Industrial Chemistry & Materials Blog

We are delighted to present the Top 10 Most Media-Featured Articles in Industrial Chemistry & Materials (ICM), ranked by their Altmetric Attention Scores. We hope you enjoy reading these articles!

ICM has been indexed ESCI, Ei Compendex, Chemical Abstracts (CA) and DOAJ databases! To date, 110 articles have been published online, with total downloads surpassing 450,000! ICM is free for authors and readers currently.

Acetalization strategy in biomass valorization: a review

Jian He, Changzhi Li* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 30-56 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00050H

Recent progress and challenges in silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Gazi Farhan Ishraque Toki, Li Wang,* Jianping Yang* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 226-269 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00115F

Multi-component liquid-infused systems: a new approach to functional coatings

Zachary Applebee and Caitlin Howell*

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 378-392 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00003J

Recent progress in nickel single-atom catalysts for the electroreduction of CO₂ to CO

Ziyan Yang, Yuhang Li,* Chunzhong Li* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 533-555 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00109A

A new metallization method of modified tannic acid photoresist patterning

Zicheng Tang, Wenbing Kang* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 284-288 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00066D

Uncovering gold nanoparticle synthesis using a microchip laser system through pulsed laser ablation in aqueous solution

Barana Sandakelum Hettiarachchi, Yumi Yakiyama,* Hidehiro Sakurai* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 340-347 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00090G

Synergistic functionalization of poly( p -terphenyl isatin) anion exchange membrane with quaternary ammonium and piperidine cations for fuel cells

Yiman Gu, Zhe Wang* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 141-153 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00077J

Coordination bond cleavage of metal–organic frameworks and application to flame-retardant polymeric materials

Kunpeng Song, Ye-Tang Pan* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 556-570 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00110E

Recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic consequence of metal species confined within zeolite for hydrogen-related reactions

Meng Liu, Caixia Miao, Zhijie Wu*

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 57-84 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00074E

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of PEM fuel cells at low hydrogen partial pressures: efficient cell tests for mass production

Felix Haimerl,* Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 132-140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00075C

Flexoelectricity in hydroxyapatite for the enhanced piezocatalytic degradation of phenanthrene in soil

Jun Han, Najun Li,* Jianmei Lu* et al.

Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 300-308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00093A

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Strategies for enhancing the processability of UHMWPE

Clement G. Collins Rice, Alexander Evans, Zoë R. Turner, Jirut Wattoom and Dermot O’Hare*, University of Oxford

Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00104D

A strong and impact-resistant plastic that is comparable to steel could be on its way to more efficient processing thanks to new strategies introduced and tested by researchers based in the University of Oxford. They published their results in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials.

The team proposed and tested four approaches to improve the melt processibility — the process of melting a liquid material and reforming it into a solid shape or structure — of the material known as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or UHMWPE. Melt processibility can become complicated when the material has high melt viscosity, meaning the liquid is thick and resists flow, according to corresponding author Dermot O’Hare, professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford.

“UHMWPE, defined by a molecular weight in the millions of Daltons that indicates the molecule’s large size and complex nature, is a specialty grade of polyethylene considered an important engineering plastic due to its desirable properties,” O’Hare said, noting applications exist for UHMWPE in the biomedical, maritime, aerospace and ballistics sectors. “However, due the long chains comprising the molecule creating entanglements, UHMWPE can be difficult to process. We investigated four strategies to improve UHMWPE melt processability, which is the chief limiting factor to applications of this high-performance polymer.”

The team first used active site engineering, which can accelerate and enhance material reactions, and found that it could substantially disentangle the large, complex molecule. By again targeting the chains comprising the material, the researchers next employed chain transfer agents, or molecular modifiers, to change the polyethylene’s weight and distribution. They also found that introducing small molecules into the UHMWPE improved the material’s processability without sacrificing the desired mechanical properties. Finally, the researchers determined that blending UHMWPE with high-density polyethylene helped improve processability.

“These approaches and combinations thereof are considered crucial to expanding the applicability of UHMWPE,” O’Hare said.

Next, the researchers said they plan to further investigate how combining various processing approaches may enable development of materials with novel properties.

