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Polymers
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Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators
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Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 10121

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Bin Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Laboratory for Destructive Testing and Optoelectronic Sensing Technology and Application, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Interests: optical sensors; fiber interferometer sensors; microfiber and special fiber-based sensor fabrication and application; optical-fiber-based gas sensors and biochemical sensors; laser fabrication techniques
Dr. Juan Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Laboratory for Destructive Testing and Optoelectronic Sensing Technology and Application, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Interests: microfiber and special fiber-based sensor fabrication and application; laser fabrication techniques; transmission mechanism of high-energy laser

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer materials have gained significant attention in the field of sensors and actuators due to their unique properties and versatile applications. These materials offer advantages such as low cost, light weight, flexibility, and ease of fabrication. Polymer-based sensors can detect various physical and chemical parameters, including temperature, pressure, humidity, and gas concentration. They have found applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industrial sectors. Similarly, polymer actuators can convert electrical, thermal, or chemical energy into mechanical motion, enabling precise control and manipulation in fields such as robotics, microfluidics, and biomedical devices. The development of polymer materials for sensors and actuators continues to expand, promising further advancements in diverse applications. Both original contributions and comprehensive reviews are welcome.

With a focus on polymer materials for sensors and actuators, potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Preparation of polymer materials;
  • Polymer-based material physical and chemical parameters;
  • Polymer-based sensors;
  • Polymer actuators;
  • Polymer sensing applications for healthcare, environmental monitoring, industrial sectors, robotics, microfluidics, biomedical devices, and so on.

Prof. Dr. Bin Liu
Dr. Juan Liu
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

  • polymer materials
  • sensors
  • actuators
  • physical parameters
  • chemical parameters
  • healthcare
  • environmental monitoring
  • industrial sectors
  • robotics
  • microfluidics
  • biomedical devices
  • fabrication
  • flexibility

