Polymer science lies at the heart of contemporary soft matter research, due to the interplay between molecular structure, chain dynamics, and phase organization that governs the behavior of polymer-based and hybrid materials. This versatility positions polymers and polymer–nanomaterial composites as key candidates for energy conversion, storage, thermal management, and environmental remediation. Current developments include solid polymer electrolytes and proton exchange membranes, sorbent materials for water remediation, responsive elastomer and hydrogel networks for actuation, and mechanocaloric/barocaloric effects for solid-state refrigeration and thermal control. Recent progress in synthesis, processing, characterization, and modeling enables more precise control over ion conduction, interfacial interactions, and thermodynamic response. Nevertheless, a significant challenge persists: understanding and optimizing the links between structure, dynamics, and emergent properties.
This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding and development of polymers and polymer–nanomaterial composites for energy conversion, electrochemical storage, sensing, solid-state cooling, and thermal management. While polymers offer flexibility, low density, and programmable chemistry, hybrid systems add tunable mechanical, transport, magnetic, and catalytic functionality. However, relationships connecting molecular architecture, chain mobility, and phase morphology to macroscopic performance remain incompletely resolved. To this end, the Research Topic seeks contributions integrating experimental characterization, theoretical analysis, and computational simulation, with a focus on structure–property–function relationships and processing pathways for targeted applications in energy and environment.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses polymer-based and hybrid soft matter materials for emerging energy and environmental technologies, delimited to advances that clearly target improvement of energy conversion, storage, water remediation, and thermal management. We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Solid polymer and polymer–nanocomposite materials for advanced batteries, safe energy conversion and electrochemical storage devices - Polymer-based elastomer and hydrogel networks and their mechanical, actuation, or adhesive responses - Mechanocaloric and barocaloric polymers and hybrid systems for solid-state refrigeration, cooling, and thermal control - Structure–property relationships in hybrid networks, gels, caloric materials, and molecular or nanoparticle composites - Materials tuning strategies to enhance thermal, electronic, magnetic, transport, mechanical and surface properties for efficient energy use and water management - Experimental, theoretical, or computational approaches targeting multifunctional soft matter systems for energy and environmental sustainability - Polymers and polymer–nanomaterial systems for flexible, wearable, energy-harvesting and water management devices
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Mini Review
Original Research
Perspective
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
