Polymeric Thin Films and Membranes II

Dear Colleagues,

Investigations involving polymer films and membranes represent a rapidly growing research area in physics, materials/polymer science, chemistry, and engineering. The study of the dynamics of polymer molecules has been one of the most fruitful areas of polymer physics. The glass transition, the precursor of which is the glass-liquid relaxation, is one of the most important unsolved subjects in the physics of condensed matter. In cooling, supercooled liquids can reach a temperature in the vicinity of which ergodicity is lost. The physical properties of the materials are directly related to the structure and molecular mobility of the same. For this reason, a special focus always has been placed on understanding dynamics and the glass transition in polymer films.

In recent years, the current trend to miniaturization of existing devices has stimulated the development of polymer material thin films, which has brought with it the investment of a substantial effort to understand dynamics and the glass transition in thin polymer films. In many cases, the thin films can be of complex composition with different types of polymers with complex architecture and other components such as nanoparticles/nanofibers. Furthermore, the prediction and determination of materials/fluids properties at the nanoscale is not a trivial task and the current experimental data supports that unexpected deviations from bulk behaviour are not uncommon, due to the geometric constraints imposed by the presence of surfaces and interfaces. Confinement effects and interfacial interactions are determinants of the molecular mobility of the molecular chains and thus of the physical properties of these thin-film polymeric materials. The close monitoring of the mobility changes induced in the vicinity of surfaces and interfaces is highly attractive. It enables the design of materials with tailor-made properties depending on the desired technological application. For this reason, significant effort has been invested in the design, as well as in the study of their physical properties, of new low cost methodologies for the directed and controlled manufacture of nanostructures and nanoparticles based on thin and ultrafine films of polymeric materials based.

This Special Issue, “Polymeric Thin Films and Membranes II,” aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the synthesis, characterization and use of polymeric film thin materials in important technological applications. Given the interdisciplinary nature of thin polymer films, we hope that this Special Issue will present a collection of high-caliber original/reviewed contributions from scientists from a wide range of disciplines: chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, physicists and technologists.

These thin polymer films have numerous technological applications in various industrial and biomedical sectors. Among these applications, we include sensor & device technologies, microelectronics and optoelectronics, catalysts, separations, advanced membranes, microfluidics, electroactive protective shields, bright fluorescent coatings to new adhesives, low friction coatings, design of energy-efficient materials, new portable devices, such as wearable medical devices, applications as biomaterials and biocompatibility of medical implants. High temperature polymeric materials for electrical insulation and energy storage are needed for transformational power applications such as pulsed-power and hybrid electrical vehicles.

In addition, the aim is to achieve functional materials using approaches that are simple to realize, use low cost materials that are potentially scalable. The environmental friendliness at reduced cost represent the driving force for profound changes in contemporary technology. In this respect, new synthetic procedures have been developed using resources of natural origin for the preparation of these new polymeric materials and green chemistry.

Prof. Maria J. Sanchis
Dr. Marta Carsí
Dr. Michael J.D. Nugent
Dr. Pilar Ortiz Serna
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Dynamic Mobility
• biotechnology
• biosensors
• energy-efficient materials
• Polymer coatings
• Nano technology
• Smart Hydrogels