Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)

Issue: 6

License: [{"start"=>{"date-parts"=>[[2026, 3, 12]], "date-time"=>"2026-03-12T00:00:00Z", "timestamp"=>1773273600000}, "content-version"=>"vor", "delay-in-days"=>0, "URL"=>"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"}]

Publication date(s): 2026/03/24 (print) 2026/03/12 (online)

Pages: 3649-3659

Volume: 59 Issue: {"issue"=>"6", "published-print"=>{"date-parts"=>[[2026, 3, 24]]}}

Journal: Macromolecules

Link: [{"URL"=>"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.macromol.6c00188", "content-type"=>"application/pdf", "content-version"=>"vor", "intended-application"=>"unspecified"}, {"URL"=>"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.macromol.6c00188", "content-type"=>"unspecified", "content-version"=>"vor", "intended-application"=>"similarity-checking"}]

Designing polymers that combine performance with sustainability remains a critical challenge. Here, we report high-performance elastomers derived from CO2 and biobased monomers that integrate both mechanical toughness and closed-loop chemical recyclability through a single material feature: dynamic metal–ionomer cross-links. These ABA block polymers, synthesized from ε-decalactone, δ-jasmolactone, CO2, and bicyclic epoxides, incorporate abundant and inexpensive metal carboxylates (Na(I), Zn(II), and Al(III)) into the midblock, forming reversible networks that enhance tensile strength by 150% while maintaining high strain at break (>1500%) and elastic recovery (>85%). The same cross-links act as built-in catalysts, enabling energy-efficient depolymerization of both polyester and polycarbonate domains at 200 °C, recovering the original monomers. This dual-function approach advances circular polymer design by combining enhanced performance with efficient, low-energy, closed-loop recycling.

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