2-co-OEG300-co-AHMA) fabrics. This improvement is related to the highly oriented chains, inducing more space and higher efficiency for azobenzene isomerization. Only exposure to visible light for 20 min, the absorption peak corresponding to the trans- state at 355 nm recovers to 92.5 % in the electrospun fabrics, which is at least 100 % faster than that in the solution cast film (50 min). It is related to the zip effect of the isomerization in the oriented chain structure. Thus, not only the absorption of UV radiation, but also the isomerization rate is enhanced. Based on these unique absorption and recovery capabilities, the SF based electrospun fabrics can be used to replace the natural silk fabrics for UV shielding in summer, especially for cyclic use.

Thiol‐ene polymerization of double‐decker‐shaped phenyl‐substituted silsesquioxanes and thiol monomers

AbstractPolymers incorporating double‐decker‐shaped phenyl‐substituted silsesquioxane (DDSQ) into the main chain are expected to exhibit excellent thermal stability and significantly reduced dynamics of the polymer segments. In this study, thiol‐ene polymerization at 25 °C for 5 min under 365 nm irradiation was applied for 3,13‐divinyl‐DDSQ (E1) with oxybis(2,1‐ethanediyloxy‐2,1‐ethanediyl) bis(3‐sulfanylpropanoate) (T1) as a bithiol monomer for linear and 2,2‐bis{[(3‐sulfanylpropanoyl)oxy]methyl}butyl 3‐sulfanylpropanoate (T2) as a trithiol monomer for soluble cross‐linked poly(thioether)s. All the resulting poly(thioether)s yielded colorless and transparent films by casting tetrahydrofuran solutions onto glass substrates. These polymers showed a higher decomposition temperature of 5 wt% loss over 350 °C. The films exhibited glass transition temperatures below 25 °C. Scratch scars were made on the surface of the cast films, and the self‐healing behavior was observed after heating at 40 °C. These results suggest that the DDSQ unit suppresses the molecular motion of the polymers and contributes to their self‐healing behavior.

Properties of APTES-Modified CNC Films.

Sulfated cellulose nanocrystals' (CNCs') facile aqueous dispersibility enables producing films, fibers, and other materials using only water as a solvent but prevents using sulfated CNCs in applications that require water immersion. We report that modifying CNCs with 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES) via a simple, single-pot reaction scheme dramatically improves the hydrolytic stability of CNC films. The effects of APTES modification on CNCs' properties were studied using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force and optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, and ultimate analysis. Substituting a mere 12.6% of the CNCs' available hydroxyl groups with APTES dramatically increased the hydrolytic stability of shear cast films while only having minor impacts on their mechanical properties. In addition, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCMD) and multiparametric surface plasmon resonance (MP-SPR) studies showed that the CNC-APTES films also had a greater irreversible binding with carbofuran, a pesticide and emerging contaminant. These results highlight that APTES modification is a promising method for increasing the utility of sulfated CNCs in sensors, adsorbents, and other applications requiring water immersion.

Homogeneous microscopic bumps generated on λ-carrageenan cast film surface

Here we investigate the phenomenon of bump formation on λ-carrageenan (CG). In this phenomenon, microscopic bumps (ca. 2.8 µm wide and ca. 0.4 µm high) form on the surface of λ-CG cast film created by evaporating a 1.0 wt% λ-CG solution in a PTFE petri dish at 60 ºC. We observe that the size of the bumps can be controlled by adjusting the concentration and volume of the λ-CG solution, and this is correlated with the film thickness. Specifically, as the film thickness increases, the size of the bumps also increases with strong correlation. We also investigate the mechanism underlying bump formation. We find that bumps form by complete drying and that the λ-CG film exhibits less-adhered inner layers with periodic curves resembling the bumps. These results suggest the curved layer structure is related to the formation mechanism. In other words, the drying shrinkage strain is relieved on each layer through curving, leading to the generation of bumps on the free surface. Therefore, we hypothesize that the fundamental mechanism behind the formation of these bumps lies in the self-organization of λ-CG, which results in the creation of an adhesion-less layered structure during the cast film formation process.

