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Gels
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Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition)
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Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 4402

Editors

Dr. Cristina Maria Vladut

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Physical Chemistry Ilie Murgulescu of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenţei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: ZnO; gels; films; oxides; chemical synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Crina Anastasescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
“Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Romanian Academy, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: development of light-sensitive materials, especially oxides (simple/composite, insulators and semiconductors) by using wet chemical methods (e.g., sol–gel); synthesis/characterization of noble metal nanoparticles using capping agents; development and characterization of hybrid materials (organic–inorganic) such as biocatalysts obtained by immobilization of enzymes on inorganic carriers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to present the Special Issue "Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition)", which explores the intricate world of gel film science—spanning organic, hybrid, and inorganic  (simple and composite) films with extensive functionality across material science,  biomaterials, and catalysis, including bio- and photocatalysis.

The incorporation of bioactive markers and/or engineered nanoparticles into various gel matrices has enabled the development of complex structures with significant biomedical potential, drawing upon substantial human and logistical resources. At the same time, inorganic and hybrid coatings designed for depollution and environmentally friendly technologies—fields of high economic and research impact—continue to attract great interest. Among the many synthesis and processing methods under study, particular attention is devoted to the versatile sol–gel deposition process, one of the most adaptable and straightforward approaches for fabricating thin films with tailored properties.

Widely explored by the scientific community, sol–gel reactions from alkoxide solutions can produce a diverse array of inorganic networks. The resulting materials have found applications in optics, electronics, sensing, biomedicine, and material science. Notably, the sol–gel process enables the incorporation of additional elements or substances into precursor solutions, allowing the creation of gel films with customized functionalities. Moreover, it provides precise control over particle size, orientation, crystal structure, and morphology. Through the sequential steps of sol preparation, gelation, and solvent removal, the sol–gel process has demonstrated remarkable versatility. The ease with which dopants and other agents can be embedded into thin films has fostered numerous innovations over the past two decades.

This Special Issue highlights recent advances in the theoretical foundations, synthesis methodologies, and characterization techniques that underpin the functionality of gel films, with special emphasis on the transformative role of the sol–gel deposition process. We invite you to engage with cutting-edge research presented here and to discover the innovative strides being made in this dynamic field.

We extend our appreciation to all contributors for their invaluable efforts and unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of gel film science.

Dr. Cristina Maria Vladut
Dr. Crina Anastasescu
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels 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 2100 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

  • gel films
  • sol-gel synthesis
  • film deposition
  • film characterization
  • film applications
  • biomaterials

