Surface Functionalization Processes for New Multifunctional Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The ability to control, modify and tune surface chemical and physical properties of materials is extremely important when specific functionalities are sought. For example, achieving biocompatibility of surfaces (polymers, inorganics) with interesting structural, mechanical features but not enabling the interaction with organic tissues is one of the most intriguing challenges for the realization of prostheses and probes. The functionalization of inorganic nanostructured materials is highly appealing for biosensing, drug delivery, bioimaging, theranostics, and is also a promising approach for water treatment and environmental bioremediation. Finally, organic monolayers can tune the electronic properties of metals and semiconductors for the realization of advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices.

The common goal is to modify the surface properties by adding specific chemical groups or nanostructures, typically a very thin film (from submonolayer to one or few layers), to achieve new features, towards a new class of advanced multifunctional materials for applications in sensing, electronics, and biomedicals.

Several approaches can be used to achieve these goals, having in mind that a stable bond between the surface and organic groups or nanoparticles must often be achieved to improve the stability and reliability of the new hybrid materials. Wet chemistry, which is probably the most used and versatile approach to functionalizing inorganic surfaces with organic molecules and also inorganic nanoparticles, the self-assembled monolayer created by Langmuir–Blodgett, electrodeposition, and organic deposition in a vacuum are all reliable methods for testing and defining new approaches.

This Special Issue will explore the most promising techniques and materials that focus on surface functionalization, to integrate different properties towards multifunctionality. A multidisciplinary approach is intrinsic in these research fields, starting from a base knowledge of materials to chemical/physical interactions at the interfaces, characterization tools to study such properties, and their reliability for the final application. Thus, all these points will be considered and discussed.

Dr. Roberto Verucchi
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.

• surface functionalization
• multifunctional materials
• organic molecules
• nanostructured materials
• biocompatibility
• sensing and biosensing