Structure and Dynamics of Polymer in Bulk and in Confinement

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced materials, such as polymers and polymer nanocomposites, have a wide range of applications in different regions of technology, industry, and science. Interactions between polymers and reinforcements play a major role in controlling material properties and the overall performance of the composite products. The impact of those interactions changes the structure and dynamics of the polymers significantly, which leads to a totally new material of improved properties. Therefore, a molecular level understanding of the correlations between polymer chemistry, together with a conformation and stability in bulk and in confinement, is critical. Various experimental techniques (scattering and microscopy) have been employed to explore the structure and dynamics at multiple lengths and time scales. The experimental findings are further corroborated with simulation results to get a better insight of the polymer conformation and the nature of the interactions in confinement. In this Special Issue, we are aiming to highlight the structural and dynamic aspects of the polymers in confinement, which is detrimental in designing a polymer and formulating a nanocomposite for a specific purpose. We are hoping to have contributions from both the experimental and computational approaches, illustrating a strong connection between them. 

Dr. Naresh C. Osti
Dr. Xi Chen
Dr. Sidath Wijesinghe
Guest Editors

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