Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The development of polymer composites can be traced back to the 20^th century. However, at that time, research on these polymer composites was mainly focused on strength and low weight as the main themes. In the coming decades, with an advancement in technology related to material science and engineering, the emergence of new materials was reported. During this time, the continued emergence of new materials and deeper understanding of new materials as fillers like those at micro- and nano-levels are established. Then, the foundation of the emergence of next-generation multifunctional applications came into existence at the beginning of the 21^st century. The key materials of interest were carbon-based materials like carbon nanotubes, and graphene-based polymer composites dominated the literature research for almost two decades of the 21^st century. Then, the emergence of the MXene family makes the path of functionalities like strain sensors and wearable technologies more appealing. Finally, among the various polymer composites, the elastomer family has been extensively explored for these applications. It is due to their ability to stretch, be light in weight, easy to process, cheap, naturally available, and wearable. These elastomers are mixed with electrically conducting materials to make them flexible and intelligently usable for both academic and industrial research.

Keeping these aspects in mind, this Special Issue will focus on the development of polymer composites, mainly from the elastomer family. These composites needed to be reinforced with new-generation nanofillers that can make them electrically conducting, mechanically tough, and stretchable. Moreover, further advancements in the literature and industries need further attention to develop the next frontiers for multifunctional applications from these polymer composites. So key aspects of this Special Issue include the following:

• Next frontiers for multifunctional applications like strain sensors, wearable electronic technologies, self-healing mechanisms, stimuli-responsive behaviors, and biological toxicity.
• New types of sensors like sensing aquatic life, real-time monitoring sensors like health monitoring, physical activity sensors, humidity sensors, breathing as respiratory sensors, organic gas sensors, and finally smart textile sensors and plant-pulse monitoring sensors.
• Self-powered wearable energy generators like piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms.
• Theoretical modeling and simulations based on their multiscale and multifunctional aspects.
• New frontiers for polymer composites, such as elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermosets, and new fabrication processes like 3D and 4D printing.

Dr. Md Najib Alam
Dr. Vineet Kumar
Guest Editors

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• strain sensors
• polymer composites
• energy harvesting
• carbon nanomaterials