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 11651 KB  
Article
Hafnium Oxide-Based Nanostructures as Powders and in Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels for Light-Assisted Processes
by Mihai Anastasescu, Polona Umek, Cristina Maria Vladut, Veronica Bratan, Catalin Negrila, Silviu Preda, Luminita Predoana, Catalina Gifu, Cristina Lavinia Nistor, Daniela C. Culita, Daiana Mitrea, Crina Anastasescu, Maria Zaharescu and Ioan Balint
Gels 2026, 12(5), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050405 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Hafnia (hafnium oxide) nanostructures, both unmodified and silica-modified with minor and major silica content, were synthesized using an adapted sol–gel method with D-L tartaric acid as an internal template. After thermal treatment, structural non-stoichiometry and light absorptive properties were identified in the resulting [...] Read more.
Hafnia (hafnium oxide) nanostructures, both unmodified and silica-modified with minor and major silica content, were synthesized using an adapted sol–gel method with D-L tartaric acid as an internal template. After thermal treatment, structural non-stoichiometry and light absorptive properties were identified in the resulting hafnium-based nanostructures, indicating their potential for various applications, including photocatalysis. The ability of these materials to photogenerate reactive oxygen species (ROS), namely superoxide anion radicals (•O2−) under simulated solar light (AM 1.5) and singlet oxygen (1O2) under visible light (λ > 390 nm), was evaluated and monitored by UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Functionalization of hafnium-based oxides with protoporphyrin IX was employed to enhance singlet oxygen photogeneration. The reactivity of the generated (1O2) was assessed by quenching of DL α-tocopherol photoluminescence under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic experiments conducted under anaerobic conditions demonstrated the ability of the hafnia-based nanostructures to reduce 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) to 1,4-hydroquinone (H2Q). Furthermore, embedding the hafnia-based powders into polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels enabled the obtainment of photoactive coatings on glass substrates, for which their mechanical properties were evaluated using force–distance spectroscopy measurements. Morphological and structural characterization of the materials was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction and fluorescence (XRD, XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption–desorption measurements, UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. These investigations revealed that adding silica induces significant modifications in the morphology, texture, and structure of the hafnia, thereby enhancing the functional properties of the resulting materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 6502 KB  
Article
Study on the Structure, Thermal Properties and Antibacterial Properties of Phosphorus-Modified PVA/TiO2 Composite Films
by Alina-Mirela Ipate, Diana Serbezeanu, Ioana-Antonia Iftimie, Gabriela Lisa, Cristina-Mihaela Rîmbu and Tăchiță Vlad-Bubulac
Gels 2025, 11(12), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11121020 - 18 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 732
Abstract
Phosphorus-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has recently gained increasing attention as a functional polymeric matrix suitable for gel-based systems, owing to its biocompatibility, film-forming ability, and capacity to develop semi-interpenetrating networks. In this work, PVA was chemically modified through the nucleophilic substitution of its [...] Read more.
Phosphorus-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has recently gained increasing attention as a functional polymeric matrix suitable for gel-based systems, owing to its biocompatibility, film-forming ability, and capacity to develop semi-interpenetrating networks. In this work, PVA was chemically modified through the nucleophilic substitution of its hydroxyl groups with the chloride groups of phenyl dichlorophosphate, following a literature-reported method carried out in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as reaction medium, resulting in phosphorus-containing PVA networks (PVA-OP3). Hybrid gel-like films were then prepared by incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), known for their antimicrobial activity, low toxicity, and high stability. The resulting composites were structurally, morphologically, and thermally characterized using FTIR, SEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. The incorporation of TiO2 NPs significantly improved the thermal stability, with T5% increasing from 240 °C for neat PVA-OP3 to 288 °C for the optimal composite, increased the char residue from 4.5% for the neat polymer to 30.1% for PVA-OP3/TiO2-4, and enhanced antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These findings demonstrate that PVA-OP3/TiO2 hybrid films possess promising potential as advanced biomaterials for biomedical, protective, and environmental applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition))
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18 pages, 3308 KB  
Article
Optical, Electrical, and Structural Properties of NiO Thin Films, Derived by Sol–Gel Method
by Tatyana Ivanova, Antoaneta Harizanova and Nikolay Petkov
Gels 2025, 11(12), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11120944 - 24 Nov 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1799
Abstract
NiO films were successfully deposited by sol–gel spin coating on Si, glass, and ITO-covered glass substrates. The impact of the film thickness (the different number of layers), annealing temperatures (from 300 to 500 °C), and the substrate type on the crystal structure, film [...] Read more.
NiO films were successfully deposited by sol–gel spin coating on Si, glass, and ITO-covered glass substrates. The impact of the film thickness (the different number of layers), annealing temperatures (from 300 to 500 °C), and the substrate type on the crystal structure, film morphology, optical, and vibrational properties was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a polycrystalline structure and the appearance of the cubic NiO phase. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was applied to explore the surface morphology of NiO films, deposited on glass and ITO substrates. The oxidation states of Ni were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The presence of Ni2+ and Ni3+ states was supposed. UV–VIS–NIR spectroscopy revealed that NiO films possessed a high average transparency of up to 74.6% in the visible spectral range when they were deposited on glass substrates, and up to 76.9% for NiO films on ITO substrates. The thermal treatments and the film thickness slightly affected the film transparency in the spectral range of 450–700 nm. The work function (WF) of the samples was determined. This research showed that good properties of sol–gel NiO films can be compared to the properties of those films produced using complicated and expensive techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition))
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Review

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21 pages, 3575 KB  
Review
Advances in Gel-Based Electrolyte-Gated Flexible Visual Synapses for Neuromorphic Vision Systems
by Wanqi Duan, Yanyan Gong, Jinghai Li, Xichen Song, Zongying Wang, Qiaoming Zhang and Yuebin Xi
Gels 2026, 12(4), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12040346 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Flexible electrolyte-gated synaptic field-effect transistors (EGFETs) have emerged as a promising platform for neuromorphic visual systems, owing to their low-voltage operation, diverse synaptic plasticity, and exceptional mechanical flexibility. In particular, gel-based electrolytes, including hydrogels and ion gels, play a pivotal role as functional [...] Read more.
Flexible electrolyte-gated synaptic field-effect transistors (EGFETs) have emerged as a promising platform for neuromorphic visual systems, owing to their low-voltage operation, diverse synaptic plasticity, and exceptional mechanical flexibility. In particular, gel-based electrolytes, including hydrogels and ion gels, play a pivotal role as functional gate dielectrics, enabling efficient ion transport and strong ion–electron coupling through electric double-layer (EDL) formation. By leveraging these unique properties at the semiconductor/gel interface, EGFETs can effectively emulate essential biological synaptic behaviors, including short-term and long-term plasticity under optical stimulation. The inherent compatibility of EGFETs with a broad range of semiconductor channels, gel electrolytes, and flexible substrates enables the development of wearable and conformable neuromorphic platforms that seamlessly integrate sensing, memory, and signal processing within a single device architecture. Recent advances in gel material engineering, such as polymer network design, ionic modulation, and nanofiller incorporation, have significantly improved ion transport dynamics, interfacial stability, and device performance. Despite remaining challenges related to ion migration stability, multi-physical field coupling, and large-area device uniformity, these developments have substantially advanced the practical potential of gel-based systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the operating mechanisms, gel-based material systems, synaptic functionalities, mechanical reliability, and future prospects of flexible electrolyte-gated visual synapses, highlighting their considerable potential for next-generation intelligent perception and artificial vision technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gel Films (2nd Edition))
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