Hydrophobization of surfaces on cellulose nanofibers by enzymatic grafting of partially 2-deoxygenated amylose

Recently, attention has been paid to cellulose nanofibers, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCN), as new bio-based materials. In addition, hydrophobized surface on TOCNs can be expected to provide new applications. Based on our previous finding that partially 2-deoxygenated (P2D)-amylose, which was synthesized by GP-catalyzed enzymatic copolymerization of D-glucal with α-d-glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P) as comonomers, was hydrophobic, in this study, hydrophobization of surfaces on TOCNs was investigated by the GP-catalyzed enzymatic grafting of P2D-amylose chains on TOCNs. After maltooligosaccharide primers were modified on TOCNs, the GP-catalyzed enzymatic copolymerization of D-glucal with Glc-1-P was performed for grafting of P2D-amylose chains. 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis confirmed the production of P2D-amylose-grafted TOCNs with different 2-deoxyglucose/Glc unit ratios. The powder X-ray diffraction profiles of the products indicated that the entire crystalline structures were strongly affected by the unit ratios and chain lengths of the grafted polysaccharides. The SEM images observed differences in nanofiber diameter in the reaction solutions and surface morphology after film formation, due to grafting of P2D-amylose chains from TOCNs. The water contact angle measurement of a cast film prepared from the product indicated its hydrophobicity.

Development and Characterization of Poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate)/Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) with Cowpea Lignocellulosic Fibers as a Filler via Injection Molding and Extrusion Film‐Casting

AbstractBiodegradable poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate)/Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydoxyvalerate) (PBSA/PHBV) filled with lignocellulosic sidestream/fibers from cowpea, a neglected and underutilized African crop are produced by injection molding and extrusion film casting. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) suggests that the fibers have more affinity and interfacial interaction with PBSA than PHBV. This is shown by a decrease in dampening of PBSA and an increase in dampening of PHBV with fiber addition. In addition, fiber addition results in more homogeneous crystal morphology of PBSA, while resulting in more heterogeneous crystal morphology of PHBV. The tensile strength of injection molded bio‐composites increases with fiber addition due to good interfacial adhesion between the matrix and fibers revealed by scanning electron microscope. In contrast, the tensile strength of bio‐composite films decreases with fiber addition due to the high‐volume fraction of pores in bio‐composite films that act as stress raisers. The stiffness of both injection molded, and bio‐composite films increase with fiber addition, as revealed by an increase in Young's modulus and storage modulus, while the tensile strain decreases. In conclusion, low‐value cowpea sidestream can be used as a filler to produce injection molded bio‐composites and bio‐composite films for potential application as rigid and flexible packaging.

Nonwoven fiber meshes for oxygen sensing

Accurate oxygen sensing and cost-effective fabrication are crucial for the adoption of wearable devices inside and outside the clinical setting. Here we introduce a simple strategy to create nonwoven polymeric fibrous mats for a notable contribution towards addressing this need. Although morphological manipulation of polymers for cell culture proliferation is commonplace, especially in the field of regenerative medicine, non-woven structures have not been used for oxygen sensing. We used an airbrush spraying, i.e. solution blowing, to obtain nonwoven fiber meshes embedded with a phosphorescent dye. The fibers serve as a polymer host for the phosphorescent dye and are shown to be non-cytotoxic. Different composite fibrous meshes were prepared and favorable mechanical and oxygen-sensing properties were demonstrated. A Young's modulus of 9.8 MPa was achieved and the maximum oxygen sensitivity improved by a factor of ∼2.9 compared to simple drop cast film. The fibers were also coated with silicone rubbers to produce mechanically robust sensing films. This reduced the sensing performance but improved flexibility and mechanical properties. Lastly, we are able to capture oxygen concentration maps via colorimetry using a smartphone camera, which should offer unique advantages in wider usage. Overall, the introduced composite fiber meshes show a potential to significantly improve cell cultures and healthcare monitoring via absolute oxygen sensing.