This article is featured on EurekAlert!

Author Insights：

Dermot O’Hare is a Professor of Organometallic and Materials Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. In addition, he is currently the Director of the SCG–Oxford Centre of Excellence for Chemistry and Associate Head for Business & Innovation in the Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences Division. He leads a multidisciplinary research team that works across broad areas of catalysis and nanomaterials. His research is specifically targeted at finding solutions to global issues relating to energy, zero carbon and the circular economy. He has been awarded numerous awards and prizes for his creative and ground-breaking work in Inorganic Chemistry, including the Royal Society Chemistry Ludwig Mond Prize, the Royal Society Chemistry Tilden Medal and Royal Society of Chemistry Academia–Industry Prize.

We are excited to share the 2024 Industrial Chemistry & Materials (ICM) (ICM) hot articles, selected by our reviewers and associate editors for their outstanding academic quality and impact. Congratulations to all the authors whose work is featured!

Launched in Feb. 2023, ICM has been indexed in ESCI, EI, CA and DOAJ databases! To date, 105 articles have been published online, with total downloads exceeding 370,000! ICM is free for both authors and readers.

Browse our 2024 Hot Papers Below:

Reviews
	Strategies to enable microsized alloy anodes for high-energy and long-life alkali-ion batteries Amine Daali, Gui-Liang Xu,* Khalil Amine*, et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 489-513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00126A
	In situ polymerization of fluorinated electrolytes for high-voltage and long-cycling solid-state lithium metal batteries Yunpei Lu, Xinyi Zhang, Yingying Lu*, et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, 10.1039/D4IM00082J. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00082J
	Progress on fiber engineering for fabric innovation in ecological hydrophobic design and multifunctional applications Wei Li,* Jianying Huang,* Zhong Chen,* Yuekun Lai,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 393-423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00048J
	Multi-component liquid-infused systems: a new approach to functional coatings Zachary Applebee and Caitlin Howell*. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 378-392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00003J
	Progress on aqueous rechargeable aluminium metal batteries Xiaotian Wang, Zihang Xi and Qing Zhao* Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, DOI: 10.1039/D4IM00031E. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00031E
	Design of functional binders for high-specific-energy lithium-ion batteries: from molecular structure to electrode properties Tian Qin, Quan Li,* Xiqian Yu,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 191-225 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00089C
Communication
	Electrostatically responsive liquid gating system for controlled microbubble generation Guochao Zeng, Shaojie Wang,* Xu Hou,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 424-431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00037D
Research papers
	Strategies for enhancing the processability of UHMWPE Clement G. Collins Rice, Alexander Evans, Dermot O’Hare,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, 10.1039/D4IM00104D. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00104D
	Enhanced pollutant photodegradation activity of graphitic carbon nitride on via bismuth oxyhalide graphene hybridization and the mechanism study Xinghui Liu,* Fuchun Zhang,* Yongfa Zhu,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, 10.1039/D4IM00105B. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00105B
	Membrane-free sequential paired electrosynthesis of 1,4-hydroquinone from phenol over a self-supported electrocatalytic electrode Wei-Ling Zhang, Shao Zhang,* Huidong Zheng,* Qi-Long Zhu,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, 10.1039/D4IM00067F. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00067F
	Triphase photocatalytic water-gas-shift reaction for hydrogen production with enhanced interfacial diffusion at gas–liquid–solid interfaces Huige Chen, Run Shi,* Tierui Zhang,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 432-440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00135K
	Toward a low-cost uranium-adsorbing material based on nonwoven fabrics and photografting technology Zhiwei Zhong, Yanbin Huang* and Wantai Yang* Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2025, 10.1039/D4IM00034J. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4IM00034J
	Flexoelectricity in hydroxyapatite for the enhanced piezocatalytic degradation of phenanthrene in soil Jun Han, Najun Li,* Jianmei Lu,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 300-308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00093A
	Electrochemical recovery of Pt/C electrocatalyst: optimization of the potential range on the leaching process and application to an aged MEA François Guillet, Lenka Svecova,* Laetitia Dubau,* et al. Citation: Ind. Chem. Mater., 2024, 2, 118-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3IM00085K

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