Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
2.8
2.3
Journals
Physchem
Special Issues
Physicochemical Insights into Functional Polymers
share announcement

Physicochemical Insights into Functional Polymers

A special issue of Physchem (ISSN 2673-7167). This special issue belongs to the section "Solid-State Chemistry and Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1711

Editors

Dr. Puhup Puneet

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Interests: polymer chemistry; polymer physics; polymer chirality; biomass polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Michiya Fujiki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
Interests: polarized light; luminescence; helicity; chirogenesis; intermolecular interactions; cooperative transition; terpenes; cellulose; π- and σ-conjugated polymers; homochirality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A substantial range of functional polymers have been categorized as a special class of materials where chemical constituents and molecular architectures are engineered to deliver desired physical responses. While their applications range from biomedicines to industrial engineering ecosystems, the underlying fundamental physicochemical mechanisms associated with molecular designs, physical properties, interfacial thermodynamics, and phase behaviours remain elusive for the next generation of functional polymers.

This Special Issue of Physchem aims to bridge the research gap between fundamental organic synthesis, physical chemistry, and advanced functional polymerics using a wide range of perspectives. Thus, we invite contributions that provide deep mechanistic insights into how molecular structure influences macroscopic behavior, particularly by employing sophisticated synthesis protocols, advanced spectroscopic techniques, multiscale modeling, and high-resolution characterization to elucidate the forces driving polymer performance.

We welcome original research articles and communications along with comprehensive reviews to advance the fundamentals of functional polymers.

Dr. Puneet Puhup
Prof. Dr. Michiya Fujiki
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 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. Physchem is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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

  • polymers synthesis
  • stimuli-responsive dynamics
  • interfacial phenomena
  • molecular transport
  • self-assembly kinetics
  • computational modeling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 6572 KB  
Article
Physicochemical Characterization of Freeze-Dried Low-Molecular-Weight Lychee Polyphenol/Cyclodextrin Systems with Enhanced Antioxidant Activity
by Kasumi Kobayashi, Nao Kodama, Florencio Arce, Jr., Gerard Lee See and Yutaka Inoue
Physchem 2026, 6(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/physchem6030054 - 13 Aug 2026
Viewed by 237
Abstract
Low-molecular-weight lychee polyphenol (Lyp), a standardized oligomeric polyphenol derived from Litchi chinensis fruit, possesses potent antioxidant activity but is susceptible to physicochemical instability, which may limit its practical application. In this study, freeze-dried systems of Lyp with α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) were [...] Read more.
Low-molecular-weight lychee polyphenol (Lyp), a standardized oligomeric polyphenol derived from Litchi chinensis fruit, possesses potent antioxidant activity but is susceptible to physicochemical instability, which may limit its practical application. In this study, freeze-dried systems of Lyp with α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) were prepared to investigate the effects of cyclodextrins on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of Lyp. Powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, and solution-state NMR were employed to characterize the prepared systems. Freeze-drying produced amorphous Lyp/CD systems accompanied by enhanced thermal stability and changes in the hydrogen-bonding environment compared with the corresponding physical mixtures. Solution-state 1H NMR and NOESY analyses suggested molecular association between Lyp constituents and cyclodextrins, with the βCD system exhibiting the most pronounced spectral changes. Consistent with these physicochemical findings, the freeze-dried βCD system showed the greatest enhancement of DPPH radical scavenging activity among the three cyclodextrins examined. These results suggest that βCD provides the most favorable molecular environment for Lyp, leading to improved physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant performance. The present findings demonstrate that freeze-drying combined with β-cyclodextrin is an effective strategy for improving the physicochemical performance and antioxidant functionality of low-molecular-weight lychee polyphenol. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physicochemical Insights into Functional Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 8091 KB  
Review
Cucurbituril Based Supramolecular Polymer Gels: From Macrocycle Synthesis to Functional Composite Networks
by Aigerim Zhaxybayeva
Physchem 2026, 6(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/physchem6030042 - 3 Jul 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Cucurbiturils (CB[n]) are rigid glycoluril-based macrocycles possessing well-defined hydrophobic cavities capable of forming stable host–guest complexes in water. Owing to these properties, CB[n]-containing supramolecular polymer gels have attracted increasing attention as functional composite materials in modern materials science. This review summarizes recent progress [...] Read more.
Cucurbiturils (CB[n]) are rigid glycoluril-based macrocycles possessing well-defined hydrophobic cavities capable of forming stable host–guest complexes in water. Owing to these properties, CB[n]-containing supramolecular polymer gels have attracted increasing attention as functional composite materials in modern materials science. This review summarizes recent progress in the development of cucurbituril-based supramolecular gels, with particular attention to synthetic approaches, network design, and emerging applications. Both conventional acid-catalyzed methods and more sustainable synthetic strategies for cucurbituril preparation and functionalization are discussed. We further consider the role of CB[n] macrocycles as reversible crosslinking units in polymer networks and analyze how host–guest interactions influence the mechanical properties, self-healing behavior, and stimuli responsiveness of the resulting materials. Recent applications in biomedical engineering, soft electronics, and environmental remediation are also highlighted, demonstrating how molecular-level supramolecular interactions can determine the macroscopic performance of these composite systems. The review concludes with perspectives on scalable synthesis, processing integration, and future directions in supramolecular composite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physicochemical Insights into Functional Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 1745 KB  
Review
Bridging Chemistry and Reliability: A Framework for Evaluating and Optimizing Polymers in Hydrogen Energy Systems
by Rashed Kaiser, Aliyu Aliyu and Ilyasu Anda
Physchem 2026, 6(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/physchem6020032 - 25 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 638
Abstract
Hydrogen energy systems rely extensively on polymeric materials for storage, sealing, transport, and tribological applications; however, their long-term reliability is strongly influenced by hydrogen–polymer interactions. This review presents a comparative analysis of polymers with and without hydrogen bonding, focusing on how molecular architecture [...] Read more.
Hydrogen energy systems rely extensively on polymeric materials for storage, sealing, transport, and tribological applications; however, their long-term reliability is strongly influenced by hydrogen–polymer interactions. This review presents a comparative analysis of polymers with and without hydrogen bonding, focusing on how molecular architecture governs hydrogen compatibility, transport behavior, and degradation mechanisms under high-pressure environments. Hydrogen-bonded polymers, such as polyamides, polyurethanes (PU), and polyimides, exhibit high mechanical strength and thermal stability due to strong intermolecular interactions but are susceptible to hydrogen-assisted chemical degradation and embrittlement. In contrast, non-hydrogen-bonded polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), demonstrate excellent chemical inertness and low hydrogen reactivity, yet experience diffusion-driven damage such as blistering and fatigue softening. This study establishes a unified framework linking molecular structure, hydrogen transport, and failure mechanisms, revealing a fundamental trade-off between mechanical integrity and chemical stability. Advanced strategies, including polymer blending, nanofiller reinforcement, and multilayer composites, are proposed to optimize durability, permeability, and overall hydrogen compatibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physicochemical Insights into Functional Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop