Soft Polymer Interfaces in Functional Coatings and Films: From Rheology and Processing to Electrochemical Response

Polymer coatings and films exemplify soft-matter systems where functionality is dictated by interfacial phenomena, spanning polymer/air, polymer/substrate, and polymer/filler boundaries. The interplay of formulation, rheology, and processing critically shapes microstructure, wetting, adhesion, and defect landscapes, which, in turn, govern barrier properties, durability, and electrochemical behavior. Emerging studies show that electrochemical methods, such as impedance spectroscopy and polarization analyses, can offer rich mechanistic insight into how these soft interfaces evolve under stress, environmental exposure, or operational cycling. Despite these advances, fully integrated studies connecting soft-matter engineering, interfacial science, and electrochemical function remain limited, highlighting the need for cross-disciplinary research that unites material design, surface science, and advanced characterization.

This Research Topic aims to bring together innovative contributions that connect the structure, processing, and performance of soft polymer interfaces in functional coatings and films. We welcome studies that elucidate how interfacial design, through polymer architecture, advanced fillers, recycled or biobased constituents, or controlled self-assembly and interphase formation influences morphology, transport, degradation, and failure mechanisms. Particular interest is given to work that combines electrochemical assessment with soft-matter characterization to provide mechanistic insight into interphase behavior and performance prediction. By integrating formulation, processing, materials design, and robust structure–property relationships, this Topic seeks to accelerate the development of next-generation polymer-based protective and functional films across a wide range of applications.

The Topic will focus on the role of polymers and their interfaces in determining soft-matter coating and film properties, and it centers on advances within synthetic and hybrid polymer systems. Papers should anchor their research in soft-matter, polymer, or interfacial science. Works focusing solely on inorganic catalysts, electrodes, or non-polymer matrices will not be considered.

To further define the scope, we invite articles related to, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Rheology and processing in the formulation, deposition, and performance of polymer coatings and films
- Self-assembly, supramolecular organization, and interphase formation in polymer-based coatings and films
- Polymer–nanofiller, hybrid, and clay-reinforced soft materials
- Dispersion stability, colloidal interactions, and polymer–filler interfacial phenomena
- Recycled, biobased, or elastomeric polymers for interface engineering
- Structure–property relationships and microstructure–performance correlations
- Interfacial and surface modification effects on wettability, adhesion, and transport
- Electrochemical methods, including EIS, polarization, LPR, and AC/DC/AC protocols, used alongside structural and surface characterization to probe soft polymer interfaces, degradation, and corrosion-related performance
- Advanced characterization, including microscopy, image analysis, and AI/ML approaches, for linking morphology, interface evolution, and function
- Smart, responsive, or self-healing polymer coatings and films

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
• ... 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
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Polymer Interfaces, Coatings and Thin Films, Interfacial Rheology and Processing, Wetting and Adhesion, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

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.