Publications

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Publications at UWaterloo

52. Visualization of Polymer Chain Alignment in Fiber Spinning and Hot Stretching by Noncovalent Polymer Mechanochemistry.

Siqi Liu, Yinfang Zhang, Yifan Ge, Hairui Deng, Jin Wen, Yangju Lin*, Yinjun Chen*, and Meifang Zhu*

Chem. Mater. 2026, 38, 2690–2698.

51. Leveraging Battery Performance through Mechanically Interlocked Polymers

Yangju Lin*, Mingrui Liang, and Ahmed Eldeeb.

J. Mater. Chem. A. 2026, 14, 43-59. (Themed collection: Journal of Materials Chemistry A Emerging Investigators 2026)

50. Multidimensional Integration of Reversible Dynamic Information Enables Advanced Anticounterfeiting

Hairui Deng, Siqi Liu, Fengbiao Chen, Yifan Ge, Yangju Lin,* Yinjun Chen,* and Meifang Zhu*

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025, 17, 62569–62578.

49. Amplification of Spiropyran Mechanophore Activation in Bulk Polymers through a Tethering Strategy

Sanjit Narendran, Zhenghao Zhai, and Yangju Lin*.

RSC Mechanochemistry 2025, 2, 756-762. (Themed collection: RSC Mechanochemistry 2025 Hot Articles)

48. Force-Accelerated Ring Opening of Episulfide by Pulsed Ultrasonication

Hsi-Chih Wang, Van-Sieu Luc, Chun-Yi Hsu, Yangju Lin, Yu-Wen Huang and Chia-Chih Chang*.

Macromolecules 2025, 58, 13, 6929–6934.

47. Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Studies of Oxy Substituent Effects on the Reactivity of gem-Dihalocyclopropane Mechanophores

Yixin Hu, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Yangju Lin, Liqi Wang and Stephen L Craig*.

Macromolecules 2025, 58, 11, 5765–5771.

46. Asymmetric Ether Solvents for High-rate Lithium Metal Batteries

Il Rok Choi, Yuelang Chen, Aditya Shah, Jacob Florian, Chad Serrao, John Holoubek, Hao Lyu, Elizabeth Zhang, Jun Ho Lee, Yangju Lin, Sang Cheol Kim, Hyunchang Park, Pu Zhang, Junyoung Lee, Jian Qin,* Yi Cui* and Zhenan Bao*.

Nature Energy 2025, 10, 365–379.

45. Electrochemical Formation of Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide-derived Solid-electrolyte Interphase at Li-metal Potential

Weilai Yu, Kuan-Yu Lin, David T. Boyle, Michael T. Tang, Yi Cui, Yuelang Chen, Zhiao Yu, Rong Xu, Yangju Lin, Guangxia Feng, Zhuojun Huang, Lukas Michalek, Weiyu Li, Stephen J. Harris, Jyh-Chiang Jiang, Frank Abild-Pedersen, Jian Qin, Yi Cui* and Zhenan Bao*.

Nature Chemistry 2025, 17, 246–255.

Publications prior to UWaterloo

1st & co-1st author and co-corresponding author publications (* refers to corresponding author)

44. Self-Amplified HF Release and Polymer Deconstruction Cascades Triggered by Mechanical Force.

Yixin Hu, Liqi Wang, Ilia Kevlishvili, Shu Wang, Chun-Yu Chiou, Peyton Shieh, Yangju Lin*, Heather J. Kulik*, Jeremiah A. Johnson*, and Stephen L Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 14, 10115–10123.

43. Solvent Polarity Effects on the Mechanochemistry of Spiropyran Ring Opening.

Yangju Lin, Tatiana B Kouznetsova, Alex G Foret, and Stephen L Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 6, 3920–3925.

42. Mechanically Triggered Polymer Deconstruction through Mechanoacid Generation and Catalytic Enol Ether Hydrolysis.

Yixin Hu, Yangju Lin* (co-1st author), and Stephen L Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 5, 2876–2881.

41. Impact of the fluorination degree of ether-based electrolyte solvents on Li-metal battery performance.

Yangju Lin, Zhiao Yu, Weilai Yu, Sheng-Lun Liao, Elizabeth Zhang, Xuelin Guo, Zhuojun Huang, Yuelang Chen, Jian Qin*, Yi Cui*, and Zhenan Bao*.

