Polymer Thin Films and Membranes 2015

Dear Colleagues,

Synthetic membranes are used in such diverse applications as biomanufacturing, environmental restoration, gas separations, medicine, and water recovery and purification. In many cases, a thin, polymeric or mixed-matrix type discriminating layer or coating provides the membrane functionality needed for the application. The role of this polymer thin film or coating may be to perform a selective separation, to prevent fouling of a membrane surface, or even to detect a molecule as the recognition element of a membrane-based sensor. Our understanding and design of membrane systems therefore requires knowledge of the relationships among polymer thin film structure, chemistry, and membrane performance.

This Special Issue explores the fundamental principles and applications of polymer thin films in membrane science and engineering. The scope includes studies on polymer thin-film composite membrane formation; experimental and theoretical analyses of permeation, selectivity, and physicochemical processes, such as plasticization and aging in thin-film composite membranes; novel membrane coating strategies; application of polymer thin-film coatings for controlling membrane fouling; application of polymer thin-film coatings for the production of membrane adsorbers; and membrane processes and applications where the focus is on the role of a polymer thin-film layer or coating.

Prof. Dr. Scott M. Husson
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.