Advanced Surface Functionalization and Durability Enhancement for Buildings and Infrastructure

Buildings and infrastructure form the backbone of modern society, providing essential services for transportation, energy, water supply, and human habitation. However, these structures are continuously exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including moisture, temperature fluctuations, chemical attack, mechanical wear, and biological fouling. Over time, such exposures lead to progressive deterioration of structural surfaces, compromising safety, functionality, and aesthetics while imposing substantial economic burdens for maintenance and repair. With the accelerating pace of urbanization and the growing inventory of aging infrastructure worldwide, there is an urgent need to develop advanced technologies that can effectively protect and extend the service life of buildings and infrastructure.

Surface functionalization has emerged as a promising strategy to address these challenges. By engineering the physical, chemical, and biological properties of material surfaces, it is possible to impart a wide range of protective and functional capabilities, including corrosion resistance, water repellency, self-cleaning behavior, anti-icing performance, antimicrobial activity, and enhanced mechanical durability. Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology have enabled the development of multifunctional coatings and surface treatments that can simultaneously address multiple degradation mechanisms. These innovations hold great potential for transforming how we design, construct, and maintain the built environment.

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to address the critical challenge of surface deterioration in buildings and infrastructure caused by environmental stressors such as moisture, corrosion, freeze-thaw cycles, chemical attack, and mechanical wear. These degradation processes significantly reduce structural performance, shorten service life, and impose substantial maintenance costs worldwide.

Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology have opened new avenues for tackling these challenges. Innovations such as superhydrophobic coatings, photothermal anti-icing surfaces, self-healing materials, and nano-engineered protective layers have demonstrated remarkable potential in laboratory settings. However, significant gaps remain between laboratory research and large-scale field applications, particularly regarding long-term performance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.

This Research Topic seeks to bridge these gaps by consolidating state-of-the-art research on surface functionalization and durability enhancement. We aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers in materials science, civil engineering, and architecture to accelerate the development and implementation of practical solutions. Ultimately, this collection will contribute to creating more resilient, sustainable, and long-lasting buildings and infrastructure that better serve society while reducing lifecycle costs and environmental impact.

This Research Topic focuses on innovative surface functionalization technologies and durability enhancement strategies for buildings and infrastructure. We aim to advance the understanding of surface degradation mechanisms and develop effective solutions to extend the service life of constructed facilities.

Specific themes of interest include:

• Protective coatings for concrete, steel, and building materials

• Superhydrophobic, self-cleaning, and anti-fouling surfaces

• Anti-corrosion and anti-icing technologies

• Multifunctional and smart surface materials

• Nano-engineered coatings and surface modifications

• Surface repair and rehabilitation methods for aging structures

• Durability assessment and service life prediction

• Sustainable surface treatment approaches

• Field performance evaluation and case studies

We welcome submissions of Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Perspectives. Contributions that integrate fundamental research with practical engineering applications are particularly encouraged. Studies involving novel materials, advanced characterization techniques, and real-world implementation are highly valued.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

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:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Surface functionalization, Buildings and infrastructure durability, Protective coatings, Corrosion and degradation, Service life extension

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.