Story perspectives

Revolutionary Light-Activated Material Transforms Plastic Manufacturing

1/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

The work, published in Nature Chemistry, introduces a liquid-stable material activated by light or heat.
The material contains latent monomers, chain-building blocks, a standard catalyst, and gold nanoparticles that heat when illuminated.
It lets manufacturers store the liquid for weeks without hardening and selectively cure parts.
According to lead researcher Prof. Yossi Weizmann of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the approach enables plastics with both soft and durable properties.

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Story summary

The work, published in Nature Chemistry, introduces a liquid-stable material activated by light or heat.
The material contains latent monomers, chain-building blocks, a standard catalyst, and gold nanoparticles that heat when illuminated.
It lets manufacturers store the liquid for weeks without hardening and selectively cure parts.
According to lead researcher Prof. Yossi Weizmann of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the approach enables plastics with both soft and durable properties.