Polymer Degradability Remediation at the Nanoscale: Characterization and Pollution

Dear Colleagues,

Pollution caused by plastics is generating enormous problems for the environment and, hence, for society. Their long decomposing periods produce a macroscopic accumulation of waste both on land and in the sea. However, they are routinely used for packaging, protectors, substrates, etc. Finding ways to overcome this emerging issue requires multidisciplinary research, including strategies to degrade the existing litter and studies seeking alternatives to the creation of new required plastics. Current alternatives are promising, but they do not yet reach all of the requirements for many applications. In order to study the polymer tensile strength or analyze the damage triggered by a certain factor, nanotechnology may play an important role in exploring potential solutions and understanding the origin of some polymeric properties.

With the purpose of offering a common platform in this multidisciplinary field, this Special Issue is dedicated to recent nanotechnological advances obtained to enhance sustainability by reducing polymer pollution. Studies presenting nanoscopic characterizations of studies revealing natural alternatives to current polymers with long degradation times, procedures to degrade existing polymers, and new nanotechnological techniques focused on any of these goals are very welcome to contribute to this Special Issue.

This Special Issue covers (but is not limited to) the following research areas: 

-Polymer films’ nanoscopic characterization.

-Nanoscopic techniques for plastic degradation.

-Nanocomposites.

-Biofilms’ surface nanoscale topography.

-Nanopatterning/superhydrophobicity.

-Ellipsometry to measure plastic degradation.

-Nanodevices to enhance plastic degradability.

I look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Santiago Casado
Guest Editor

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• nanoscopic characterization
• plastic degradation
• polymer films
• biopolymers
• nanocomposites