Functional Polymers for Catalysts

Dear Colleagues,

We are preparing a Special Issue in the Polymers journal focusing on polymer-supported and functionalized polymer catalysts. This Special Issue invites contributions that highlight the design, synthesis, and application of polymer-based catalytic systems in energy and environmental technologies. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives advancing catalytic science for sustainable processes.

Polymer-supported and functionalized polymer catalysts are advanced catalytic systems in which active catalytic centres—such as metal complexes, nanoparticles, or organocatalysts—are immobilized on or integrated into polymeric materials. The polymer backbone provides mechanical stability, high surface area, and controlled porosity, allowing enhanced catalytic performance, easier recovery, and reusability. Functionalization, achieved through grafting or copolymerization, introduces tailored chemical groups, allowing for fine control over catalyst activity, selectivity, and the balance between hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.

In energy applications, these catalysts are employed in hydrogen production, fuel cell reactions, and CO₂ conversion to fuels or value-added chemicals, supporting decarbonization. For example, polymer-supported photocatalysts enhance solar-driven water splitting, while polymer membranes with embedded catalytic species facilitate selective ion or gas transport in electrochemical devices. In environmental remediation, they are used in advanced oxidation processes, pollutant adsorption, and catalytic degradation of persistent organic contaminants, helping address water and air quality challenges.

Their lightweight, flexible design enables integration into reactors, membranes, and coatings, making them suitable for scalable, continuous-flow processes. Combining catalyst recyclability with reduced metal leaching and precise control of active sites aligns with principles of green chemistry.

Dr. Deshetti Jampaiah
Dr. Paramita Koley
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. 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.