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Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites
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Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 4639

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jianhua Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Interests: design; functionalization and fabrication of polymers and polymer-based nanomaterials for various applications in biomedical fields and petroleum industry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer nanocomposite materials are a type of composite material that physically or covalently incorporate nanosized particles or nanostructures into a matrix of cross-linked polymer networks, which have been developed as a popular means for the creation of novel materials with diverse functionality. Flexible macromolecular chains and rigid nanofillers can be considered as mortar and bricks. Flexible macromolecular chains as mortar can connect, host, and integrate the bricks to maintain structural integrity. Moreover, the introduced rigid nanofillers as bricks render new functionalities to the final polymer composites. The incorporation of nanomaterials into polymer matrices has been demonstrated to be able to render new functionalities to composites and produce superior physicochemical properties absent in individual components, offering an efficient route to enhance the physicochemical properties and thus expand the application scopes of both polymer materials and nanomaterials. This Special Issue will provide an overview of the most recent advances in the field of polymer nanocomposites for various applications. Selected contributions on advances in the design, preparation, functionalization, and applications of polymer nanocomposites will be presented. Contributions to this Special Issue in the form of original research or review articles are welcome. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Polymer nanocomposites;
  2. Multifunctional polymer materials;
  3. Nanoscale fillers;
  4. Nanofibers and nanotubes;
  5. Nanocomposite hydrogels;
  6. Polymer–nanofiller interface interactions;
  7. Thermal stability and flame retardancy;
  8. Electrical conductivity;
  9. The characterization of polymer nanocomposites;
  10. Polymer nanocomposites for diagnosis, treatment, and sensors;
  11. Polymer nanocomposites for wearable devices;
  12. Polymer nanocomposites for oil and gas exploitation.

Dr. Jianhua Zhang
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

  • polymer nanocomposites
  • nanofiller
  • manufacturing processes
  • characterization
  • mechanical properties
  • physicochemical properties

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4709 KB  
Article
Preparation of Particle-Reinforced Resin Using Highly Functional ZnO Particle Filler Driven by Supramolecular Interactions
by Haruka Nakagawa and Kohei Iritani
Materials 2025, 18(13), 2986; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18132986 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 620
Abstract
The surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) with organic compounds has been shown to improve their dispersibility. In this study, to develop a highly functional material, ZnONP modified with 6-amino-1-hexanol bearing both amino and hydroxyl functional groups was synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy–energy [...] Read more.
The surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) with organic compounds has been shown to improve their dispersibility. In this study, to develop a highly functional material, ZnONP modified with 6-amino-1-hexanol bearing both amino and hydroxyl functional groups was synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed that functionalized ZnONP was successfully obtained by a hydrothermal synthetic method. The mechanical properties of composite films of polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with the functionalized ZnONP were then evaluated. The composite containing functionalized ZnONP exhibited a higher maximum stress than that containing unmodified ZnONP. These ZnONP/polymer composites therefore show promise as novel high-performance materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites)
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15 pages, 2332 KB  
Article
Preparation and Properties of Calcium Peroxide/Poly(ethylene glycol)@Silica Nanoparticles with Controlled Oxygen-Generating Behaviors
by Xiaoling Xie, Xin Sun, Wanming Lin, Xiaofeng Yang and Ruicong Wang
Materials 2025, 18(11), 2568; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18112568 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 1156
Abstract
The hypoxic microenvironment is the main challenge for the repair of damaged tissue, and oxygen supply is an effective means of alleviating hypoxia. In this study, a series of core–shell-structured calcium peroxide/poly(ethylene glycol)@silica (CPO@SiO2) nanoparticles are prepared to generate oxygen steadily. [...] Read more.
The hypoxic microenvironment is the main challenge for the repair of damaged tissue, and oxygen supply is an effective means of alleviating hypoxia. In this study, a series of core–shell-structured calcium peroxide/poly(ethylene glycol)@silica (CPO@SiO2) nanoparticles are prepared to generate oxygen steadily. The size of the CPO@SiO2 nanoparticles ranges from 205 to 302 nm, with a narrow polydispersity index (PDI). In this system, the nano CPO core acts as the oxygen source to improve hypoxia, while the SiO2 shell layer serves as the physical barrier to control the oxygen-generating rate and improve biocompatibility. The results suggest that the thickness of the SiO2 shell layer can be modulated by adjusting the amount of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The prepared CPO@SiO2 nanoparticles show a controlled oxygen-generating rate. Moreover, compared with CPO, the CPO@SiO2 nanoparticles have good biocompatibility. To assess the modulating effects for the hypoxic microenvironment, L929 cells are co-cultured with CPO@ SiO2 nanoparticles under hypoxia. The results suggest that the CPO@ SiO2 nanoparticles can support the cell survival under hypoxia. Moreover, they can effectively decrease oxidative stress damage and reduce the levels of expression of hypoxia-induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Therefore, the prepared CPO@ SiO2 nanoparticles with controlled oxygen-generating properties could be a promising candidate for repairing damaged tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites)
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11 pages, 2840 KB  
Article
Synthesis of N-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots from Cellulose and Construction of a Fluorescent Probe for 6-Mercaptopurin Quantitative Detection
by Qiang Xu, Jiayi Dong, Guiqin Yan, Rongnan Yi and Xiaojing Yang
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235852 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1018
Abstract
With cellulose as the precursor and ethylenediamine as the N source, N-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were synthesized by a simple and feasible one-pot hydrothermal method. The whole process did noSchemet need a strong acid or strong base and avoided interference from inorganic [...] Read more.
With cellulose as the precursor and ethylenediamine as the N source, N-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were synthesized by a simple and feasible one-pot hydrothermal method. The whole process did noSchemet need a strong acid or strong base and avoided interference from inorganic salt residues. The whole process lasted only 3 h and avoided any complex postprocessing. Because of the outstanding optical properties of N-GQDs, a high-efficiency 6-mercaptopurine fluorescent probe based on the inner filter effect of fluorescence was established. The detection range was 0.2–60 μM and the detection limit was 0.05 μM. This method can preliminarily detect 6-mercaptopurine in human urine and avoids any sample preparation or extraction in advance and brings satisfactory results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites)
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Review