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 2986-2993.

40. Coumarin Dimer Is an Effective Photomechanochemical AND Gate for Small-Molecule Release.

Xiaojun He, Yancong Tian, Robert T. O'Neill, Yuanze Xu, Yangju Lin, Wengui Weng, and Roman Boulatov*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023. 145, 42, 23214–23226.

39. Mechanochemically Assisted Morphing of Shape Shifting Polymers.

Rui Tang, Wenli Gao, Yulin Jia, Kai Wang, Barun Kumar Datta, Wei Zheng, Huan Zhang, Yuanze Xu, Yangju Lin*, and Wengui Weng*.

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 9207-9212.

38. Recyclable, Degradable, and Fully Bio-Based Covalent Adaptable Polymer Networks Enabled by a Dynamic Diacetal Motif.

Wenxiong Zhang, Fei Gao*, Xuejiao Chen, Liang Shen, Yinjun Chen*, and Yangju Lin*.

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2023, 11 (7), 3065-3073.

37. Tuning the Dynamics of Enamine-One-Based Vitrimers through Substituent Modulation of Secondary Amine Substrates.

Fengbiao Chen, Fei Gao*, Xinru Guo, Liang Shen*, and Yangju Lin*.

Macromolecules 2022, 55 (22), 10124–10133.

36. Unexploited Design and Application of Dynamic Covalent Networks: Phenol-yne Click Reaction and Porous Film Generation.

Wenxiong Zhang, Fei Gao,* Liang Shen, Yinjun Chen,* and Yangju Lin*.

ACS Materials Lett. 2022, 4 (11), 2090−2096.

35. Reprocessable and Recyclable Polymer Network Electrolytes via Incorporation of Dynamic Covalent Bonds.

Yangju Lin, Yuelang Chen, Zhiao Yu, Zhuojun Huang, Jian-Cheng Lai, Jeffrey B.-H. Tok, Yi Cui and Zhenan Bao*.

Chem. Mater. 2022, 34 (5), 2393–2399.

34. Dynamic Enamine-one Bond Based Vitrimer via Amino-yne Click Reaction.

Xinru Guo, Fei Gao*, Fengbiao Chen, Jiang Zhong, Liang Shen*, Cong Lin and Yangju Lin*.

ACS Macro Lett. 2021, 10 (10), 1186–1190.

33. The effect of latent plasticity on the shape recovery of a shape memory vitrimer.

Fengbiao Chen, Qian Cheng, Fei Gao*, Jiang Zhong, Liang Shen*, Cong Lin, Yangju Lin*.

Eur. Polym. J. 2020, 147, 110304.

32. Fusion of biobased vinylogous urethane vitrimers with distinct mechanical properties.

Fengbiao Chen, Fei Gao*, Jiang Zhong, Liang Shen* and Yangju Lin*.

Mater. Chem. Front., 2020, 4, 2723-2730.

31. Renewable castor oil and DL-limonene derived fully bio-based vinylogous urethane vitrimers.

Yangyang Zhu, Fei Gao*, Jiang Zhong, Liang Shen* and Yangju Lin*.

Eur. Polym. J. 2020, 135, 109865.

30. Enhanced Polymer Mechanical Degradation through Mechanochemically Unveiled Lactonization.

Yangju Lin*, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Chia-Chi Chang and Stephen L. Craig*.

Nat. Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 4987.

Highlighted by editor.

29. Onset of Mechanochromic Response in the High Strain Rate Uniaxial Compression of Spiropyran Embedded Silicone Elastomers.

Logan S. Shannahan, Yangju Lin (co-1st author), James F. Berry, Meredith H. Barbee, Müge Fermen-Coker and Stephen L. Craig*. Macromol. Rapid Commun., 2020, e2000449.

28. Oxidative Regulation of the Mechanical Strength of a C–S Bond.

Yangju Lin, Stephen L. Craig*.

Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 10444-10448.

27. Mechanically Gated Degradable Polymers.

Yangju Lin, Tatiana B. Kouznetsouva and Stephen L. Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142 (5), 2105-2109.

Highlighted in Synfacts (Synfacts 2020; 16(04): 0407).

26. A Latent Mechanoacid for Time-Stamped Mechanochromism and Chemical Signaling in Polymeric Materials.

Yangju Lin, Tatiana B. Kouznetsouva and Stephen L. Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142 (1), 99-103.