Development of PLA/graphite based anode material with styrene-butadiene rubber/carboxy methylcellulose binder for Li-ion battery using film casting

Development of PLA/graphite based anode material with styrene-butadiene rubber/carboxy methylcellulose binder for Li-ion battery using film casting

Transient Interfacial Pattern Formation in Block Copolymer Thin Films via Sequential Thermal and Solvent Immersion Annealing.

A variety of structures encountered in nature only arise in materials under highly nonequilibrium conditions, suggesting to us that the scope for creating new functional block copolymer (BCP) structures might be significantly enlarged by embracing complex processing histories that allow for the fabrication of structures quite unlike those created under "near-equilibrium" conditions. The present work examines the creation of polymer film structures in which highly nonequilibrium processing conditions allow for the creation of entirely new types of transient BCP morphologies achieved by transitioning between different ordered states. Most previous studies of BCP materials have emphasized ordering them from their disordered state obtained from a solution film casting process, followed by a slow thermal annealing (TA) process at elevated temperatures normally well above room temperature. We have previously shown that achieving the equilibrium TA state can be accelerated by a direct solvent immersion annealing (DIA) preordering step that creates nascent ordered microstructures, followed by TA. In the present work, we examine the reverse nonequilibrium sequential processing in which we first thermally anneal the BCP film to different levels of partial (lamellar) order and then subject it to DIA to swell the lamellae. This sequential processing rapidly leads to a swelling-induced wrinkle pattern that initially grows with immersion time and can be quenched by solvent evaporation into its corresponding glassy state morphology. The article demonstrates the formation of wrinkling "defect" patterns in entangled BCP films by this sequential annealing that does not form under ordinary TA conditions. At long DIA times, these highly "defective" film structures evolve in favor of the equilibrium morphology of parallel lamellae observed with DIA alone. In conjunction with our previous study of sequential DIA + TA, the present TA + DIA study demonstrates that switching the order of these processing methods for block copolymer films gives the same final state morphology in the limit of long time as any one method alone, but with drastically different intermediate transient state morphologies. These transient morphologies could have many applications.

Optical properties of synthesized PVA/Cellulose phosphate composite films doped with Zn2+ ions for optical device applications

In this work, composite films of polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose phosphate doped with Zn2+ (PVA/CP/Zn2+) were prepared through a film casting procedure. The prepared films were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, TGA, and SEM. The XRD revealed a decrease in the semi-crystalline nature as Zn2+ concentrations increased. The TGA showed enhanced thermal stability for the composite films, where the SEM images illustrated the formation of a non-homogeneous surface morphology. The transmittance-absorption spectroscopic measurements showed a noticeable decrease in both the indirect energy gap (Eig) and the direct energy gap (Eg). Eig was decreased from 5.05 to 4.77 eV and Eg decreased from 5.51 eV to 5.12 eV with increasing Zn2+ concentration from zero to 14 wt%. Moreover, the transition strength (Ed), oscillator wavelength (λo), and the excitation energy (Es) were found to increase as Zn2+ content increased. These findings not only shed light on the physicochemical attributes of the prepared films but also emphasize their promising potential utilization in optical components.

Fabrication of multifunctional ethyl cellulose/gelatin-based composite nanofilm for the pork preservation and freshness monitoring

In this study, an active and intelligent nanofilm for monitoring and maintaining the freshness of pork was developed using ethyl cellulose/gelatin matrix through electrospinning, with the addition of natural purple sweet potato anthocyanin. The nanofilm exhibited discernible color variations in response to pH changes, and it demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards volatile ammonia compared with casting film. Notably, the experimental findings regarding the wettability and pH response performance indicated that the water contact angle between 70° and 85° was more favorable for the smart response of pH sensitivity. Furthermore, the film exhibited desirable antioxidant activities, water vapor barrier properties and also good antimicrobial activities with the incorporation of ε-polylysine, suggesting the potential as a food packaging film. Furthermore, the application preservation outcomes revealed that the pork packed with the nanofilm can prolong shelf life to 6 days, more importantly, a distinct color change aligned closely with the points indicating the deterioration of the pork was observed, changing from light pink (indicating freshness) to light brown (indicating secondary freshness) and then to brownish green (indicating spoilage). Hence, the application of this multifunctional film in intelligent packaging holds great potential for both real-time indication and efficient preservation of the freshness of animal-derived food items.

