Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of advanced functional materials and engineered interfaces is playing a transformative role in addressing global challenges in clean energy, environmental protection, and sustainable industrial technologies. The development of advanced functional materials and engineered interfaces is playing a transformative role in driving sustainable technology innovation and addressing pressing global challenges. This multidisciplinary Topic aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the design, fabrication, and application of functional materials, including nanomaterials, polymers, gels, colloidal systems, and hybrid composites, all tailored to enable high-performance and sustainable solutions.

We particularly welcome studies focusing on the fundamental understanding and practical applications of interfacial phenomena, material–structure interactions, and strategies for performance enhancement. Topics of interest can include, but are not limited to, atomically engineered nanomaterials and nanozymes for electrocatalysis and CO₂ conversion; stimuli-responsive gels and polymers for intelligent control in energy systems or drilling operations; functional membranes and carbon-based hybrid composites for wastewater treatment, oil–water separation, and corrosion resistance; and colloidal systems and heterostructures, including CNT-based nanohybrids, for photocatalysis, phase change, heat transfer, and environmental sensing. Submissions exploring scalable fabrication methods, material behavior under extreme or field-relevant conditions, or synergistic effects at engineered interfaces are particularly encouraged.

This Topic seeks to bridge fundamental materials science with application-driven sustainable technologies, offering new insights into materials innovation that supports clean energy, green chemistry, and environmentally responsible industrial development. Contributions combining theoretical modeling, advanced characterization, and experimental validation under realistic conditions are most welcome.

Prof. Dr. Yang Bai
Dr. Gang Xie
Dr. Jingjie Ge
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Colloids and Interfaces colloids	3.8	5.8	2017	20.4 Days	CHF 1700	Submit
Gels gels	6.4	10.3	2015	13 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Materials materials	3.7	7.0	2008	14.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.8	10.3	2010	12.5 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Polymers polymers	5.8	11.0	2009	13.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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All Colloids and Interfaces Gels Materials Nanomaterials Polymers

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31 pages, 13810 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of a Lost-Circulation-Control Gel for Fractured Formations

by Yundong Zheng, Xiaojiang Qiu, Zhaocai Yu, Fan Xiao, Tianan Deng, Peng Xu, Lei Pu and Jingwei Liu

Gels 2026, 12(8), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12080702 - 5 Aug 2026

Viewed by 272

Abstract

To address the dual challenges of severe lost circulation and wellbore instability in fractured formations, an acrylamide-based lost-circulation-control gel (DF-PG) was synthesized via aqueous-solution free radical polymerization using acrylamide (AM) and sodium acrylate (SA) as monomers, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker, and ammonium [...] Read more.

To address the dual challenges of severe lost circulation and wellbore instability in fractured formations, an acrylamide-based lost-circulation-control gel (DF-PG) was synthesized via aqueous-solution free radical polymerization using acrylamide (AM) and sodium acrylate (SA) as monomers, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker, and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. The optimal formulation was determined as 6.8% AM, 1.7% SA (mass ratio 4:1), 0.09% MBA, and 0.18% APS, reacted at 60 °C for 4 h. The gel achieves a 276% equilibrium swelling ratio in 20,000 mg/L simulated-formation water, with a compressive strength of 1.2 MPa and temperature resistance up to 120 °C. For fractured cores with 0.5–2.0 mm fracture widths, its sealing efficiency exceeds 95% with breakthrough pressure above 1.2 MPa, and the sealing-efficiency-retention rate remains over 85% after 72 h of scouring. DF-PG realizes the integrated functions of lost circulation control and wellbore stabilization through an “infiltration-swelling-filling“ mechanism, providing a novel technical solution for drilling operations in fractured formations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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13 pages, 2341 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Hysteresis-Induced Performance Variations and Interfacial Charge Trapping Characteristics in Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film Transistors

by Mingyu Liu, Bo Lai, Hannian Wang, Lele Wu, Wendi Wu, Kai Xu and Yuanchun Zhao

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(14), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16140847 - 10 Jul 2026

Viewed by 542

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks are promising candidate channel materials for thin-film transistors (TFTs). However, the charge trapping characteristics underlying the gate hysteresis effect still remain unclear. Herein, high-performance CNT TFTs with good consistencies were fabricated to investigate the hysteresis-induced performance variations and the [...] Read more.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks are promising candidate channel materials for thin-film transistors (TFTs). However, the charge trapping characteristics underlying the gate hysteresis effect still remain unclear. Herein, high-performance CNT TFTs with good consistencies were fabricated to investigate the hysteresis-induced performance variations and the dynamic charge trapping/releasing behaviors at different gate biases. Both the subthreshold and suprathreshold characteristics of the TFTs are remarkably changed under different gate sweeping directions. The origin of gate hysteresis was illustrated by comparing the effects of gas desorption and selective re-adsorption, and the adsorbed O₂ and H₂O make different contributions related to specific charge trapping characteristics. We further demonstrate that the dynamic charge trapping/releasing processes are governed by the applied gate biases, revealing the equivalency between the positive charge trapping and negative charge releasing processes, and vice versa. The time-dependent degradation of the on-state current has been fitted to perform a statistical analysis based on the measurement results of eight devices. Three characteristic time constants have been determined, corresponding to a multi-step trapping process that may be dominated by dielectric surface trapping and trap-assisted tunneling into the bulk defects in the dielectric layer near the CNTs and those in depth, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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16 pages, 11770 KB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Coating Based on Facile Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate: Enhanced Corrosion Protection for Brass Metal

by Songqiang Huang, Shicai Lu, Yuanyuan Chen, Rongchao Wang, Wancai Zhong, Peng Qi and Peng Wang

