Functional Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposites: From Synthesis to Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 August 2026 | Viewed by 2103

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Guest Editor
College of Safety and Ocean Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, 18 Fuxue Road, Beijing 102249, China
Interests: flame retardants; nanocomposites; safety functional material; flame-retardance mechanism; fire safety assessment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the cutting-edge research field of contemporary materials science, functional organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites are emerging as an important research direction due to their unique properties and broad application potential. These composites ingeniously combine the flexibility and functionality of organic materials with the high strength and stability of inorganic materials, offering new opportunities for technological innovation in numerous fields.

This Special Issue focuses on functional organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites, aiming to comprehensively present the latest research achievements and progress in this field, ranging from fundamental synthesis methods to practical application explorations. In terms of synthesis, we will delve into various innovative preparation techniques, including in situ synthesis, the sol–gel method, and self-assembly technology, and a variety of other relevant areas. These methods not only enable precise control over the composition, structure, and morphology of the materials, but also provide a strong guarantee for achieving specific functional properties. Through in-depth research on the chemical reaction mechanisms, interfacial interactions, and process parameter optimization during the synthesis process, it is possible to develop hybrid nanocomposites with higher performance and more stable quality.

Functional organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate extremely broad application prospects. In the energy field, they can be used as efficient electrode materials for batteries, supercapacitors, and other energy storage devices, significantly improving energy storage and conversion efficiency; in environmental science, they can be used for the adsorption, degradation and catalytic reactions of pollutants, providing new approaches to solving environmental problems; in biomedicine, with their good biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties, they can be applied in drug carriers, biological imaging, tissue engineering, and other fields, bringing new hope for improving human health. In addition, in many other fields such as electronics, optics and catalysis, these composite materials are gradually coming to play an irreplaceable role.

We are pleased to invite researchers engaged in the study of functional organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites to contribute their latest research. Whether it is a report about new synthetic strategies, the in-depth analysis of material properties, or explorations and breakthroughs in practical application scenarios, your cutting-edge contributions are welcome. The aim of this publication is to present global knowledge, promote academic exchanges and cooperation in this field, and rapidly advance functional organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites, from laboratory research to practical industrial applications, injecting new vitality and impetus into the development of industry.