Ligand-Assisted Direct Lithography of Upconverting and Avalanching Nanoparticles for Nonlinear Photonics.

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) exhibit unique nonlinear optical properties that can be harnessed in microscopy, sensing, and photonics. However, forming high-resolution nano- and micropatterns of UCNPs with large packing fractions is still challenging. Additionally, there is limited understanding of how nanoparticle patterning chemistries are affected by the particle size. Here, we explore direct patterning chemistries for 6-18 nm Tm3+-, Yb3+/Tm3+-, and Yb3+/Er3+-based UCNPs using ligands that form either new ionic linkages or covalent bonds between UCNPs under ultraviolet (UV), electron-beam (e-beam), and near-infrared (NIR) exposure. We study the effect of UCNP size on these patterning approaches and find that 6 nm UCNPs can be patterned with compact ionic-based ligands. In contrast, patterning larger UCNPs requires long-chain, cross-linkable ligands that provide sufficient interparticle spacing to prevent irreversible aggregation upon film casting. Compared to approaches that use a cross-linkable liquid monomer, our patterning method limits the cross-linking reaction to the ligands bound on UCNPs deposited as a thin film. This highly localized photo-/electron-initiated chemistry enables the fabrication of densely packed UCNP patterns with high resolutions (∼1 μm with UV and NIR exposure; <100 nm with e-beam). Our upconversion NIR lithography approach demonstrates the potential to use inexpensive continuous-wave lasers for high-resolution 2D and 3D lithography of colloidal materials. The deposited UCNP patterns retain their upconverting, avalanching, and photoswitching behaviors, which can be exploited in patterned optical devices for next-generation UCNP applications.

Realization of customizable performance castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane antiseptic coatings via arbutin

The utilization of green and sustainable bio-based resources gets more important owing to the increasing shortage of petrochemical resources. Arbutin (AT) was considered to belong to a class of renewable polyhydroxy compounds due to its unique molecular structure. Hence, a molecular structure design strategy was employed to incorporate AT and castor oil into the backbone of anionic waterborne polyurethan (WPU). The effect of the AT content on the characteristics of WPU dispersion and casting film was thoroughly investigated. The result showed that the WPU films had excellent transparency, mechanical (the tensile strength was 28.4 MPa, the toughness was 34.3 MJ/m3), and thermodynamic properties, surpassing most current vegetable oil-based WPU systems. Notably, the WPU-AT20 film could pull target 18722 times its own weight, which could be ascribed to the cooperative effects of abundant rigid rings, H-bonds, and a higher physical crosslink density in systems. The Tg values of the WPU films were adjusted to range from 13.47 °C to 63.40 °C. The maximum value of Tg was, in particular, outstanding at present reported systems. Intriguingly, the WPU films still exhibited prominent anti-corrosion performance towards Q235# iron after severe weather conditions of outdoor storage for 4 months. The objective of this research was to offer simple and feasible strategies for preparing eco-friendly WPU coatings with excellent anti-corrosion performance.

