Dear Colleagues,

The ability of responding to different kinds of signals in a non linear way is one of the key features of life. One promising approach to mimic this behavior is the use of stimuli-responsive (synthetic) polymers. Stimuli-responsive polymers are able to undergo significant property changes as a reply to relatively small external or internal variations of the environmental conditions (stimuli). Therefore these polymers are also named ‘stimuli-sensitive’, ‘smart’, ‘intelligent’ or ‘environmentally sensitive’. The response of the material can have miscellaneous forms: a change in shape and dimension of the polymer material, altering its mechanical, optical or electrical properties as well as changes in permeability can be observed. Smart polymers in solution can also show a macroscopic phase separation as response to a stimulus to form different kinds of aggregates. The architecture of smart polymer systems covers not only different polymer geometries but also several orders of magnitude in size: starting with a single macromolecule in solution, proceeding with self-assembled polymer systems (micelles, vesicles) as well as cross-linked systems including capsules and polymer gels. Modification of surfaces with smart polymers results in materials whose surface properties can be changed by external stimuli. Both the ability to respond to various stimuli and the numerous possible architectures are prerequisites for tailor-made polymeric materials for a broad range of applications.

This issue is supposed to give an extended insight into the fast emerging field of stimuli responsive polymer systems including fundamental basics as well as synthesis and applications of smart polymeric materials.

Prof. Dr. Dirk Kuckling
Guest Editor

• stimuli-responsive
• smart polymers
• hydrogel
• phase transition behavior
• switchable materials