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Polymers
Special Issues
Progress in Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification
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Progress in Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 996

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Javier Esteban Durantini

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Guest Editor
Institut Universitari d'Investigació de Materials Avançats, INAM-Universitat Jaume I, Castellon de la Plana, Spain
Interests: optoelectronic devices; organic polymers; electroplolymerzation; supercapacitors; solar cells; water spliting
Dr. Daniel A. Heredia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IDAS-CONICET, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36 Km 601, X5804BYA Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
Interests: organic synthesis; photodynamic inactivation; antimicrobial surfaces; electrochemistry; electropolymerization; electrochromism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced materials are among the prime drivers for technological revolutions and transformations in quality of life. Throughout the years, numerous techniques for surface modifications have enabled the creation of innovative materials with exceptional properties. Currently, a wide array of methods are available for the creation of thin polymer films, encompassing physical, chemical, electrochemical, and wet deposition techniques, among others. Continual efforts are underway to innovate deposition processes, aiming to attain novel compositions and unique physicochemical characteristics. The research into thin polymer films is primarily geared toward addressing many industrial needs, spanning across areas such as energy technologies, medicine, and biotechnology.

This Special Issue is primarily focused on, but is not limited to, the development of novel organic polymeric materials and surface modification strategies in the fields of energy production and energy storage. In addition, progress in thin films and coatings with antimicrobial properties will be considered in this Special Issue. 

Dr. Javier Esteban Durantini
Dr. Daniel A. Heredia
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 thin films
  • surface modification
  • electropolymerization
  • solar cells
  • supercapacitors
  • antimicrobial surfaces
  • water splitting
  • photodynamic inactivation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 7416 KiB  
Article
Adsorption and Structuration of PEG Thin Films: Influence of the Substrate Chemistry
by Maurice Brogly, Sophie Bistac and Diane Bindel
Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091244 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 426
Abstract
This study investigates polyethylene glycol (PEG) homopolymer thin film adsorption on gold surfaces of controlled surface chemistry. The conformational states of physisorbed PEG are analyzed through polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectrometry (PM-IRRAS). The PM-IRRAS principle is based on specific optical selection rules allowing [...] Read more.
This study investigates polyethylene glycol (PEG) homopolymer thin film adsorption on gold surfaces of controlled surface chemistry. The conformational states of physisorbed PEG are analyzed through polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectrometry (PM-IRRAS). The PM-IRRAS principle is based on specific optical selection rules allowing the detection of surface-specific FTIR response of thin polymer films on the basis of differential reflectivity at the polymer/substrate interface for p- and s-polarized light. The intensification of the electric field generated at the PEG/substrate interface for p-polarized IR light in comparison with s-polarized light permits the analysis of PEG chain anisotropy and conformational changes induced by the adsorption. Results showed that PEG adsorbs on model substrates having a rather hydrophilic character in a way that the PEG chains spread parallel to the surface. In the case of a very hydrophilic substrate, the adsorbed PEG chains are in a stable thermodynamic state which allows them to arrange and crystallize as stacked crystalline lamellae after adsorption. The surface topography and morphology of the PEG thin films were also investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). While in the bulk state, PEG crystallizes in the form of large spherulites; on substrates whose adsorption is favored by surface chemistry, PEG crystallizes in the form of stacked lamellae with a thickness equal to 20 nm. Conversely, on a hydrophobic substrate, the PEG chains do not crystallize and adsorption occurs in the statistical coil state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification)
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17 pages, 2992 KiB  
Article
Hydrophilic Modification of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Capillary Membranes with Chemical Resistance by Constructing Three-Dimensional Hydrophilic Networks
by Mingpeng Hou, Qiuying Li and Yanchao Che
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081154 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 373
Abstract
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary membranes, known for the great chemical resistance and thermal stability, are commonly used in membrane separation technologies. However, the strong hydrophobic property of PTFE limits its application in water filtration. This study introduces a method whereby acrylamide (AM), N, N-methylene [...] Read more.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary membranes, known for the great chemical resistance and thermal stability, are commonly used in membrane separation technologies. However, the strong hydrophobic property of PTFE limits its application in water filtration. This study introduces a method whereby acrylamide (AM), N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA), and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) undergo free radical copolymerization, followed by the hydrolysis-condensation of silane bonds, resulting in the formation of hydrophilic three-dimensional networks physically intertwined with the PTFE capillary membranes. The modified PTFE capillary membranes prepared through this method exhibit excellent hydrophilic properties, whose water contact angles are decreased by 24.3–61.2%, and increasing pure water flux from 0 to 1732.7–2666.0 L/m2·h. The enhancement in hydrophilicity of the modified PTFE capillary membranes is attributed to the introduction of hydrophilic groups such as amide bonds and siloxane bonds, along with an increase in surface roughness. Moreover, the modified PTFE capillary membranes exhibit chemical resistance, maintaining the hydrophilicity even after immersion in strong acidic (3 wt% HCl), alkaline (3 wt% NaOH), and oxidative (3 wt% NaClO) solutions for 2 weeks. In conclusion, this promising method yields modified PTFE capillary membranes with great hydrophilicity and chemical resistance, presenting substantial potential for applications in the field of water filtration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification)
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