Highlighted in C&EN and JACS Spotlights.

25. Strain-dependent Kinetics in the cis-to-trans Isomerization of Azobenzene in Bulk Elastomers.

Yangju Lin, Heather R. Hansen, William J. Brittain and Stephen L. Craig*.

J. Phys. Chem. B 2019, 123 (40), 8492-8498.

24. Dynamic Memory Effect in the Mechanochemistry of Cyclic Polymers.

Yangju Lin, Yudi Zhang, Zi Wang and Stephen L. Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141 (28), 10943-10947.

23. Mechanical Generation of Isocyanate by Mechanically Induced Retro [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of a 1,2-Diazetidinone Mechanophore.

Yangju Lin, Chia-chi Chang, Stephen L. Craig*.

Org. Chem. Front., 2019, 6, 1052-1057.

22. Regiochemical Effects on Mechanophore Activation in Bulk Materials.

Yangju Lin, Meredith H. Barbee, Chia-chi Chang, Stephen L. Craig*. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140 (46), 15969-15975.

21. Multi-modal mechanophores based on cinnamate dimers.

Huan Zhang, Xun Li, Yangju Lin (co-1st author), Fei Gao, Zhen Tang, Peifeng Su, Wenke Zhang*, Yuanze Xu, Wengui Weng* and Roman Boulatov*.

Nat. Comm. 2017, 8 (1), 1147.

Co-author publications:

20. Tuning the Mechanical and Electric Properties of Conjugated Polymer Semiconductors: Side-Chain Design Based on Asymmetric Benzodithiophene Building Blocks.

Deyu Liu, Yusheng Lei, Xiaozhou Ji, Yilei Wu, Yangju Lin, Yunfei Wang, Song Zhang, Yu Zheng, Yuelang Chen, Jian-Cheng Lai, Donglai Zhong, Hao-Wen Cheng, Jerika A. Chiong, Xiaodan Gu, Sangah Gam, Youngjun Yun, Jeffrey B.-H. Tok, Zhenan Bao*.

Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2203527

19. Impact of Molecular Design on Degradation Lifetimes of Degradable Imine-Based Semiconducting Polymers.

Jerika A. Chiong, Yu Zheng, Song Zhang, Guorong Ma, Yilei Wu, Gradie Ngaruka, Yangju Lin, Xiaodan Gu, and Zhenan Bao*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144 (8) 3717–3726.

18. A Design Strategy for Intrinsically Stretchable High-Performance Polymer Semiconductors: Incorporating Conjugated Rigid Fused-Rings with Bulky Side Groups.

Deyu Liu, Jaewan Mun, Gan Chen, Nathaniel J. Schuster, Weichen Wang, Yu Zheng, Shayla Nikzad, Jian-Cheng Lai, Yilei Wu, Donglai Zhong, Yangju Lin, Yusheng Lei, Yuelang Chen, Sangah Gam, Jong Won Chung, Youngjun Yun, Jeffrey B.-H. Tok, and Zhenan Bao*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143 (30), 11679–11689.

17. Integrating Emerging PolymeChemistries for the Advancement of Recyclable, Biodegradable, and Biocompatible Electronics.

Jerika A. Chiong, Helen Tran, Yangju Lin, Yu Zheng, Zhenan Bao*. Adv. Sci. 2021, 2101233.

16. The role of polymer mechanochemistry in responsive materials and additive manufacturing.

Maroun Abi Ghanem, Amrita Basu, Reza Behrou, Nicholas Boechler, Andrew J. Boydston*, Stephen L. Craig*, Yangju Lin, Brock E. Lynde, Alshakim Nelson*, Hang Shen and Duane W. Storti*.

Nat. Rev. Mat. 2021, 6, 84–98.

15. Distal Conformational Locks on Ferrocene Mechanophores Guide Reaction Pathways for Increased Mechanochemical Reactivity.

Yudi Zhang, Zi Wang, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Ye Sha, Enhua Xu, Logan Shannahan, Muge Fermen-Coker, Yangju Lin, Chuanbing Tang* and Stephen L. Craig*.

Nat. Chem. 2021, 13 (1), 56-62.

14. Synthesis of a Functionalized, Multiarm Spiropyran Mechanophore and Evaluation under Quasi-static and High-Rate Loading Conditions in Bulk PDMS.