Core-shell structure polydopamine and polyethylenimine co-assisted MoS2-BaTiO3/polyarylene ether nitrile nanocomposites for high-temperature resistant organic dielectrics

In this work, a novel nanoparticle ((MoS2-BT)@(PDA+PEI)) was constructed through two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and zero-dimensional barium titanate (BT) via in-situ polymerization and co-modification of polydopamine (PDA) and polyethylenimine (PEI). Then the nanofillers were dispersed in the Polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) matrix by film casting to obtain PEN/(MoS2-BT)@(PDA+PEI) nanocomposite dielectric films. Subsequently, the latter were subjected to chemical crosslinking at high temperature to obtain CPEN/(MoS2-BT)@(PDA+PEI) nanocomposites. The effects of filler content on the properties of PEN matrix composite films were investigated. The results indicate excellent compatibility between (MoS2-BT)@(PDA+PEI) and the PEN matrix due to the introduction of an organic modification layer, resulting in overall good performance of nanocomposite films, including good thermal stability with a glass transition temperature (Tg) exceeding 240 °C after chemical crosslinking. The dielectric constant of CPEN nanocomposites containing 40wt% of the hybrid nanoparticles is 20.2 and the dielectric loss is 0.032 at 1kHz, the dielectric constant-temperature coefficient of all CPEN nanocomposites is less than 6×10-4 °C-1 at the temperature range of 25-220 °C. In short, the incorporation of (MoS2-BT)@(PDA+PEI) effectively enhances the thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties of PEN-based nanocomposites.

Kinetic migration of PBS and PBSA biopolymers prepared by cast film extrusion and biaxial stretching: A combined experimental and modeling approach

AbstractThe kinetic migration of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PBSA) biopolymers, prepared by cast film extrusion (thin film) and biaxial stretching (biaxially oriented [BO] film) techniques, were investigated based on experimental and mathematical modeling. MATLAB coding was used to fit the migration data to a diffusion model. BO films significantly reduced the migration rate compared with thin films, with reductions of 29% and 41% for BO‐PBS and BO‐PBSA, respectively, due to the increased degree of molecular crystallinity. Higher ethanol content increased the quantity of substance diffusing from plastic film. PBS and PBSA are more suitable for packaging hydrophilic foods than alcoholic beverages. PBS exhibited a lower migration rate than PBSA due to its more rigid polymer matrix. Remarkably, BO‐films exhibited 31% and 41% lower diffusion coefficients (D) compared with thin films, but significantly higher partition coefficients (KP,F) by 44% and 267% for BO‐PBS and BO‐PBSA, respectively. This suggests a stronger affinity of migrant for BO film matrix. However, at 70°C, PBSA films may be hydrolyzed with a high ethanol, resulting in an inadequate diffusion model. The diffusion–reaction concept should be implemented for a better fit. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting appropriate packaging materials and predicting migration under diverse conditions, ultimately promoting consumer safety.

Polymer Photocatalysts with Side Chain Induced Planarity for Increased Activity for Sacrificial Hydrogen Production from Water

AbstractConjugated polymers are promising materials for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, most reported materials are not solution‐processible, limiting their potential for large‐scale application, for example as solution cast films. Flexible side‐chains are commonly introduced to provide solubility, but these often impart unfavorable properties, such as hydrophobicity, which lowers photocatalytic activity. Here, computational predictions are employed to aid in the design of chloroform soluble polymer photocatalysts that show increased planarity through favorable intramolecular interactions. Using this approach, three conjugated polymer photocatalysts with identical poly(benzene‐dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone) backbones but different solubilizing side‐chains on the benzene‐ring are explored, i.e., tri(ethylene glycol), n‐decyloxy, and n‐dodecyl. These side‐chain variations significantly alterr the properties of the polymers, specifically energy levels, optical gap, and wettability. The hydrophobic n‐decyloxy functionalized polymer has a sacrificial hydrogen evolution rate of 17.0 µmol h−1 in suspension, while the hydrophilic tri(ethylene glycol) functionalized polymer is almost three times more active (45.4 µmol h−1). Conversely, no hydrogen evolution is observed for the purely alkyl side‐chain (n‐dodecyl) containing polymer due to the side‐chain induced torsion of the backbone. A thin‐film of the most active polymer exhibits a promising area‐normalized sacrificial hydrogen evolution rate of 7.4 ± 0.3 mmol h−1 m−2 under visible light irradiation.