Functional and Conductive Polymer Thin Films I

Dear Colleagues,

The development of materials is the key factor for industrial growth and innovation. This leads to the enhancement of material functionalities that effectively promote profundity and expand upon the breadth of the original material applications. Material functionality methods include chemical modifications and compounds from physical blending. Functional polymers are polymers bearing functional groups that have a greater polarity or reactivity than simple linear backbones. Polymer functionalization aims at offering new properties to materials. These include separation membranes for fuel cells, electrodes in batteries, organic catalysis, medicine, optoelectronics, biomaterials, photographic materials, and fuel additives, amongst others. Conductive polymers are organic polymers that conduct electricity. Their electrical properties can be modulated through organic synthesis methods and by excellent dispersion techniques. It is worth mentioning that according to the scientific database, the total number of papers on conducting polymers up to 2019 is over 300,000. A review of the literature suggests that conducting polymers have shown promise in a wide range of applications, including in catalysts, photovoltaic cells, batteries, organic solar cells, batteries, transistor, printing electronic circuits, organic light-emitting diodes, actuators, electrochromism, supercapacitors, chemical sensors and biosensors, flexible transparent displays, electromagnetic shielding and microwave-absorbent coatings, and others. A thin film is a layer of material ranging from nanometer scale to several micrometers in thickness. Since the layers are thin relative to the length, interface effects are much more important than in bulk materials, bringing about novel physical properties. Study of the film properties and functions has become a major research field. The synthesis of polymers as thin films is a key step in numerous applications (e.g., protection, smart coatings to electronics, sensors and display technology, as well as serving biological and medical purposes).

This Special Issue aims to highlight the fundamental research and latest advancement in the synthesis, fabrication, characterization, properties, and foresights of functional and conductive polymer thin films, as well as their copolymers, composites, and nanocomposites.

Prof. Yen-Zen Wang
Guest Editor

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