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Nanostructured Polymeric Materials: Fabrication, Self-Assembly, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2016) | Viewed by 19769

Special Issue Editor

Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CIQUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, c. Jenaro de la Fuente s/n—Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: block copolymers; nanomaterials; functional materials; soft lithography; material science for cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is evident that nanotechnology is a field of increasing importance in both academic and applicative research, and it is even clearer that “Nanostructured Polymeric Materials” represents a hot topic in current materials science, chemistry and nanotechnology fields. Such materials combine the traditional ease of synthesis and processing, strict control of functionality and architecture of polymers with the possibility of introducing a nanostructuration, either intrinsic (as in the case of block copolymers by self-assembly) or extrinsic, via the addition of nanofillers, or by further processing (e.g. lithographic processes).

Although polymeric nanocomposites are not excluded a priori, the attention of this Special Issue is focused on nanostructured polymeric materials with some degree of order, from intrinsically nanostructured block copolymers to porous polymeric materials prepared by different techniques, through nanomaterials prepared by templating, or polymer nanocomposites based on ordered metal or metal-oxide nanoparticles, etc.

 This Special Issue has the objective to give both an idea to the average readers and fellows on the range of different methods which may be used to produce “Nanostructured Polymeric Materials” and, at the same time, a deeper view to the specialists on the most recent developments in such a wide research field.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit original papers, full reviews (with either an academic or didactic vision), mini-reviews, field views and communications on (but not limited to) the following different aspects of polymeric nanostructured materials:

  •  synthesis of nanostructured materials
  • self-assembling materials
  • block copolymers
  • polymeric nanocomposites
  • nanofabrication
  • templating and templated techniques
  • nanolithography, soft lithography, imprint lithography, etc.
  • properties at the nanoscale
  • ordering, orientation, etc.
  • characterization techniques
  • microemulsion polymerization, etc.
  • applications
  • future perspectives
  • patents and commercial uses

In case of doubt as to whether your chosen subject is suitable, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to receiving your submissions and our future collaboration.

Prof. Dr. Massimo Lazzari
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Materials 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • self-assembly
  • nanomaterials
  • block copolymers
  • nanofabrication
  • nanolithography
  • polymeric nanocomposites

Published Papers (4 papers)

