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Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition)
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Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4320

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shinya Inazumi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Civil Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo 1358548, Japan
Interests: geotechnical engineering; gel; environmental protection; disaster prevention; waste recycle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Generally, polymer gels prepared by conventional methods are mechanically weak and brittle. To overcome their drawbacks, various composite gels have been developed. For example, the incorporation of nanofillers, such as inorganic nanoparticles or nanofibers, into polymer gels allows for the enhancement of mechanical performance. Advanced composite gels exhibit unique properties, such as stimuli-responsive properties, self-healing, excellent electrochemical properties, and excellent mechanical properties. Composite gels with unique functionalities offer potential applications in various fields, such as electrochemistry, cosmetics, biomedical tissue engineering, sensors, drug delivery systems, and soft actuators; however, the fabrication of composite gels with desirable functionalities remains a challenging problem.

We have previously announced two editions of this topic. We appreciate the support of all authors, reviewers, and readers; you can access these articles for free via the following links:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/gels/special_issues/Composite_Gels.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/gels/special_issues/7J8VU52Y24.

This renewed Special Issue will still focus on recent research and advances in composite gels, such as polymer–inorganic composite gels, polymer–nanofiber composite gels, bio-based composite gels, and composite ion gels. Additionally, we welcome contributions regarding the structural analysis of composite gels, modeling, and simulation.

Prof. Dr. Shinya Inazumi
Guest Editor

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-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

  • nanocomposite hydrogels
  • bio-based composite hydrogels
  • organic–inorganic composite hydrogels

