Self-healing polymers emerge from the first use of pnictogen bond crosslinks

Scientists in China have created the first polymer networks crosslinked using pnictogen bonds. 

Crosslinking polymer chains is a common way to tailor a material’s mechanical and functional properties. While permanent covalent bonds lock a structure in place, crosslinks made from reversible bonds let a system reorganise itself in response to changing conditions. This topological adaptability is ideal for materials designed to self‑heal or respond to external stimuli.