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9379 KiB  
Article
Preparation, Characterization and Thermo-Chromic Properties of EVA/VO2 Laminate Films for Smart Window Applications and Energy Efficiency in Building
by Onruthai Srirodpai, Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan, Saiwan Nawalertpanya, Kitti Yuwawech and Vissanu Meeyoo
Materials 2017, 10(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10010053 - 11 Jan 2017
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5848
Abstract
Thermochromic films based on vanadium dioxide (VO2)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) composite were developed. The monoclinic VO2 particles was firstly prepared via hydrothermal and calcination processes. The effects of hydrothermal time and tungsten doping agent on crystal structure and morphology [...] Read more.
Thermochromic films based on vanadium dioxide (VO2)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) composite were developed. The monoclinic VO2 particles was firstly prepared via hydrothermal and calcination processes. The effects of hydrothermal time and tungsten doping agent on crystal structure and morphology of the calcined metal oxides were reported. After that, 1 wt % of the prepared VO2 powder was mixed with EVA compound, using two different mixing processes. It was found that mechanical properties of the EVA/VO2 films prepared by the melt process were superior to those of which prepared by the solution process. On the other hand, percentage visible light transmittance of the solution casted EVA/VO2 film was greater than that of the melt processed composite film. This was related to the different gel content of EVA rubber and state of dispersion and distribution of VO2 within the polymer matrix phase. Thermochromic behaviors and heat reflectance of the EVA/VO2 film were also verified. In overall, this study demonstrated that it was possible to develop a thermochromic film using the polymer composite approach. In this regard, the mixing condition was found to be one of the most important factors affecting morphology and thermo-mechanical properties of the films. Full article
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33743 KiB  
Article
Processes of Fatigue Destruction in Nanopolymer-Hydrophobised Ceramic Bricks
by Stanisław Fic, Andrzej Szewczak, Danuta Barnat-Hunek and Grzegorz Łagód
Materials 2017, 10(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10010044 - 06 Jan 2017
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4424
Abstract
The article presents a proposal of a model of fatigue destruction of hydrophobised ceramic brick, i.e., a basic masonry material. The brick surface was hydrophobised with two inorganic polymers: a nanopolymer preparation based on dialkyl siloxanes (series 1–5) and an aqueous silicon solution [...] Read more.
The article presents a proposal of a model of fatigue destruction of hydrophobised ceramic brick, i.e., a basic masonry material. The brick surface was hydrophobised with two inorganic polymers: a nanopolymer preparation based on dialkyl siloxanes (series 1–5) and an aqueous silicon solution (series 6–10). Nanosilica was added to the polymers to enhance the stability of the film formed on the brick surface. To achieve an appropriate blend of the polymer liquid phase and the nano silica solid phase, the mixture was disintegrated by sonication. The effect of the addition of nano silica and sonication on changes in the rheological parameters, i.e., viscosity and surface tension, was determined. Material fatigue was induced by cyclic immersion of the samples in water and drying at a temperature of 100 °C, which caused rapid and relatively dynamic movement of water. The moisture and temperature effect was determined by measurement of changes in surface hardness performed with the Vickers method and assessment of sample absorbability. The results provided an approximate picture of fatigue destruction of brick and hydrophobic coatings in relation to changes in their temporal stability. Additionally, SEM images of hydrophobic coatings in are shown. Full article
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3631 KiB  
Article
Photoresponsive Polymeric Reversible Nanoparticles via Self-Assembly of Reactive ABA Triblock Copolymers and Their Transformation to Permanent Nanostructures
by Liang Ding, Juan Li, Ruiyu Jiang and Wei Song
Materials 2016, 9(12), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9120980 - 02 Dec 2016
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4543
Abstract
Azobenzene-functionalized ABA triblock copolymers with controlled molecular weights are prepared first via a sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerization and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization in one-pot, which are readily converted, by a facile esterification, to the modified ABA triblock copolymers. Then, these reactive triblock copolymers [...] Read more.
Azobenzene-functionalized ABA triblock copolymers with controlled molecular weights are prepared first via a sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerization and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization in one-pot, which are readily converted, by a facile esterification, to the modified ABA triblock copolymers. Then, these reactive triblock copolymers can spontaneously self-assemble in a selective solvent to form reproducible and reversible polymeric core-shell nanoparticles. Finally, the stable and permanent shell-crosslinked nanoparticles are obtained by an intramolecular crosslinking reaction in dilute solution under UV light irradiation. These as-prepared polymeric nanoparticles and their precursor incorporating azobenzene chromophores exhibit distinct photoresponsive performance and morphological variation. Full article
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2090 KiB  
Article
Directed Self-Assembly on Photo-Crosslinked Polystyrene Sub-Layers: Nanopattern Uniformity and Orientation
by Haeng-Deog Koh and Mi-Jeong Kim
Materials 2016, 9(8), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9080648 - 01 Aug 2016
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4344
Abstract
A photo-crosslinked polystyrene (PS) thin film is investigated as a potential guiding sub-layer for polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) block copolymer (BCP) cylindrical nanopattern formation via topographic directed self-assembly (DSA). When compared to a non-crosslinked PS brush sub-layer, the photo-crosslinked PS sub-layer provided longer correlation [...] Read more.
A photo-crosslinked polystyrene (PS) thin film is investigated as a potential guiding sub-layer for polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) block copolymer (BCP) cylindrical nanopattern formation via topographic directed self-assembly (DSA). When compared to a non-crosslinked PS brush sub-layer, the photo-crosslinked PS sub-layer provided longer correlation lengths of the BCP nanostructure, resulting in a highly uniform DSA nanopattern with a low number of BCP dislocation defects. Depending on the thickness of the sub-layer used, parallel or orthogonal orientations of DSA nanopattern arrays were obtained that covered the entire surface of patterned Si substrates, including both trench and mesa regions. The design of DSA sub-layers and guide patterns, such as hardening the sub-layer by photo-crosslinking, nano-structuring on mesas, the relation between trench/mesa width, and BCP equilibrium period, were explored with a view to developing defect-reduced DSA lithography technology. Full article
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