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 8819 KiB  
Article
Optimized Drop-Casted Polyaniline Thin Films for High-Sensitivity Electrochemical and Optical pH Sensors
by Bruna Eduarda Darolt Mücke, Beatriz Cotting Rossignatti, Luis Miguel Gomes Abegão, Martin Schwellberger Barbosa and Hugo José Nogueira Pedroza Dias Mello
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2789; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192789 - 1 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1648
Abstract
Conducting polymers used in chemical sensors are attractive because of their ability to confer reversible properties controlled by the doping/de-doping process. Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most prominent materials used due to its ease of synthesis, tailored properties, and higher stability. Here, [...] Read more.
Conducting polymers used in chemical sensors are attractive because of their ability to confer reversible properties controlled by the doping/de-doping process. Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most prominent materials used due to its ease of synthesis, tailored properties, and higher stability. Here, PANI thin films deposited by the drop-casting method on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates were used in electrochemical and optical sensors for pH measurement. The response of the devices was correlated with the deposition parameters; namely, the volume of deposition solution dropped on the substrate and the concentration of the solution, which was determined by the weight ratio of polymer to solvent. The characterisation of the samples aimed to determine the structure–property relationship of the films and showed that the chemical properties, oxidation states, and protonation level are similar for all samples, as concluded from the cyclic voltammetry and UV–VIS spectroscopic analysis. The sensing performance of the PANI film is correlated with its relative physical properties, thickness, and surface roughness. The highest electrochemical sensitivity obtained was 127.3 ± 6.2 mV/pH, twice the Nernst limit—the highest pH sensitivity reported to our knowledge—from the thicker and rougher sample. The highest optical sensitivity, 0.45 ± 0.05 1/pH, was obtained from a less rough sample, which is desirable as it reduces light scattering and sample oxidation. The results presented demonstrate the importance of understanding the structure–property relationship of materials for optimised sensors and their potential applications where high-sensitivity pH measurement is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators)
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20 pages, 4725 KiB  
Article
A Light-Powered Self-Circling Slider on an Elliptical Track with a Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber
by Lu Wei, Yanan Chen, Junjie Hu, Xueao Hu, Jiale Wang and Kai Li
Polymers 2024, 16(16), 2375; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16162375 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 972
Abstract
In this paper, we propose an innovative light-powered LCE-slider system that enables continuous self-circling on an elliptical track and is comprised of a light-powered LCE string, slider, and rigid elliptical track. By formulating and solving dimensionless dynamic equations, we explain static and self-circling [...] Read more.
In this paper, we propose an innovative light-powered LCE-slider system that enables continuous self-circling on an elliptical track and is comprised of a light-powered LCE string, slider, and rigid elliptical track. By formulating and solving dimensionless dynamic equations, we explain static and self-circling states, emphasizing self-circling dynamics and energy balance. Quantitative analysis reveals that the self-circling frequency of LCE-slider systems is independent of the initial tangential velocity but sensitive to light intensity, contraction coefficients, elastic coefficients, the elliptical axis ratio, and damping coefficients. Notably, elliptical motion outperforms circular motion in angular velocity and frequency, indicating greater efficiency. Reliable self-circling under constant light suggests applications in periodic motion fields, especially celestial mechanics. Additionally, the system’s remarkable adaptability to a wide range of curved trajectories exemplifies its flexibility and versatility, while its energy absorption and conversion capabilities position it as a highly potential candidate for applications in robotics, construction, and transportation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators)
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15 pages, 2812 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Sensing of Cadmium and Lead Ions in Water by MOF-5/PANI Composites
by Jadranka Milikić, Marjetka Savić, Aleksandra Janošević Ležaić, Biljana Šljukić and Gordana Ćirić-Marjanović
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050683 - 2 Mar 2024
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
For the first time, composites of metal-organic framework MOF-5 and conjugated polymer polyaniline (PANI), (MOF-5/PANI), prepared using PANI in its conducting (emeraldine salt, ES) or nonconducting form (emeraldine base, EB) at various MOF-5 and PANI mass ratios, were evaluated as electrode materials for [...] Read more.
For the first time, composites of metal-organic framework MOF-5 and conjugated polymer polyaniline (PANI), (MOF-5/PANI), prepared using PANI in its conducting (emeraldine salt, ES) or nonconducting form (emeraldine base, EB) at various MOF-5 and PANI mass ratios, were evaluated as electrode materials for the electrochemical detection of cadmium (Cd2+) and lead (Pb2+) ions in aqueous solutions. Testing of individual components of composites, PANI-ES, PANI-EB, and MOF-5, was also performed for comparison. Materials are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and their electrochemical behavior was discussed in terms of their zeta potential, structural, morphology, and textural properties. All examined composites showed high electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of Cd and Pb to Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The MOF/EB-1 composite (71.0 wt.% MOF-5) gave the highest oxidation currents during both individual and simultaneous detection of two heavy metal ions. Current densities recorded with MOF/EB-1 were also higher than those of its individual components, reflecting the synergistic effect where MOF-5 offers high surface area for two heavy metals adsorption and PANI offers a network for electron transfer during metals’ subsequent oxidation. Limits of detection using MOF/EB-1 electrode for Cd2+ and Pb2+ sensing were found to be as low as 0.077 ppm and 0.033 ppm, respectively. Moreover, the well-defined and intense peaks of Cd oxidation to Cd2+ and somewhat lower peaks of Pb oxidation to Pb2+ were observed at voltammograms obtained for the Danube River as a real sample with no pretreatment, which implies that herein tested MOF-5/PANI electrodes could be used as electrochemical sensors for the detection of heavy metal ions in the real water samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators)
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13 pages, 2320 KiB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Research Concerning the Friction Forces Developed in Hydraulic Cylinder Coaxial Sealing Systems Made from Polymers
by Flavius Aurelian Sârbu, Felix Arnăuţ, Andrea Deaconescu and Tudor Deaconescu
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010157 - 4 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
Optimizing the energy efficiency of hydraulic cylinder modern sealing systems requires, among other things, minimizing the developed friction forces. This can be achieved by manufacturing seals from polymer-based polytetrafluoroethylene-type materials (Virgin PTFE and filled PTFE) or from thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. This paper presents [...] Read more.
Optimizing the energy efficiency of hydraulic cylinder modern sealing systems requires, among other things, minimizing the developed friction forces. This can be achieved by manufacturing seals from polymer-based polytetrafluoroethylene-type materials (Virgin PTFE and filled PTFE) or from thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. This paper presents a procedure for calculating and experimentally determining the friction forces developed in the coaxial sealing systems of hydraulic cylinders pistons. Three sealing systems made from different materials were tested under varying conditions of pressure and velocity on an experimental test stand set up by the authors. The paper concludes with data and recommendations for the selection of the optimum seal material in order to maximize energy efficiency. Our comparative research conducted on the seal materials led to the conclusion that for reducing friction forces in hydraulic cylinders, Virgin PTFE is the most adequate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators)
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10 pages, 1947 KiB  
Article
Lab-on-Fiber Sensors with Ag/Au Nanocap Arrays Based on the Two Deposits of Polystyrene Nanospheres
by Meng Shi, Shifang Gao, Liang Shang, Linan Ma, Wei Wang, Guangqiang Liu and Zongbao Li
Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4107; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204107 - 16 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1633
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can boost the pristine Raman signal significantly which could be exploited for producing innovative sensing devices with advanced properties. However, the inherent complexity of SERS systems restricts their further applications in rapid detection, especially in situ detection in narrow [...] Read more.
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can boost the pristine Raman signal significantly which could be exploited for producing innovative sensing devices with advanced properties. However, the inherent complexity of SERS systems restricts their further applications in rapid detection, especially in situ detection in narrow areas. Here, we construct an efficient and flexible SERS-based Lab-on-Fiber (LOF) sensor by integrating Ag/Au nanocap arrays obtained by Ag/Au coating polystyrene nanospheres on the optical fiber face. We obtain rich “hot spots” at the nanogaps between neighboring nanocaps, and further achieve SERS performance with the assistance of laser-induced thermophoresis on the metal film that can achieve efficiency aggregation of detected molecules. We achieve a high Raman enhancement with a low detection limitation of 10−7 mol/L for the most efficient samples based on the above sensor. This sensor also exhibits good repeatability and stability under multiple detections, revealing the potential application for in situ detection based on the reflexivity of the optical fiber. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Sensors and Actuators)
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