Smart and Functional Polymers
A section of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).
Section Information
Section Smart and Functional Polymers under Polymers is a platform to disseminate original ideas and concepts and to summarize the latest progress in the studies on smart and functional polymers. Smart polymers are synthetic polymers designed to mimic biopolymers with biological intelligence. The main characteristic of these polymers is their special functions to respond to changes in their environment. Smart polymers are highly attractive for applications in the fields of biotechnology, biomedicine, biosensors, tissue engineering and medical devices. In addition, they are also used for textile applications, packaging, environmental protection, and so on. Functional properties of polymers include the performance of separation, electronic conductance, photo- and electro-luminescence, energy storage and conversion, data storage, and so on. Functional polymers can be applied in the fields such as separation process, energy storage and conversion, data record and storage, and so on. Topics in this section include but are not limited to:
- smart packaging;
- shape memory;
- self-healing;
- hydrogels;
- tissue engineering;
- stimuli-responsive polymer;
- inorganic polymers such as polysilane, Halogenated polysilane, and so on;
- smart polymers for textile applications;
- smart polymers for optical data storage;
- photo-responsive polymers;
- temperature-responsive polymers;
- pH-responsive polymers;
- magnetically responsive polymer gels and elastomers;
- enzyme-responsive polymers;
- smart materials;
- programmable matter;
- biosensors;
- sensors;
- actuators;
- controlled release;
- polymer membrane;
- polyelectrolyte;
- photoluminescence;
- electroluminescence;
- photo-electric conversion;
- photovoltaic performance;
- data record and storage;
- energy storage and conversion.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Functional Polymer Composites: Synthesis and Application (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Polyurethane Composites: From Material Innovations to Multifunctional Applications (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Multiscale Design for Polymer Advanced Manufacturing (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Smart and Bio-Medical Polymers: 3rd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Shape Memory Polymer Materials (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Flexible and Stretchable Polymers for Wearable Biosensors: Materials and Applications (Deadline: 5 January 2026)
- Functional Polymers and Composites in Electrochemical and Optical Sensing Systems (Deadline: 10 January 2026)
- Next-Generation Smart Polymers: Stimuli-Responsive and Covalent Adaptable Materials for Sustainable Technologies (Deadline: 20 January 2026)
- Lignin-Based Functional Materials (Deadline: 25 January 2026)
- Polymer-Based Materials for Photocatalysts (Deadline: 25 January 2026)
- Advances in Functional Polymers and Composites: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Smart Polymer: New Design and Applications (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions, Functional Polymeric Materials for Adsorption and Catalysis (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Polymeric Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Smart Polymeric Materials for Soft Electronics—2nd Edition (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Polymeric Composite/Scaffolds for Balanced Hemostatic Function and Wound Healing (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Polymer-Based Smart Materials: Preparation and Applications (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Advances in Self-Healing Polymers (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- New Advances in Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Smart and Functional Biopolymers (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Functional Polymers: Interaction, Surface, Processing and Applications: 3rd Edition (Deadline: 10 March 2026)
- Next-Generation Smart Polymer Nanocomposites: Fabrication and Applications (Deadline: 20 March 2026)
- Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Next-Generation Functional Polymers for Energy Harvesting and Storage (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Polymer-Based Flexible Materials, 3rd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Polymer–Liquid Crystal Composites: Their Structure, Function, and Emerging Applications (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Functional Polymeric Materials for Water Treatment (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Advanced Polymeric Materials for Electrical Insulation and High-Voltage Applications (Deadline: 20 April 2026)
- Polymer Semiconductors for Flexible Electronics (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Advances in Functional Polymers for Soil and Wastewater Treatment (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Polymers for Aesthetic Purposes (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Advances in Plasma Processes of Polymers (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Polymer Admixture-Modified Cement-Based Materials (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Smart Polymer Nanocomposites for Advanced Filtration Technologies (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Smart Polymers and Composites in Multifunctional Systems (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Advances in Biomimetic Smart Hydrogels, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Advances in Plasma-Modified Polymeric Materials for Surface Functionalization and Applications (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Innovative Polymer-Associated Self-Healing Materials: From Design to Applications (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Smart Polymers: Stimulus-Responsive Properties and Their Biomedical Applications (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Functional Gel and Their Multipurpose Applications (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Polymeric Materials for Flexible Electronics (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Application and Development of Polymer-Based Catalysts (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Polymer Materials for Flexible Tactile/Pressure Sensors for Wearable Electronics and Human–Machine Interfaces (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Advances in Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) Based Functional Polymeric Materials (Deadline: 10 June 2026)
- Advanced Polymers in Sensor Applications (Deadline: 25 June 2026)
- Bioinspired Materials: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Recent Progress in Surface Treatment for Polymer Materials by Plasmas (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Applications of Functional Polymeric Materials in Water Treatment and Environmental Remediation (Deadline: 1 July 2026)
- Advanced Biomimetic Polymer Materials (Deadline: 20 July 2026)
- Shape Memory Polymers: Property, Preparation and Application (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Advances in Polymer/Metal–Organic Framework Composites (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Intelligent Responsive Polymer Materials (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Polymer Composite Materials in Wastewater Treatment (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- High-Performance Polyurethanes (Deadline: 31 December 2026)