Polymeric Micro-Hybrid Materials

Janus nanoparticles inside polymeric materials: interfacial arrangement toward functional hybrid materials

Control of the location and spatial organization of nanoparticles (NPs) inside polymers is essential to generate highly ordered NP-based functional devices including plasmonic waveguides, photonic crystals, optical lenses, memory storage devices, nanoelectronic circuits, photovoltaics, and batteries. Due to the unique combination of amphiphilicity and the particle character, Janus nanoparticles...

Polymeric triple-shape materials.

Shape-memory polymers represent a promising class of materials that can move from one shape to another in response to a stimulus such as heat. Thus far, these systems are dual-shape materials. Here, we report a triple-shape polymer able to change from a first shape (A) to a second shape (B) and from there to a third shape (C). Shapes B and C are recalled by subsequent temperature increases. Whe...

Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials

Polymeric Dielectric Materials

The definition for dielectric constant relates to the permittivity of the material (symbol use here ε). The permittivity expresses the ability of a material to polarise in response to an applied field. It is the ratio of the permittivity of the dielectric to the permittivity of a vacuum. Physically it means the greater the polarisation developed by a material in an applied field of given streng...

Polymeric Micro Sensors and Actuators

Sensors and actuators using polymeric systems, constitute one of the most promising fields of “smart polymers”, and it is becoming ever more important to associate artificial sensing and actuating systems with living organisms. Testing of some practical applications has now started in industry. The aim of this Special Issue is to develop a basic understanding of the field, its supporting techno...