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40 pages, 3997 KB  
Review
Advances in Polymer Nanocomposites for Drilling Fluids: A Review
by Shahbaz Wakeel, Ammara Aslam and Jianhua Zhang
Materials 2025, 18(20), 4809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18204809 - 21 Oct 2025
Abstract
Hydrocarbon exploration and extraction increasingly rely on drilling fluids that guarantee operating safety and efficiency, particularly in ultra-deep, high-temperature, and unconventional reservoirs. Traditional drilling fluids, especially for water-based muds (WBMs), have several problems, including excessive fluid loss, severe swelling in shale and instability [...] Read more.
Hydrocarbon exploration and extraction increasingly rely on drilling fluids that guarantee operating safety and efficiency, particularly in ultra-deep, high-temperature, and unconventional reservoirs. Traditional drilling fluids, especially for water-based muds (WBMs), have several problems, including excessive fluid loss, severe swelling in shale and instability in high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are new types of drilling fluid additives that combine the vast surface area and reactivity of nanoparticles (NPs) with the structural flexibility and stability of polymers. This combination enhances rheology, reduces filtrate loss, and, most importantly, creates hydrophobic and pore-blocking barriers that prevent shale from swelling. This review highlights important improvements in drilling fluids with PNCs regarding exceptional rheological properties, low fluid loss, and improved suppression of the shale swelling. The particular focus was placed on the specific mechanisms and role that PNCs play in enhancing shale stability, as well as their responsibilities in improving rheology, heat resistance, and salt tolerance. Current advancements, persistent hurdles, and prospective prospects are rigorously evaluated to emphasize the scientific and industrial trajectories for the development of next-generation, high-performance drilling fluids. Moreover, the current challenges and future opportunities of PNCs in drilling fluids are discussed to motivate future contributions and explore new possibilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites)
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24 pages, 3669 KB  
Review
Advances in Polypyrrole Nanofiber Composites: Design, Synthesis, and Performance in Tissue Engineering
by Lu Hao, Demei Yu, Xinyu Hou and Yixuan Zhao
Materials 2025, 18(13), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18132965 - 23 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 994
Abstract
This review is different from previous studies focusing on polypyrrole (PPy) in universal fields such as sensors and supercapacitors. It is the first TO systematically review the specific applications of PPy-based electrospun nanofiber composites in the biomedical field, focusing on its biocompatibility regulation [...] Read more.
This review is different from previous studies focusing on polypyrrole (PPy) in universal fields such as sensors and supercapacitors. It is the first TO systematically review the specific applications of PPy-based electrospun nanofiber composites in the biomedical field, focusing on its biocompatibility regulation mechanism and tissue repair function. Although PPy exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, redox activity, and biocompatibility, its clinical translation is hindered by processing challenges and poor degradability. These limitations can be significantly mitigated through composite strategies with degradable nanomaterials, enhancing both process compatibility and biofunctionality. Leveraging the morphological similarity between electrospun nanofibers and the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), this work comprehensively analyzes the topological characteristics of three composite fiber architectures—randomly distributed, aligned, and core–shell structures—and elucidates their application mechanisms in nerve regeneration, skin repair, bone mineralization, and myocardial tissue reconstruction (e.g., facilitating oriented cell migration and regulating differentiation through specific signaling pathway activation). The study further highlights critical challenges in the field, including PPy’s poor solubility, limited spinnability, insufficient mechanical strength, and scalability limitations. Future efforts should prioritize the development of multifunctional gradient composites, intelligent dynamic-responsive scaffolds, and standardized biosafety evaluation systems to accelerate the substantive translation of these materials into clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characteristics and Applications of Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites)
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