Multifunctional Polymer Thin Films for Surface Engineering
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Functional Polymer Coatings and Films".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: shape memory polymers; functional hybrid materials; smart actuators
Interests: chitosan nanofiber films; rapidly UV-curable resin; wound healing films; soft sensor
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The fabrication techniques covered in this Special Issue may include spin-coating, dip-coating, doctor-blading, drop-casting, layer-by-layer assembly, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and its polymeric variants (e.g., iCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), electrospinning, and inkjet printing for developing multifunctional polymer thin films, composite films, and nanostructured films.
The characterization of the studied materials may encompass crystal structure and molecular ordering, phase behavior, glass transition temperature, thermal stability, chemical composition and functional groups, surface energy, wettability, and functional properties. Specific characterization techniques include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Structural Analysis: X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR);
- Morphological Analysis: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM);
- Compositional/Stoichiometric Analysis: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS);
- Thermal Analysis: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC);
- Mechanical Analysis: Nanoindentation;
- Surface and Interfacial Analysis: Contact angle goniometry;
- Electrical Analysis: Impedance spectroscopy and four-point probe measurement.
Aims and Scope
This Special Issue will provide a snapshot of the latest advances in the fabrication, characterization, and applications of multifunctional polymer thin films in surface engineering. This includes, but is not limited to, stimuli-responsive materials, self-healing materials, superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic surfaces, biocompatible and antimicrobial coatings, conductive/semiconducting polymers, and organic/inorganic hybrid materials, along with their (potential) applications.
Topics of Interest
In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Advanced fabrication techniques and characterization methods for polymer thin films;
- Processing condition–microstructure–property relationships;
- Nanomechanical properties of polymer films studied via nanoindentation;
- Structural, morphological, thermal, electrical, optical, and surface functional properties of polymer thin films;
- Polymer coatings for corrosion protection, anti-icing, antifouling, and wear resistance;
- Biointerfaces and functional polymer thin films for biomedical devices, tissue engineering, and drug delivery;
- Applications of polymer thin films in flexible electronics, sensors, and actuators;
- Stimuli-responsive polymer thin films and the dynamic control of their surface properties;
- Theoretical modeling and molecular simulation for understanding film formation, structure, and property relationships.
Dr. Shuai Yang
Dr. Dawei Zhang
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. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.
Keywords
- multifunctional thin film/coating fabrication
- processing condition, microstructure and properties
- polymer coatings, thin films and applications
- smart and multifunctional polymers and processing
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
