Advances in Self-Healing Polymers
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polymer composite; nanomaterial; functional material; self-healing material; biopolymer; biodegradation materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Self-healing polymers have emerged as a transformative class of materials capable of autonomously repairing mechanical damage, mimicking biological systems such as human skin or plant tissues. This ability not only enhances material durability but also reduces waste, maintenance costs, and environmental impact, addressing critical challenges in sustainability and resource efficiency. Over the past two decades, significant breakthroughs in chemistry, nanotechnology, and polymer engineering have propelled self-healing materials from laboratory curiosities to real-world applications. However, challenges remain in achieving scalable synthesis, robust healing under diverse conditions, and integration into multifunctional systems.
This Special Issue, Advances in Self-Healing Polymers, will highlight the latest scientific and technological progress in this dynamic field. Research on self-healing mechanisms has evolved from early extrinsic (capsule-based) systems to sophisticated intrinsic approaches leveraging dynamic covalent bonds (e.g., Diels–Alder, disulfide bonds) and supramolecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding, metal–ligand coordination). Stimuli-responsive polymers activated by light, heat, pH, or moisture now enable precise spatiotemporal control over healing processes. Meanwhile, advances in characterization techniques (e.g., in situ microscopy, spectroscopy) have deepened our understanding of healing kinetics and efficiency.
The applications of self-healing polymers are vast and interdisciplinary. In aerospace and automotive industries, they improve the safety and longevity of coatings and composites. In flexible electronics, they mitigate circuit failures caused by mechanical stress. Biomedical engineering exploits their potential for drug-delivery scaffolds and biodegradable implants. Despite these successes, key questions persist: How can we balance healing efficiency with mechanical performance? Can self-healing be achieved under extreme conditions (e.g., cryogenic temperatures)? What are the limits of recyclability and multiple healing cycles?
We invite contributions exploring the following:
- Fundamental mechanisms: New healing chemistries, theoretical modeling, and in situ characterization;
- Material innovations: Hybrid systems, bioinspired designs, and nanocomposites.
- Applications: Energy storage, soft robotics, wearable devices, and sustainable packaging;
- Scalability and commercialization: Industrial processing, cost-benefit analysis, and lifecycle assessments.
This Special Issue will serve as a platform for researchers to share breakthroughs, fostering collaboration across chemistry, materials science, and engineering. By addressing both fundamental and applied challenges, we will accelerate the development of next-generation self-healing materials for a resilient and sustainable future.
Prof. Dr. Junfeng Su
Guest Editor
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
- self-healing polymers
- dynamic covalent bonds
- stimuli-responsive materials
- damage repair
- multifunctional composites
- sustainability
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