Multifunctional Thin Films from Hybrid Biopolymers and Nanomaterials

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 1178

Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Institute for Energy Technologies and Advanced Materials (IITEMA), National University of Río Cuarto (UNRC)-National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Río Cuarto 5800, Argentina
Interests: thin-film; surface and interfaces; biopolymers; nanomaterials; multifunctional materials; characterization and biological applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute for Energy Technologies and Advanced Materials (IITEMA), National University of Río Cuarto (UNRC), National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Río Cuarto 5800, Argentina
Interests: polymer; biopolimers; surfaces; nanomaterials; materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in thin-film technology have enabled the development of multifunctional materials with tuneable physical, chemical, and biological properties. Among them, hybrid thin films derived from biopolymers and nanomaterials have emerged as promising platforms due to their unique combination of biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical strength, and tailored surface functionalities. These hybrid systems not only offer enhanced structural integrity and responsiveness to external stimuli sustainable design strategies, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly materials in advanced technologies; these hybrid materials also exhibit potential for a wide spectrum of applications, particularly in the biomedical and environmental fields. In the biomedical domain, applications range from antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory coatings, controlled drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds to biosensors and implantable devices. In parallel, their environmental relevance includes applications in water purification membranes, pollutant sensing, and biodegradable protective coatings.

This Special Issue of the “Thin Films” Section of Coatings aims to highlight the most recent research dedicated to the development, characterization, and application of multifunctional thin films engineered from hybrid biopolymers and nanomaterials. Special emphasis is placed on innovations that advance their utility in biomedical and environmental contexts. We warmly invite researchers to contribute original research articles and comprehensive reviews that explore the synthesis, structure–property relationships, and real-world applications of these cutting-edge thin-film materials.

  • Surface and interfaces;
  • Properties of thin films;
  • Coating techniques;
  • Multifunctional thin films;
  • Antimicrobial coating;
  • Anti-inflammatory coatings;
  • Optical coatings;
  • Coatings for corrosion resistance;
  • Coatings for medical implants.

Prof. Dr. Edith Inés Yslas
Dr. Diego Fernando Acevedo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • thin films
  • biopolymers
  • nanomaterials
  • biological applications
  • environmental remediation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 10320 KB  
Article
The Catalytic Effect of Rice Husk Ash on Pine Pyrolysis Based on a Three-Component System
by Xianning Liu, Xiaoyu Hu, Di Wu, Mengzhu Yu and Dengyu Chen
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020244 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 748
Abstract
Biomass is characterized by its diversity and wide availability. Co-pyrolysis technology is considered a promising approach for high-quality conversion and high-value utilization of biomass, representing a critical pathway toward environmental sustainability. This study selected rice husk and pine as representative herbaceous and woody [...] Read more.
Biomass is characterized by its diversity and wide availability. Co-pyrolysis technology is considered a promising approach for high-quality conversion and high-value utilization of biomass, representing a critical pathway toward environmental sustainability. This study selected rice husk and pine as representative herbaceous and woody biomass materials. Using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and Py-GC/MS, we systematically investigated the synergistic effects during co-pyrolysis, examined their underlying mechanisms, and analyzed changes in product distribution. The results indicate that the blend containing 30% rice husk exhibited the most pronounced synergistic effect. Specifically, the experimental char yield and pyrolysis activation energy were 9.7% and 10.5% lower than the theoretically calculated values, respectively. Both the blending ratio and heating rate were found to significantly influence these synergistic interactions. The observed synergy is attributed to the migration of alkali metals from rice husk ash, which enhances reaction rates and promotes specific pathways such as cellulose ring-opening cleavage and hemicellulose deacetylation. Consequently, the product distribution shifts toward lighter compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols. This study clarifies the central catalytic role of herbaceous biomass ash and highlights the critical function of alkali metal migration in regulating product selectivity, thereby providing theoretical support for efficient pyrolytic conversion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Thin Films from Hybrid Biopolymers and Nanomaterials)
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