Dr. Shuilai Qiu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • organic/inorganic
  • hybrid
  • nanocomposites
  • interface
  • performance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2679 KB  
Article
Ablation Resistance and Spray-Ability of Nano-Magnesium Silicate Reinforced Sprayable Silicone-Based Thermal Insulation Materials
by Junjie Hu, Yanbin Chen, Tingting Ge, Shuang Wu, Qianqiu Wu, Lifen Li, Yage Chen, Yifu Zhang and Yang Li
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(8), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16080476 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 432
Abstract
In order to satisfy the requirement for lightweight, highly reliable sprayable silicone rubber insulation material (SASI) in next-generation spacecraft, and to achieve a synergistic balance among the sprayability, mechanical properties and ablation resistance of SASI, this paper describes the preparation of nanostructured magnesium [...] Read more.
In order to satisfy the requirement for lightweight, highly reliable sprayable silicone rubber insulation material (SASI) in next-generation spacecraft, and to achieve a synergistic balance among the sprayability, mechanical properties and ablation resistance of SASI, this paper describes the preparation of nanostructured magnesium silicate (n-MS) via a hydrothermal method and systematically investigates its effects on the sprayability, mechanical properties and ablation resistance of sprayable SASI. The findings suggest that when the n-MS loading is set at 15 parts, the linear ablation rate and mass ablation rate of the SASI under oxy-acetylene conditions are as low as 0.10 mm/s and 0.07 g/s, respectively, representing reductions of 41.8% and 67.1% compared to the unmodified samples. Building upon this enhancement in ablation resistance, the tensile strength was also increased by 3.70 MPa, representing a 19.3% increase. It is crucial to note that during the spraying process, the viscosity of the silicone rubber system remained within a narrow range of 540–550 mPa·s following the addition of this filler. This finding indicates that the introduction of n-MS had no significant adverse effect on the spraying process. In summary, n-MS has been demonstrated to enhance the mechanical strength and ablation resistance of silicone rubber materials while maintaining adequate spray coating performance. In comparison with conventional filled silicone rubbers, the sprayable silicone rubber insulating material developed in this study provides a new material basis for the future lightweight and intelligent development of aerospace engines. Full article
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12 pages, 1899 KB  
Article
A Highly Hydrophobic and Flame-Retardant Melamine Sponge for Emergency Oil Spill Response
by Chengyong Zheng, Bo Wang, Wei Xie and Shuilai Qiu
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(24), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15241897 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 613
Abstract
Frequent crude oil spills during offshore oil and gas production and transportation have inflicted irreversible detrimental effects on both human activities and marine ecosystems; with particular risks of secondary disasters such as combustion and explosions. To address these challenges; advanced oil sorption technologies [...] Read more.
Frequent crude oil spills during offshore oil and gas production and transportation have inflicted irreversible detrimental effects on both human activities and marine ecosystems; with particular risks of secondary disasters such as combustion and explosions. To address these challenges; advanced oil sorption technologies have been developed to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional remediation methods. In this study, a flame-retardant protective coating was fabricated on melamine sponge (MS) through precipitation polymerization of octa-aminopropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP), endowing the MS@PPOS-PDMS-Si composite with exceptional char-forming capability. Secondary functional layer: By coupling the complementary physicochemical properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO2 nanofibers, we enabled them to function jointly, achieving superior performance in the material systems; this conferred enhanced hydrophobicity and structural stability to the MS matrix. Characterization results demonstrated a progressive reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR) from 137.66 kW/m2 to118.35 kW/m2, 91.92 kW/m2, and ultimately 46.23 kW/m2, accompanied by a decrease in total smoke production (TSP) from 1.62 m2 to 0.76 m2, indicating significant smoke suppression. Furthermore, the water contact angle (WCA) exhibited substantial improvement from 0° (superhydrophilic) to 140.7° (highly hydrophobic). Cyclic sorption–desorption testing revealed maintained oil–water separation efficiency exceeding 95% after 10 operational cycles. These findings position the MS@PPOS-PDMS-Si composite as a promising candidate for emergency oil spill response and marine pollution remediation applications, demonstrating superior performance in fire safety, environmental durability, and operational reusability. Full article
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16 pages, 2233 KB  
Article
Formation AgI and ZnI2 Nanocrystals in AgI-ZnI2-SiO2 Hybrid Powders
by Anastasiia Averkina, Igor Valtsifer, Vladimir Strelnikov, Natalia Kondrashova and Viktor Valtsifer
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(24), 1875; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15241875 - 13 Dec 2025
Viewed by 643
Abstract
AgI and ZnI2 nanocrystals are key components for AgI-ZnI2-SiO2 hybrid powders (HPs), which could be potentially important for atmospheric artificial precipitation technology. HPs were created by the “Hydrothermal template cocondensation” method (“HTC” method). Mesoporous silica dioxide (MCM48, MCM41, SBA15, [...] Read more.
AgI and ZnI2 nanocrystals are key components for AgI-ZnI2-SiO2 hybrid powders (HPs), which could be potentially important for atmospheric artificial precipitation technology. HPs were created by the “Hydrothermal template cocondensation” method (“HTC” method). Mesoporous silica dioxide (MCM48, MCM41, SBA15, SBA16), silver iodides, and zinc iodides were simultaneously grown under specific conditions. The influence of silica dioxide on AgI and ZnI2 nanocrystals characteristics (phase, size, and thermal stability) were studied using various physicochemical analysis methods. In addition to crystal features, some structural and textural properties of the AgI-ZnI2-SiO2 hybrid as an individual agglomerate and its morphology were determined. This showed that nanocrystal features were dependent on synthesis condition. The influence of the nature of the reagent, which is pH-forming, was manifested at the initial stage of the process, and the morphology of the silica dioxide matrix controlled the crystal properties during the post-synthesis phase. It was established that the thermal stability of AgI and ZnI2 nanocrystals increased due to the protective shielding function of that SiO2 matrix. Full article
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