Functional Supramolecular Gels: Design, Dynamics, and Applications
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Chemistry and Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: supramolecular chemistry; ionic liquids; supramolecular gels; hybrid supramolecular gels; biomass transformation; self-assembly processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: ionic liquids; supramolecular gels; biomass transformation; self-assembly processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Supramolecular gels are unique materials formed through the self-assembly of molecular building blocks, typically low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), but in some cases also polymeric gelators, driven by noncovalent interactions, emerging as a versatile material class with broad applications across multiple fields.
Despite their great potential, gaps in precise design, mechanism clarity, and practical translation still hinder their progress. To bridge these, this Special Issue, entitled “Functional Supramolecular Gels: Design, Dynamics and Applications”, aims to collate cutting-edge research and advancements in the design, characterization, and application of supramolecular gels, deepening our understanding of their key aspects.
The potential topics to be covered in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Design/characterization of supramolecular gels, molecular interactions, and structures;
2. Composite/hybrid gels, gel-derived materials, and unique properties of gels;
3. Gel-based sensing, water treatment/environmental remediation/environmental preservation,
catalysis, electrochemical/energy applications, and drug delivery/bioimaging.
We welcome all research articles and reviews that advance our knowledge in these areas, driving both basic research and industrial translation of supramolecular gels.
Prof. Dr. Francesca D’Anna
Dr. Salvatore Marullo
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. 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
- hydrogels
- organogels
- ionogels
- hybrid supramolecular gels
- gel properties
- gel applications
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