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3566 KB  
Article
Cryo-Structured Chitosan Sponges with Controlled Release Properties for Liquid Digestate as Potential Agricultural Fertilizers
by Marinela Victoria Iordanescu, Alin Cristian Vintilă, Grigore Psenovschi, Luiza Capra, Ana-Mihaela Gavrilă, Cristina Emanuela Enascuta and Tanța-Verona Iordache
Gels 2025, 11(11), 887; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11110887 - 4 Nov 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Phosphorus and potassium are two of the most essential macronutrients that often work together to support plant health and productivity. If one of these elements is deficient, it can lead to reduced plant growth, low yields, and poorer crop quality. For this reason, [...] Read more.
Phosphorus and potassium are two of the most essential macronutrients that often work together to support plant health and productivity. If one of these elements is deficient, it can lead to reduced plant growth, low yields, and poorer crop quality. For this reason, fertilizers contain these nutrients to replenish soils that have been depleted over time. As a sustainable approach, this study proposes new cryo-structures based on chitosan and liquid digestate with controlled release properties for potassium and phosphorus. For this purpose, commercial chitosan (a biopolymer extracted from marine waste) was used along with a liquid digestate, obtained through anaerobic digestion, to develop cryo-structured sponges. The incorporation of liquid digestate in the cryo-structured sponges was confirmed using different characterization techniques (FTIR, TGA/DTG, SEM, and EDX), while the release mechanism for phosphorus and potassium was investigated using ICP-OES spectroscopy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition))
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23 pages, 9938 KB  
Article
Precursor Concentration-Dependent Sol–Gel Dynamics in Neodymium Oxide: From Gel Framework to Electrochemical Functionality in Asymmetric Supercapacitors
by Rutuja U. Amate, Aditya A. Patil, Aviraj M. Teli, Sonali A. Beknalkar and Chan-Wook Jeon
Gels 2025, 11(11), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11110883 - 3 Nov 2025
Viewed by 528
Abstract
Rare-earth oxides possess distinctive electronic configurations, tunable oxidation states, and inherent structural robustness, making them highly attractive for advanced energy storage applications. Among these, neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) stands out due to its high surface redox activity, structural stability, and [...] Read more.
Rare-earth oxides possess distinctive electronic configurations, tunable oxidation states, and inherent structural robustness, making them highly attractive for advanced energy storage applications. Among these, neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) stands out due to its high surface redox activity, structural stability, and favorable band alignment, enabling efficient charge storage in electrochemical devices. In this study, Nd2O3 electrodes were synthesized via a sol–gel method with systematically varied precursor concentrations (1 mM, 3 mM, and 5 mM) to elucidate the impact of synthesis on crystallinity, morphology, and electrochemical performance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of the hexagonal Nd2O3 phase, with the 3 mM sample (Nd-2) exhibiting the sharpest reflections, indicative of enhanced crystallinity and reduced lattice defects. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed trivalent Nd species and both lattice and surface oxygen, providing abundant redox-active sites. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) showed Nd-2 possessed a hierarchically interconnected fibrous network decorated with fine granules, maximizing active surface area and facilitating rapid ion diffusion. Electrochemical testing demonstrated that Nd-2 achieved an areal capacitance of 20 F cm−2, a diffusion-controlled pseudocapacitive contribution of ~84.9%, and retained 86.3% capacitance over 12,000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor with Nd-2 and activated carbon delivered an energy density of 0.132 mWh cm−2, power density of 1.8 mW/cm2, and 81.1% capacitance retention over 7000 cycles. These results highlight the critical role of precursor concentration in tailoring structure and electrochemical performance, establishing Nd2O3 as a promising electrode for high-performance energy storage devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition))
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17 pages, 7274 KB  
Article
Sol–Gel-Derived Silica/Alumina Particles for Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Acrylate Composite Materials
by Khaled Altwair, Vladisav Tadić, Miloš Petrović, Andrija Savić, Vesna Radojević, Radmila Jančić Heinemann and Marija M. Vuksanović
Gels 2025, 11(8), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080575 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1798
Abstract
Silica/alumina composite particles were synthesized via the sol–gel method to promote fine dispersion and homogenous mixing. Aluminum chloride hydroxide served as the alumina precursor, while amorphous silica, obtained from rice husk, was directly incorporated into the alumina sol. Following synthesis, the material was [...] Read more.
Silica/alumina composite particles were synthesized via the sol–gel method to promote fine dispersion and homogenous mixing. Aluminum chloride hydroxide served as the alumina precursor, while amorphous silica, obtained from rice husk, was directly incorporated into the alumina sol. Following synthesis, the material was calcined at 1000 °C, yielding an α-cristobalite form of silica and corundum-phase alumina. These hybrid particles were introduced into polymer composites at reinforcement levels of 1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, and 5 wt.%. Mechanical behavior was evaluated through three-point bending tests, Shore D hardness measurements, and controlled-energy impact testing. Among the formulations, the 3 wt.% composite exhibited optimal performance, displaying the highest flexural modulus and strength, along with enhanced impact resistance. Hardness increased with rising particle content. Fractographic analysis revealed that the 3 wt.% loading produced a notably rougher fracture surface, correlating with improved energy absorption. In contrast, the 5 wt.% composite, although harder than the matrix and other composites, exhibited diminished toughness due to particle agglomeration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition))
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16 pages, 5502 KB  
Article
Hydration Mechanisms of Gelled Paste Backfills for Potash Mines Using Lime as a Gel Material
by Rongzhen Jin, Xue Wang, Xuming Ma, Huimin Huo, Siqi Zhang, Jiajie Li and Wen Ni
Gels 2024, 10(12), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120832 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1148
Abstract
This paper investigates the flow performance and mechanical properties of underground gelled filling materials made from potash mine tailings, using lime as a gel. It demonstrates the feasibility of using lime as a gel, potash mine tailings as aggregate, and replacing water with [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the flow performance and mechanical properties of underground gelled filling materials made from potash mine tailings, using lime as a gel. It demonstrates the feasibility of using lime as a gel, potash mine tailings as aggregate, and replacing water with potash mine tailings to create filling materials that meet design requirements for flow and compressive strength. The role of lime in the hardening process is explored through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared analysis. Results show that hydration products vary with lime dosage. With 9% lime (L9), the products are primarily ghiaraite (CaCl2·4H2O) and carnallite (KMgCl3·6H2O); with 5% lime (L5), tachyhydrite (CaMg2Cl6·12H2O) predominates, along with minor amounts of antarcticite (CaCl2·6H2O) and korshunovskite (Mg2Cl(OH)3·4H2O); and with 2.6% lime (L2.6), the products include tachyhydrite, ghiaraite, bischofite (MgCl2·6H2O), and korshunovskite. These hydration products form a dense, interwoven structure, enhancing the strength of the filling material. This study offers a theoretical foundation for using lime gel as a filling material in potash mining, with significant implications for sustainable mining practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Gels (3rd Edition))
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