Colloids Interfaces 2026, 10(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids10040051 - 7 Jul 2026

Viewed by 534

Abstract

Bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) have been proven to afford high corrosion inhibition to the underlying metal. Targeting brass metal, this paper presents a biomimetic mineralization route for obtaining SHS. Calcium carbonate is first synthesized in an ethanol solution containing an organic curing agent [...] Read more.

Bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) have been proven to afford high corrosion inhibition to the underlying metal. Targeting brass metal, this paper presents a biomimetic mineralization route for obtaining SHS. Calcium carbonate is first synthesized in an ethanol solution containing an organic curing agent through CO₂ gas introduction, resulting in colloidal material. Subsequent modification with stearic acid yields the SHS. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments reveal that the biomimetic calcium carbonate cluster coating significantly improves the corrosion inhibition performance. After the coverage of the CaCO₃ SHS, the low-frequency impedance modulus value increases to 4.6 × 10⁵ Ω cm², which is enhanced compared with the bare brass with 3.2 × 10³ Ω cm². Meanwhile, the corrosion current density value decreases substantially from 2.31 × 10⁻⁶ mA/cm² for bare metal to 1.30 × 10⁻⁸ mA/cm² for the SHS surface. This demonstrates its high anti-corrosion properties. Acid-base corrosion tests further confirm the good resistance of the coating to an alkaline environment. Moreover, the coating exhibits anti-freezing adhesion and self-cleaning properties, surpassing the bare brass. The combined characteristics of the biomimetic calcium carbonate SHS coating highlight the promising potential in corrosion protection applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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10 pages, 2714 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Underwater Superoleophobic Carbon Paper/Pt Composite Electrodes for Improving Kolbe Electrochemical Production

by Jielin Liu, Qiang Li, Lingxin Wang, Jinlong Zha, Lu Gao, Siyu Sheng, Wanmei Liu, Yuzhen Ning, Zhihong Zhao, Kesong Liu and Lei Jiang

Colloids Interfaces 2026, 10(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids10020027 - 23 Mar 2026

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Abstract

The acquisition of liquid energy sources and basic chemicals from washing water via Kolbe electrolysis is of great significance for achieving the goal of carbon-neutrality. However, oleophilic products tend to adhere to the platinum (Pt) electrode, which results in a shortened working life [...] Read more.

The acquisition of liquid energy sources and basic chemicals from washing water via Kolbe electrolysis is of great significance for achieving the goal of carbon-neutrality. However, oleophilic products tend to adhere to the platinum (Pt) electrode, which results in a shortened working life for Kolbe electrolysis. To address these issues, a novel method for endowing carbon fiber paper electrodes with underwater superoleophobic properties through simple electrodeposition is reported herein. The underwater superoleophobic electrodes improve the efficiency of the Kolbe electrolysis reaction, as oleophilic products can be easily removed from the electrode surface, thereby exposing more active reaction sites. Importantly, the underwater superoleophobic electrodes have fully demonstrated their capability of excellent electrochemical performance, stability, and durability. This work provides a novel approach for the design of high-performance electrodes in organic electro-catalysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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12 pages, 56461 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of CoMoP/BiVO₄ Composite Photoanodes and Investigation of Their Photoelectrochemical Properties

by Ke Zhu, Bingjie Meng, Ziying Ren, Xing Tian and Yonglei Xing

Colloids Interfaces 2026, 10(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids10010017 - 6 Feb 2026

Viewed by 847

Abstract

Herein, a cobalt–molybdenum bimetallic oxide precursor was synthesized via a hydrothermal route, followed by a phosphidation strategy in a tube furnace to produce a CoMoP cocatalyst. Subsequently, a CoMoP/BiVO₄ composite photoanode was successfully constructed by loading the CoMoP cocatalyst onto the surface [...] Read more.

