Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the current state-of-the-art of the Layered Double Hydroxides, both from the points of view of its synthesis and characterization, as well as the development of hybrid and nanocomposite materials and their applications.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) or anionic clays can be seen as layered compounds with the brucite layer structure, which are derived from hydroxides of divalent cations by oxidation or cation replacement so that they produce an excess of positive electric charge, and the intercalation of extra anions between the hydroxide layers that neutralize that charge. LDHs can be formed with a wide variety of anions in the intercalated layers.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH), due to their unique properties as anion exchangers and their compositional versatility, among other factors, have attracted a great deal of attention in various technologically important fields, such as catalysis, separation, biomedicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, environment, etc. Recently, significant advances have been made in the synthesis of LDH with new compositions and morphologies that allow improved applications in these fields.

The compositional variation, either in layers or in interlayer anions, leads to a functional diversity that allows LDH to be used in a broad range of applications such as waste water treatment, ion exchanger, halogen free flame retardant, antacids, stabilizers for polymers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural goods, electro-photoactive materials, catalysts/catalyst precursors, etc. Among them, antimicrobial activity is one of the most promising applications of LDH, due to its high biocompatibility, high chemical stability, and ability to control the release of molecules.

Due to its laminar morphology and highly adjustable properties, LDH is an emerging class of materials for the preparation of multifunctional polymeric nanocomposites, which can exhibit unusual sets of properties, including high thermomechanical strength, barrier properties, flame retardancy, and ionic conduction, among others, while maintaining the overall performance and lightness of the polymer.

Articles are sought that summarize selected areas (reviews) or discuss the latest research in the field (original articles). The scope of this Special issue includes the synthesis and characterization of LDHs, their hybrids, and polymeric nanocomposites, as well as their applications.

Prof. Dr. José Ignacio Velasco
Dr. Vera Realinho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• synthesis routes
• layer and interlayer composition
• hybrids
• structural characterization
• polymeric nanocomposites applications