Functional Polymeric Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Application
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2027 | Viewed by 36
Editors
Interests: design, synthesis, and structure–property characterization of advanced functional materials (porous polymers, polyHIPEs, deep eutectic solvent systems, nanocomposites); sustainable materials engineering for environmental remediation (adsorption, filtration, advanced oxidation); biopolymer/nanocellulose-based biomedical platforms (antibacterial, controlled release)
Interests: multiphase polymer processing (blends, composites, foams) for recycling and natural‑fiber biocomposites; biopolymer preparation and rheological characterization; circular‑economy‑oriented sustainable materials design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: design and synthesis of biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposites with functionalized carbon nanotubes; engineering of polymer blend compatibilizers and bio‑based adhesives; development of amphiphilic polymeric materials for wastewater remediation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Functional polymeric materials have emerged as key enabling technologies for addressing some of the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century, including environmental protection and remediation, sustainable resource management, clean energy production and storage, and advanced healthcare solutions. Recent advances in polymer chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology have driven the development of a wide range of functional polymeric systems, including bio-based polymers, polymer nanocomposites, advanced polymeric architectures, porous polymers, and smart and stimuli-responsive materials. These innovations have expanded the scope of polymeric materials beyond conventional applications, enabling their use in environmental remediation, water treatment, energy conversion and storage, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and other advanced biomedical technologies. Despite these advances, significant challenges remain in the development of advanced synthesis and functionalization strategies that enable precise control over polymer structure, functionality, and performance. Furthermore, the design of polymeric materials with enhanced properties, high efficiency, and application-specific functionalities is essential for addressing the growing demands of next-generation technologies. Scalability, recyclability, and long-term performance under practical operating conditions also remain critical considerations for the successful implementation of these materials in real-world applications.
This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the latest advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, processing, and application of functional polymeric materials.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Advanced polymer synthesis and functionalization;
- Bio-based, biodegradable, and sustainable polymers;
- Polymeric nanocomposites and hybrid materials;
- Smart and stimuli-responsive polymers;
- Functional coatings and surface-engineered polymers;
- Advanced polymeric architectures and functional materials;
- Polymeric materials for environmental remediation and water treatment;
- Drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications;
- Polymeric materials for energy storage and conversion;
- Polymer recycling and circular economy strategies.
Dr. María Guadalupe Pérez García
Dr. Rubén González-Núñez
Guest Editors
Dr. Victor Hugo Antolin Ceron
Guest Editor Assistant
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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
- functional polymers
- polymeric nanocomposites
- smart materials
- stimuli-responsive polymers
- sustainable polymers
- environmental remediation
- biomedical applications
- energy storage and conversion
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