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Smart Polymers and Composites in Multifunctional Systems

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Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, multifunctional systems are largely studied in order to be integrated into structures for advanced avionics, space, sports, automotive, or biomedicine applications. New possibilities also arise from developments in the field of smart polymers and smart polymer composites. This group of materials provides a wide range of functional characteristics, such as thermal, electrical, or acoustic insulation, flame retardancy, self-repair, shape memory, energy harvesting, shielding from electromagnetic interference, the detection of mechanical or chemical phenomena, sensing and actuation, and the ability to control contaminations. These functionalities could be combined in multifunctional structures that are able to respond to new requirements and challenges.

The integration of smart polymers and composites in multifunctional systems reduces the need for multiple devices or additional parts in structures, making mass, cost, and/or maintenance reductions possible. At the same time, these structures increase the fields of application, durability, and safety.

This Special Issue will focus on the most recent advances in smart polymers and polymer composites for the development of multifunctional structures, from the synthesis, characterization, and integration of smart polymers and composites to the potential applications in multifunctional systems, also including the design, processing, final properties, theoretical approaches, and numerical modeling of these materials and systems. I am pleased to invite authors to submit original papers and reviews on topics including, but not limited to, the following: stimuli-responsive polymers and composite processing, the application of smart polymers and composites in multifunctional systems, methods for the evaluation of multifunctional systems, the theory of stimuli-responsive polymers and composite characterization, and substantial advancements in high-end sectors.

Dr. Denise Bellisario
Guest Editor

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15 pages, 8341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of a Novel Tetra-Block Copolymer for High-Performance Self-Healing Batteries

by Işık İpek Avcı Yayla, Omer Suat Taskin and Neslihan Yuca

Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2414; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172414 - 5 Sep 2025

Viewed by 598

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the dominant energy storage technology due to their versatility and superior performance across diverse applications. Silicon (Si) stands out as a particularly promising high-capacity anode material for next-generation LIBs, offering a theoretical capacity nearly ten times greater than conventional graphite anodes. However, its practical implementation faces a critical challenge: the material undergoes a ~300% volume expansion during lithiation/delithiation, which causes severe mechanical stress, electrode pulverization, and rapid capacity decay. In addressing these limitations, advanced polymer binders serve as essential components for preserving the structural integrity of Si-based anodes. Notably, self-healing polymeric binders have emerged as a groundbreaking solution, capable of autonomously repairing cycle-induced damage and significantly enhancing electrode durability. The evaluation of self-healing performance is generally based on mechanical characterization methods while morphological observations by scanning electron microscopy provide direct evidence of crack closure; for electrochemically active materials, electrochemical techniques including GCD, EIS, and CV are employed to monitor recovery of functionality. In this study, a novel self-healing copolymer (PHX-23) was synthesized for Si anodes using a combination of octadecyl acrylate (ODA), methacrylic acid (MA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA). The copolymer was thoroughly characterized using NMR, FTIR, TGA, SEM, and EDX to confirm its chemical structure, thermal stability, and morphology. Electrochemical evaluation revealed that the PHX-23 binder markedly improves cycling stability, sustaining a reversible capacity of 427 mAh g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles at 1C. During long-term cycling, the Coulombic efficiency of the PHX-23 polymer is 99.7%, and similar functional binders in the literature have shown similar results at lower C-rates. Comparative analysis with conventional binders (e.g., PVDF and CMC/SBR) demonstrated PHX-23’s exceptional performance, exhibiting higher capacity retention and improved rate capability. These results position PHX-23 as a transformative binder for silicon anodes in next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Polymers and Composites in Multifunctional Systems)

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