Polymer-Inorganic Hybrids and Their Applications 2014

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer-inorganic hybrid materials include a broad variety of systems. For instance, a polymer can act as a matrix for dispersed inorganic nanoparticles thus constituting what is known by the name of nanocomposites. A special case of nanocomposites comprises inorganic particles which are linked by covalent bonds with the polymer matrix. Also, materials with a tightly bound interconnected network of inorganic and organic species have been prepared. Besides other preparation methods, processes based on in situ particle synthesis including sol-gel processes have frequently been applied. Such methods can prevent agglomeration of inorganic species in the final products, which is often a problem when preformed nanoparticles and polymers are mixed, unless the particles are modified with an organic surface layer. Importantly, polymer-inorganic hybrids can exhibit materials properties which are more pronounced or even differ from those of comparable polymer composites with larger inorganic particles, such as optical properties (e.g., transparency and color, including dichroism), magnetic properties (superparamagnetism), mechanical properties, chemical properties (catalytic or sensory activity), and gas barrier properties. Thus, polymer-inorganic hybrid materials are considered to find application in various areas, for example in optics, catalysis, sensor technology, electronics, magnetism, mechanics, and food and beverage packaging.

Prof. Dr. Walter Remo Caseri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.