We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2025. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Polymers’ peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in 2025. Each quarter, we will select a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Quarter 1
Name: Dr. Xavier Montané
Affiliation: Department of Analytical and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Interest: liquid crystalline polymers, membranes, polymer capsules, encapsulation; synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials; polyphenols, flavonoids; encapsulation of biological active compounds; fuel cell applications; conducting polymers for hydrogen
“It was an insightful, rewarding, and challenging experience reviewing articles on advanced polymers for biomedical, cosmetic, and sustainable innovations with focus on real-world impact and novel materials.”

Name: Dr. Eugenio Amendola
Affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Composite and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, 80055 Portici, Italy
Interest: self-healing composites; polymer; materials science; thermosetting resins; self-healing material; elastomer; ultimate tensile strength
“The experience reviewing for the Polymers journal was challenging and rewarding, balancing the Editors’ demand for speed with the ethical duty to ensure a fair, thorough review in limited time.”

Name: Dr. Jingwei Tian
Affiliation: Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behavior and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150090, China
Interest: frp; polymer composites; fiber surface modification; friction and wear; corrosion, self-healing and self-repair
“As a Polymers editorial reviewer, I systematically evaluate manuscripts through dual lenses of scientific validity and industrial potential. My expertise in polymer composites centers on assessing fiber-matrix interface engineering, particularly surface modification strategies that enhance tribological performance and corrosion resistance. When analyzing wear-resistant systems, I focus on stress distribution patterns and interfacial characterization methodologies to verify structure-property relationships. For emerging self-healing materials, I scrutinize repair mechanisms through three-dimensional validation: chemical design logic, damage-responsive kinetics, and multi-cycle durability evidence. My reviews emphasize experimental reproducibility across different aging conditions while encouraging cross-disciplinary approaches that integrate materials science with mechanical failure analysis. This evaluation philosophy aligns with the journal’s commitment to advancing functional polymers that address real-world engineering challenges through rigorous fundamental research.”

Name: Dr inż. Rafał Bielas
Affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS & Université de Toulouse (UPS, INP), 31077 Toulouse, France
Interest: polymers; polyelectrolytes; poly(ionic liquid)s; ionic liquids; drug delivery; poly(amino acid)s
“The review process for Polymers is very clear and efficient, every step is clear and there’s always support available from the editors.”

Name: Lars Järnström
Affiliation: Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden
Interest: polymers (focus on biopolymers); rheology; nanocomposites; paper coating; barrier properties; food packaging
“I have been a reviewer for 21 different scientific journals.”

Quarter 2
Name: Prof. Dr. Daodao Hu
Affiliation: Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Interests: colloids and surface chemistry; functional polymers; cultural relic preservation 

Name: Dr. Mateusz Olszewski
Affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, United States
Interests: free radical polymerization; RAFT polymerization; atrp; organic synthesis; small-molecule synthesis; functional monomers; nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); gel permeation chromatography (GPC); dynamic light
"Reviewing for Polymers helps me stay up to date with new research while making sure the work we publish is clear, accurate, and useful to others." 

Name: Dr. Aleksandar Marinkovic
Affiliation: Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: organic synthesis; instrumental analysis; material engineering; environmental engineering; biochemistry and biotechnology; fire-proofing materials; natural resources; sustainable technology; synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials; design of polymeric materials and composites in the field of green chemistry, etc. 

Name: Prof. Tarmo Tamm
Affiliation: Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
Interests: polymer chemistry; material science; electrochemistry; porous materials; conducting polymers; silicones; geopolymers and secondary sources and recycling 

Name: Prof. Rui Yang
Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: aging mechanism; stability evaluation and lifetime prediction of polymer materials; heat storage material based on phase change material (pcm); structure–property relationship of polymer materials