Herein, a cobalt–molybdenum bimetallic oxide precursor was synthesized via a hydrothermal route, followed by a phosphidation strategy in a tube furnace to produce a CoMoP cocatalyst. Subsequently, a CoMoP/BiVO₄ composite photoanode was successfully constructed by loading the CoMoP cocatalyst onto the surface of an electrodeposited BiVO₄ film using a drop-casting method. A suite of analytical tools such as TEM, XRD, and XPS was utilized to comprehensively examine the material morphology and crystalline features, verifying that CoMoP was effectively anchored on the BiVO₄ surface with intimate interfacial contact. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance testing indicated that the composite photoanode achieved optimal performance with a 200 µL loading of the CoMoP dispersion (2 mg/mL). Under front-side illumination, the photocurrent density of the CoMoP/BiVO₄ composite photoelectrode reached a photocurrent density of 2.8 mA/cm² at 1.23 V (vs. RHE), which is approximately 3.1 times higher than that of unmodified BiVO₄ (0.9 mA/cm²). Under back-side illumination, the composite photoanode generated 3.5 mA/cm², representing a 2.3-fold improvement over the 1.5 mA/cm² recorded for bare BiVO₄. The bandgap energy of BiVO₄ was determined to be approximately 2.44 eV based on UV–vis absorption spectra and the corresponding Tauc plot. Owing to its metallic nature, CoMoP exhibits strong broadband absorption in the visible-light region and does not display an intrinsic semiconductor bandgap behavior. Combined with photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and PEC results, it was demonstrated that the CoMoP loading effectively promoted interfacial charge separation and transport while accelerating water oxidation kinetics. These results demonstrate that the CoMoP/BiVO₄ system serves as an advanced semiconductor material with excellent performance for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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17 pages, 3786 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Gel-Based Drilling FIuids for Oil Sands Recovery Using Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots as AsphaItene Dispersants

by Weichao Du, Xueqi Feng, Yi Zhang, Wei Wang, Wenjun Shan, Le Xue and Gang Chen

Gels 2025, 11(12), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11120942 - 24 Nov 2025

Viewed by 850

Abstract

Oil sands drilling frequently contaminates water-based xanthan gels with highly viscous asphaltenes, collapsing their three-dimensional network and causing barite sag, high fluid loss and poor cuttings transport. Nitrogen-functionalized carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were hydrothermally synthesised from citric acid and 1-hexadecylamine and characterised by [...] Read more.

Oil sands drilling frequently contaminates water-based xanthan gels with highly viscous asphaltenes, collapsing their three-dimensional network and causing barite sag, high fluid loss and poor cuttings transport. Nitrogen-functionalized carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were hydrothermally synthesised from citric acid and 1-hexadecylamine and characterised by means of FT-IR, TEM and TGA. The concentration-dependent influence of N-CQDs (0–1.2 wt%) on gel viscoelasticity, microstructure and filtration properties was evaluated through rheometry, API and fluid-loss tests. At 0.01 wt% N-CQDs, the viscosity of the adsorbed oil phase dropped by 50% and the mean droplet diameter decreased from 247.7 µm to <100 µm. Consequently, the xanthan gel exhibited a significant enhancement in its mechanical strength and fluid loss performance. Wax-crystal growth was simultaneously inhibited, lowering the pour point by 6 °C. N-CQDs act as nanospacers that disrupt π-stacking of asphaltenes and hydrogen-bond to the polymer backbone, thereby restoring gel strength and sealing capacity. The work provides a sustainable, low-toxicity route to rejuvenate gel-based drilling fluids contaminated by heavy oil and facilitates their reuse in oil sands reservoirs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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23 pages, 5682 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Design and Evaluation of a Thermally Stable and Salt-Resistant Amphoteric Surfactant-Based Fracturing Fluid for High-Performance Hydraulic Stimulation

by Baoge Cao, Linlin Li and Fanchen Ma

Polymers 2025, 17(20), 2741; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17202741 - 14 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1255

Abstract

As oil and gas exploration advances, the development of deep, low-permeability, high-temperature, and high-salinity reservoirs poses increasing challenges. To address this, a novel amphoteric surfactant (TASS) was synthesized via free radical polymerization, and a high-performance water-based fracturing fluid system was developed. The system [...] Read more.

As oil and gas exploration advances, the development of deep, low-permeability, high-temperature, and high-salinity reservoirs poses increasing challenges. To address this, a novel amphoteric surfactant (TASS) was synthesized via free radical polymerization, and a high-performance water-based fracturing fluid system was developed. The system exhibited excellent thermal and salt resistance, with viscosity decreasing by less than 3.3% after 72 h at 150 °C and 20 wt% NaCl. It demonstrated clear shear-thinning behavior and strong elasticity. Interfacial activity tests showed that increasing NaCl concentrations reduced interfacial tension from 28.5 to 24.3 mN/m, while the contact angle on sandstone surfaces decreased significantly, indicating enhanced wettability and oil flow. Field applications further confirmed its effectiveness, with oil and gas production increasing by 81% and 133%, respectively, and a payback period of around 10 days. These results highlight the TASS fracturing fluid as a promising solution for stimulation in complex reservoirs. Unlike conventional betaine-type VES, the silane-grafted amphoteric design of TASS ensures viscosity retention at 220 °C and 25 wt% salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Materials and Interfaces for Sustainable Technology Development)

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