Topic Editors

Prof. Dr. Huawei Zou
The State Key Lab of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Polymer Research Institute, The State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610017, China

Multifunctional Porous Materials: Preparation, Structure, Modeling and Applications

Abstract submission deadline
20 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
20 December 2025
Viewed by
4368

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Porous materials and functional porous composites demonstrate ubiquitous applications in the fields of thermal insulation, cushioning, soundproofing, wave absorption, separation, EMI shielding and many other industrial sectors that benefit from lightweightness and some other properties. The performance of porous products is primarily determined by the matrix type, fillers, porosity, pore size and the micro/nanostructure that formed during preparation. The methods for preparing porous materials include free foaming, constrained foaming, supercritical fluid foaming, foam injection molding, batch foaming, extrusion foaming, 3D printing as well as freeze-drying, etc. This Special Issue provides a forum for the discussion of the preparation, performance and modeling of multifunctional porous materials, with a focus on state-of-the-art progress, developments, and new trends. Perspectives, review articles, full papers, short communications, and technical papers on this topic are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Huawei Zou
Dr. Shengtai Zhou
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • foaming technology
  • porous materials
  • thermal insulation
  • sound absorption
  • cushioning
  • thermal properties
  • EMI shielding performance
  • separation
  • wave absorption
  • structure-performance relationship

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Applied Sciences
applsci
2.5 5.3 2011 18.4 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Journal of Composites Science
jcs
3.0 5.0 2017 17.9 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Materials
materials
3.1 5.8 2008 13.9 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Nanomaterials
nanomaterials
4.4 8.5 2010 14.1 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Polymers
polymers
4.7 8.0 2009 14.5 Days CHF 2700 Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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34 pages, 3163 KiB  
Review
Microporous Adsorbents for CH4 Capture and Separation from Coalbed Methane with Low CH4 Concentration: Review
by Xiao Wei, Yingkai Xia, Shuang Wei, Yuehui Chen and Shaobin Yang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(3), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15030208 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 297
Abstract
A rapid increase in natural gas consumption has resulted in a shortage of conventional natural gas resources, while an increasing concentration of CH4 in the atmosphere has intensified the greenhouse effect. The exploration and utilization of coalbed methane (CBM) resources not only [...] Read more.
A rapid increase in natural gas consumption has resulted in a shortage of conventional natural gas resources, while an increasing concentration of CH4 in the atmosphere has intensified the greenhouse effect. The exploration and utilization of coalbed methane (CBM) resources not only has the potential to fill the gap in natural gas supply and promote the development of green energy, but could also reduce CH4 emissions into the atmosphere and alleviate global warming. However, the efficient separation of CH4 and N2 has become a significant challenge in the utilization of CBM, which has attracted significant attention from researchers in recent years. The development of efficient CH4/N2 separation technologies is crucial for enhancing the exploitation and utilization of low-concentration CBM and is of great significance for sustainable development. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current methods for CH4/N2 separation, summarizing their respective advantages and limitations. Subsequently, we focus on reviewing research advancements in adsorbents for CH4/N2 separation, including zeolites, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and porous carbon materials. We also analyze the relationship between the pore structure and surface properties of these adsorbents and their adsorption separation performances, and summarize the challenges and difficulties that different types of adsorbents face in their future development. In addition, we also highlight that matching the properties of adsorbents and adsorbates, controlling pore structures, and tuning surface properties on an atomic scale will significantly increase the potential of adsorbents for CH4 capture and separation from CBM. Full article
12 pages, 2155 KiB  
Article
Mullite Synthesis Using Porous 3D Structures Consisting of Nanofibrils of Aluminum Oxyhydroxide Chemically Modified with Ethoxysilanes
by Anatole Khodan, Thi Hang Nga Nguyen and Andrei Kanaev
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110469 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 962
Abstract
Nanocrystalline mullite was synthetized by annealing a highly porous 3D structure consisting of nanofibrous aluminum oxyhydroxides treated with ethoxysilanes. The chemical, structural, and phase transformations in the aluminosilicate nanosystem were studied in the temperature range between 100 and 1600 °C. The features of [...] Read more.
Nanocrystalline mullite was synthetized by annealing a highly porous 3D structure consisting of nanofibrous aluminum oxyhydroxides treated with ethoxysilanes. The chemical, structural, and phase transformations in the aluminosilicate nanosystem were studied in the temperature range between 100 and 1600 °C. The features of the solid-phase synthesis of mullite at the interface of crystalline alumina with a liquid silica layer are discussed. It was established that chemical modification of the alumina surface with ethoxysilanes significantly limits the interphase mass transport and delays the phase transformation of the amorphous oxide into γ-Al2O3, which begins at temperatures above 1000 °C, while the basic structural nanofibrils are already crystallized at ~850 °C. The formation of mullite was completed at temperatures ≥ 1200 °C, where the fraction of γ-Al2O3 sharply decreased. Full article
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20 pages, 8871 KiB  
Article
Study on Key Properties and Model Establishment of Innovative Recycled Aggregate Pervious Concrete
by Panfeng Zhao, Jingfei Zhou, Zhengnan Zhang and Shoukai Chen
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143535 - 17 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1039
Abstract
In order to meet the needs of low-impact development and sustainable development, there is an urgent desire to develop an innovative recycled aggregate pervious concrete (I-RAPC) that is of high strength and permeability. In this study, I-RAPC was prepared based on response surface [...] Read more.
In order to meet the needs of low-impact development and sustainable development, there is an urgent desire to develop an innovative recycled aggregate pervious concrete (I-RAPC) that is of high strength and permeability. In this study, I-RAPC was prepared based on response surface methodology (RSM) using recycled aggregate, river sand, and different types of pipes as the materials, and the effects of different pipe parameters (number, diameter, material, and distribution form) on the performance of I-RAPC were investigated. In addition, the calculation model of the compressive strength and the permeability coefficient of I-RAPC were proposed. The results showed that the frontal- and lateral-compressive strengths of I-RAPC were 39.8 MPa and 42.5 MPa, respectively, when the pipe material was acrylic, the position was 1EM, and the diameter was 10 mm—at which time the permeability coefficient was 3.02 mm/s, which was the highest in this study. The maximum relative errors of the compressive strength calculation model and the permeability coefficient calculation model were only 7.52% and 4.42%, respectively, as shown by the post hoc test. Therefore, I-RAPC has the advantages of high strength and permeability and is expected to be applied in low-impact development in cities with heavy surface sediment content and rainfall. Full article
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9 pages, 542 KiB  
Article
Random Field Ising Model Criticality in a Complex Binary Liquid System
by Henrich Frielinghaus, Purushottam S. Dubey, Debasish Saha, Eunjoo Shin, Olaf Holderer, Jan V. Sengers and Stephan Förster
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(13), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14131125 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 994
Abstract
While Ising criticality in classical liquids has been firmly established both theoretically and experimentally, much less is known about criticality in liquids in which the growth of the correlation length is frustrated by finite-size effects. A theoretical approach for dealing with this issue [...] Read more.
While Ising criticality in classical liquids has been firmly established both theoretically and experimentally, much less is known about criticality in liquids in which the growth of the correlation length is frustrated by finite-size effects. A theoretical approach for dealing with this issue is the random-field Ising model (RFIM). While experimental critical-exponent values have been reported for magnetic samples (here, we consider γ, ν and η), little experimental information is available for critical fluctuations in corresponding liquid systems. In this paper, we present a study on a binary liquid consisting of 3-methyl pyridine and heavy water in a very light-weight porous gel. We find that the experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical predictions from the RFIM. Full article
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