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Polymer Composites: Advances and Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 960

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: nanocomposites; computational mechanics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Introduction
Polymer-based composites have become indispensable in modern science and technology due to their tunable properties, lightweight nature, multifunctionality, and ability to be engineered for diverse structural and functional applications. Advances in synthesis, molecular design, interfacial engineering, and nanotechnology have enabled the development of composite systems with enhanced mechanical, thermal, electrical, and biological performance. In particular, polymer nanocomposites, reinforced with nanoparticles, nanofibers, graphene-based fillers, and other nanoscale reinforcements, offer exceptional property enhancements arising from nanoscale interactions and tailored microstructures. Understanding structure–property relationships across molecular to macroscopic scales remains a central challenge, requiring synergistic contributions from experimental, computational, and theoretical studies.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, “Polymer Composites: Advances and Applications,” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Aim and Scope
This Special Issue aims to present recent advancements in the molecular design, fabrication, characterization, modeling, and application of polymer composites and nanocomposites. Contributions should emphasize how molecular and microstructural features govern macroscopic performance and functionality, aligning with the journal’s focus on molecular sciences. Topics spanning chemistry, physics, mechanics of materials, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and related interdisciplinary fields are welcome, provided they clearly address molecular or nanoscale mechanisms underlying composite behavior. The Special Issue seeks to compile at least 10 high-quality contributions and may be considered for publication in book form upon completion.

Suggested Themes and Article Types
In this Special Issue, both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Molecular design, synthesis, and functionalization of polymer composites and nanocomposites.
  • Interfacial chemistry and interaction mechanisms between polymer matrices and reinforcements.
  • Structure–property relationships and multiscale characterization techniques.
  • Mechanical, thermal, optical, electrical, and barrier properties of polymer composites.
  • Computational modeling and simulations of microstructures made of polymer nanocomposites.
  • Smart, stimuli-responsive, and self-healing polymer composite systems.
  • Biomedical, environmental, energy, electronic, and industrial applications of polymer composites.
  • Sustainability, recyclability, and life-cycle assessment of polymer composite materials.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and to advancing this important field together.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Saeid Sahmani
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • polymer composites
  • polymer nanocomposites
  • biocompatible polymer composites
  • structure-property relationships
  • interfacial engineering
  • molecular design
  • computational modelling
  • mechanical performance
  • advanced applications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

27 pages, 1950 KB  
Review
Green, Sustainable, and Multifunctional Biobased Hybrid Nanocomposites: Semiconducting Materials with Tunable Molecular Interfaces for Photocatalysis
by Lalita Chopra, Muskan Thakur, Domenico Pirozzi and Filomena Sannino
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(7), 3236; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27073236 - 2 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 714
Abstract
Biobased hybrid semiconducting composites are attracting significant attention as sustainable alternatives to traditional inorganic photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy-related applications. Recent research progress in biobased hybrid photocatalytic systems is critically reviewed to outline their design strategies, photocatalytic mechanisms, and environmental applications. These [...] Read more.
Biobased hybrid semiconducting composites are attracting significant attention as sustainable alternatives to traditional inorganic photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy-related applications. Recent research progress in biobased hybrid photocatalytic systems is critically reviewed to outline their design strategies, photocatalytic mechanisms, and environmental applications. These composites integrate bioderived polymers with metal oxide semiconductors, forming hybrid architectures that improve interfacial contact at the molecular level, enhance charge transfer efficiency, and impart higher structural flexibility. The polymer matrix not only provides mechanical adaptability and functional surface groups, but also serves as an environmentally friendly support that can modulate surface electronic states and influence the photoinduced electron–hole dynamics in the inorganic phase. By controlling the molecular interactions between the polymer chains and metal oxide surfaces, these hybrids can mitigate key limitations of conventional metal oxides, such as rapid electron–hole recombination and restricted visible-light absorption. This review first summarizes the fundamental electronic and structural properties of widely employed metal oxide semiconductors and highlights their intrinsic limitations in photocatalytic processes. It then examines the role of biopolymers from the perspective of molecular structure, charge transport pathways, and interfacial interaction mechanisms with the inorganic component. Various synthesis strategies—including sol–gel, hydrothermal, in situ nanoparticle generation, green synthesis, and surface functionalization—are discussed, with emphasis on their ability to tune the nanoscale morphology and interfacial chemistry of the hybrids. Applications of these biohybrid systems in dye degradation, pharmaceutical pollutant removal, heavy metal reduction, and antimicrobial photocatalysis are analyzed alongside mechanistic insights into charge separation efficiency and band alignment at the molecular interface. Furthermore, challenges related to long-term stability, reproducibility, scalability, and performance in real wastewater matrices are also addressed. Overall, this review provides a thorough discussion on the design principles, photocatalytic mechanism, and environmental applications of biobased hybrid semiconductors, while emphasizing future opportunities for the development of efficient and sustainable photocatalytic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Advances and Applications)
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