Innovations in Polymer-Based Flexible Materials and Devices
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 84
Special Issue Editors
Interests: electrochromism; surface-enhanced Raman scattering; hydrogel; flexible devices; functional polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the rapid advancement of fields such as wearable electronics, flexible displays, biomedical devices, and soft robotics has increasingly highlighted the limitations of conventional rigid materials in complex, dynamically deforming environments. In response, a class of materials capable of adapting to non-planar mechanical deformation while maintaining excellent functional performance has emerged as a cornerstone of this technological transformation, namely polymer-based flexible materials. With their inherent flexibility, solution processability, biocompatibility, and remarkable tunability in both structure and function, these materials are redefining what such devices can achieve. From conductive polymers and stretchable dielectrics to self-healing hydrogels and shape-memory composites, continuous breakthroughs in polymer science are fundamentally reshaping the form and function of modern devices. Traditional electronics have often been rigid and enclosed; today's flexible devices can conform to human skin like a second epidermis, breathe like fabric, or even degrade harmlessly within the body like biological tissue. These remarkable advances stem not only from innovations in molecular design and synthetic strategies but also from progress in micro/nano-fabrication, additive manufacturing, and the seamless integration of multifunctional systems.
Dr. Sihang Zhang
Dr. Jiangtao Xu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- polymer
- flexibility
- wearables
- electronics
- functional membranes
- thin films
- sensors
- optical devices
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