Preparation and Application of Advanced Functional Membranes, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

It is claimed that membranes will bring many benefits to the fields of water and environmental remediation, energy production and storage, transport and space, industry, agriculture and foods, and health and biomedicine, as well as the automotive industry, fashion and textiles, architecture and cultural heritage. A high quality of life, healthcare, comfort, safety, protection, and security and defense can be ensured through the implementation of sophisticated membrane technologies. However, the successful application of membrane processes depends largely on the properties of single membranes. High selectivity–productivity trade-offs and a broader dynamic range of sophisticated mechanisms of separation, recognition, transcription, transmission, and recovery can have a strong impact during membrane processes. In recent years, the membrane concept has undergone a profound evolution, moving from traditional physical barriers to dynamic and interactive interfaces. Today, new membrane models are being conceived as multicompartment arrays, where the interplay of complementary functions and high-defined volumetric spaces can be achieved through complex and multifaceted combinations of materials that require the use of developed and sustainable practices based on green manufacturing.

This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between material science, process technology, and circular green transition rules through (a) the synthesis of new greener, natural, and biodegradable materials with unusual properties and outstanding performances; (b) the characterization and assessment of transport mechanisms; and (c) innovative and smart applications. Membrane digitization is a another challenge that we in the field currently face to make membrane technology a beneficial option in keeping with the modern landscape and methods.

This Special Issue aims to collate the recent advances in (i) ecofriendly practices for the fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite membranes, smart surfaces, and coatings; (ii) computational studies and simulations; (iii) new tools for membrane characterization; (iv) strategies to control wetting and fouling events, molecular solubility, affinity, and diffusion; (v) cooperative mechanisms for selective filtration, separation, and conversion; (vi) integrated manufacturing and digitization membrane technologies; and (vii) groundbreaking and singular applications in every field.

Research formats may include (but are not limited to) the following: original articles, reviews and mini-reviews, communications, comparative perspectives, and opinion pieces.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Annarosa Gugliuzza
Dr. Cristiana Boi
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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.