Advances in Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers: Synthesis and Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editors
Interests: block copolymer; directed self-assembly; lithography; devices fabrication; nanocomposites for chips; nanostructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Block copolymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials with unparalleled potential in nanotechnology and advanced materials science due to their intrinsic ability to self-assemble into well-defined nanostructures. This Special Issue focuses on recent breakthroughs in the design, synthesis, and application of block copolymers, highlighting their growing impact across diverse fields ranging from nanotechnology to biomedicine.
The controlled self-assembly of block copolymers enables the creation of periodic nanostructures with tunable morphologies (e.g., spheres, cylinders, lamellae, and gyroids) at length scales of 5–100 nm. These materials are revolutionizing areas such as nanolithography, membrane technology, drug delivery, and energy storage by providing precise control over nanoscale architecture and functionality. Therefore, a deep understanding of structure–property relationships and self-assembly behavior is crucial for harnessing the full potential of block copolymers in various technological applications.
We welcome both fundamental research articles and reviews that contribute to the advancement of block copolymers and their self-assembly mechanisms. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Controlled synthesis of novel block copolymers;
- Self-assembly mechanisms;
- Thin film nanostructuring for nanolithography;
- Advanced block copolymers applications;
- Energy applications in batteries and photovoltaics;
- Characterization techniques for nanostructured materials.
Prof. Dr. Shisheng Xiong
Dr. Zili Li
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. Polymers 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 2700 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
- block copolymers
- self-assembly
- nanotechnology
- lithography
- devices
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