Photo-Responsive Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

At the intersection of optical physics, dye and polymer chemistry and material and surface engineering lies the exciting area of photo-responsive polymers. The optical inspection/characterisation of materials and components and the application of polymers to manipulate light all have long and not unrelated histories.  The topics that this Special Issue addresses encompasses the study, modelling and design of photo-polymer processes, materials and their applications. While the individual research areas and disciplines associated with photo-sensitive polymers are well-established, interest in the area itself is increasing and it is fair to describe it as a “hot topic”. In part this is driven by the successful development of UV curable adhesives, photoalignment and photopatterning, photomechanical effects, the production of holographic element for electromagnetic and matter waves and the generation of novel biomedical devices. It arises due to the ongoing development of new materials, allowing novel applications to be found. In some cases, such materials are easily more used, e.g., processed/cured, while in others they may be biocompatible or reproduce physical or biological function.  Recent advances have also been driven by the need to find new ways to solve existing technological and scientific challenges. Such situations may require some particular combination of material performance characteristics, e.g., transparency, permeability, weight, compatibility, and/or low cost. The design and development of new photo-sensitive materials requires a fundamental understanding of the material properties required and the intended uses. The general aim of this review is to provide insights into the breadth of current research and developments in this area.

Prof. Dr. John T. Sheridan
Prof. Dr. Yanlei Yu
Guest Editors

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