The interaction of light with polymeric materials is crucial for next-generation photovoltaic technologies. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) offer an efficient solution for sunlight harvesting, especially in space-constrained urban environments. However, the sustainability of LSC production remains a challenge. This work presents a eco-friendly approach to high-performance LSCs by integrating chemically regenerated polymers and bio-based materials. In this way it is possible toenhance both the performance and sustainability of LSCs. Chemically regenerated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), obtained through advanced depolymerization, reduces the carbon footprint while maintaining durability through targeted purification. Complementing this, bio-based waveguide matrices such as isomalt and renewable polyesters provide additional sustainability benefits. Isomalt, doped with naturally derived fluorophores like riboflavin and curcumin, improves light absorption and emission while ensuring biodegradability. Meanwhile, renewable polyesters synthesized from diethyl 2,3:4,5-di-O-methylene galactarate, offer high transparency, excellent f luorophore compatibility, and mechanical stability comparable to conventional PMMA. By combining regenerated PMMA with bio-based matrices, we develop a scalable and eco-friendly solution for high-performance LSCs. Beyond performance improvements, this approach supports circular economy principles, reducing waste and promoting material recovery in photovoltaic applications.

Polymers are key materials for the safe and efficient transportation of CO₂ in Carbon Capture and Storage systems, thanks to their lightweight nature, adaptability, and chemical resistance. Such properties make them ideal for handling extreme conditions of pressure and temperature typical of CO₂ transport chains, essential for controlling leakage and failure [1,2].
The work reports the experimental characterization of CO₂ interaction with conventional elastomeric materials, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), Butyl Rubber (IIR), Natural Rubber (NR), fluorinated rubber (FKM) and Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR), already used for large scale gas transportation. Their suitability to CO₂ transport application is investigated by sorption and permeation at different T and p values (including low temperatures and high pressures), complemented by the assessment of CO₂ effect on polymer matrix. Swelling and plasticization phenomena are inspected, together with mechanical and thermal properties of the neat polymers and those in the presence of CO₂ dissolved. That allows to comprehend the correlation between the intrinsic properties of the materials and the strength and durability for the in-carbon transport scenarios.
Results indicate that CO₂ solubilization impacts the energy storage and glass transition temperature (Tg) by reducing intermolecular interactions and increasing the material free volume, resulting in plasticization and Tg depression. High carbon black content in EPDM significantly improves stress resistance and stiffness, while FKM experiences accelerated swelling given the large CO₂ solubility.
The results highlight these polymers as relevant materials for efficient CCS operations, whose development is essential for the future of sustainable and robust CCS infrastructure.

We report the synthesis of polystyrene-block-poly(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) AB diblock copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (dispersity ≤ 1.32). These block copolymers exhibit bulk phase separation into well-defined nanomorphologies as judged by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and the room temperature Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ) for this block copolymer was estimated using strong segregation theory applied to trends in nanomorphology domain spacing and interfacial width. A strikingly highh χ value is determined despite the only difference being the substitution of hydrogen for fluorine atoms around the aromatic ring when comparing styrene and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene. An experimental phase diagram was constructed, clearly indicating the formation of lamellar, cylindrical and disordered morphologies, enabling the reproducible targeting of each phase. When applying theoretical approaches, most of the domain spacing data are modelled well by a coil-coil block copolymer model, but a better fit to the data from samples with shorter fluorinated blocks was obtained with a rod-coil model, indicating that these blocks have a higher stiffness. This work, which is a combination of experimental and theoretical methods, showcases the presence of strong bulk microphase separation within high χ low N AB diblock copolymers despite the relatively similar chemical composition of the constituent ‘A’ and ‘B’ units.

Bio-based semicrystalline polylactide (PLA) has a been seen as a substitute for fossil-based polyesters in medicine. For technical use its biodegradability and associated poor toughness is generally recognized as a limitation for the expansion of PLA into applications that require elastic-plastic deformations at high stress levels. An identified research challenge is to develop new insights and approaches to guide the mechanical properties of PLA to a level that will make it suitable for industrial usage.
Our research reveals that under certain environmental aging conditions melt-spun highly crystalline PLA monofilaments demonstrate a long-term preservation of the toughness, outlasting hydrolytic degradation. Environmentally triggered structural changes and hydrolytic degradation of the monofilaments have been evaluated by analysis of their crystalline structure, thermal and mechanical properties as well as their long-term relaxation behavior using a self-developed model.
A self-developed model was used to predict the long-term mechanical behavior of the fibers. It is based on the well-known Maxwell model and assumes a mean relaxation time in combination with a relaxation coefficient and allows to derive master curve from one measurement series at a single strain by fitting the data to the model equation. The proposed model turned to be extremely sensitive in revealing changes in the mechanical performance of the treated polymer samples and allowed to correlate the changes to structural changes observed by SWAXS.
Our results open design strategies toward tough neat PLA materials for sustainable technologies.

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with low glycolic acid (GA) content (≤50%) is widely used in the biomedical sector due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. Recently, PLGA with high GA content (> 80%) has shown promising barrier properties, positioning them as a potential alternative to fossil-based plastics for food packaging. However, the relationship between the macromolecular structure of these polymers and their mechanical and barrier properties—critical for food packaging applications—remains poorly understood. Since the semi-crystalline structure is a key determinant of polymer properties, this study investigates the effect of thermal processing conditions (drying conditions, thermopressing temperature and post-annealing effect) and melt memory effect on the crystallization behavior of PLGA films. First, the crystallization behavior from the melt was characterized for PLGA pellets (80% and 90% GA content) to identify the optimal conditions for film formation by thermopressing. The resulting films were then evaluated for mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and thermo-regulated wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), were employed to decipher the crystallization behavior and microstructure of both pellets and films, as a function of thermal conditions. The results showed that by tailoring the processing temperatures, specific microstructures and hence mechanical properties can be achieved without changing the macrostructures. This study provides valuable insights into the processing-structure-property relationships of PLGAs, supporting their potential as sustainable materials for food packaging applications.