James Berry, Yangju Lin, Logan Shannahan, Muge Fermen-Coker, Stephen Craig.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground United States. 2020.

13. Toward a Diagnostic Helmet Impact Testing Method Utilizing Spiropyran Mechanophore-Embedded PDMS.

Muege Fermen-Coker, Thomas Plaisted, James Berry, Logan Shannahan, Stephen Craig, Yangju Lin, Eric Wilson, Jason Garvey.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground United States. 2020.

12. A Mechanochemistry-Based Technique For Early Material Damage Detection In High Strain Rate Processes.

Logan Shannahan, James Berry, Yangju Lin, Meredith Barbee, Stephen Craig, Daniel Casem, Muge Fermen-Coker.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground United States. 2019.

11. Substituent Effects and Mechanism in a Mechanochemical Reaction.

Meredith H. Barbee, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Scott L. Barrett, Gossweiler, G. R.; Yangju Lin, Shiva K. Rastogi, William J. Brittain*, Stephen L. Craig*.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140 (40), 12746-12750.

Highlighted in JACS Spotlights.

10. Chapter 5: Tailoring Mechanochemical Reactivity of Covalent Bonds in Polymers by Non-covalent Interactions.

Huan Zhang, Linxing Zhang, Yinjun Chen, Yangju Lin and Wengui Weng*.

Mechanochemistry in Materials. 2017.

DOI: 10.1039/9781782623885-00119.

9. Mechanochemistry of Topological Complex Polymer Systems.

Huan Zhang, Yangju Lin, Yuanze Xu and Wengui Weng*.

Polymer Mechanochemistry, 2015, Volume 369, p135-207.

ISBN: 978-3-319-22824-2

8. A simple and versatile approach to self-healing polymers and electrically conductive composites.

Tingwan Xie, Huan Zhang, Yangju Lin, Yuanze Xu, Yonghong Ruan, Wengui Weng* and Haiping Xia*.

RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 13261–13269.

7. Spiropyran as a Mechanochromic Probe in Dual Cross-Linked Elastomers.

Huan Zhang, Yinjun Chen, Yangju Lin, Xiuli Fang, Yuanze Xu, Yonghong Ruan and Wengui Weng*.

Macromolecules 2014, 47 (19), 6783–6790.

6. Mechanical Activation of Mechanophore Enhanced by Strong Hydrogen Bonding Interactions.

Yinjun Chen, Huan Zhang, Yangju Lin, Xiuli Fang, Yuanze Xu and Wengui Weng*.

ACS Macro Lett. 2014, 3 (2), 141–145.

5. Mechanoresponsive Healable Metallosupramolecular Polymers.

Guangning Hong, Huan Zhang, Yangju Lin, Yinjun Chen, Yuanze Xu, Wengui Weng* and Haiping Xia*.

Macromolecules 2013, 46 (21), 8649–8656.

4. Biomimetic Modular Polymer with Though and Stress Sensing Properties.

Xiuli Fang, Huan Zhang, Yinjun Chen, Yangju Lin, Yuanze Xu and Wengui Weng*.

Macromolecules 2013, 46 (16), 6566-6574.

3. Multiresponsive Supramolecular Gels Constructed by Orthogonal Metal-ligand Coordinaiton and Hydrogen Bonding.

Wengui Weng*, Xiuli Fang, Huan Zhang, Huiying Peng, Yangju Lin and Yinjun Chen.

Eur. Polym. J. 2013, 49, 4062-4071.

2. Mechanoresponsive PS-PnBA-PS Triblock Copolymers via Covalently Embedding Mechanophore.

Shengchao Jiang, Lingxing Zhan, Tingwan Xie, Yangju Lin, Huan Zhang, Yuanze Xu, Wengui Weng* and Lizong Dai*.

ACS Macro Lett. 2013, 2 (8), 705.

1. Multi-responsive Self-healing Metallo-supramolecular Gels Based on ‘‘Click’’ Ligand.

Jinchun Yuan, Xiuli Fang, Lingxing Zhang, Guangning Hong, Yangju Lin, Qifeng Zheng, Yuanze Xu, Yonghong Ruan, Wengui Weng*, Haiping Xia* and Guohua Chen.

J. Mater. Chem. 2012, 22, 11515-11522.