Editorial: Biopolymer Thin Films and Coatings

The development of thin film technology has played a decisive role in the manufacturing of high-tech devices and products such as computers, mobile phones, solar cells, sensors, and displays. With polymer materials, synthetic polymers are still mostly applied while the use of bio-based materials for thin coatings and films is still at an early stage. Of these, particularly thin films of natural polysaccharides have been at the forefront of the research scene for the past 10–15 years. Although the main problems in film preparation, such as sparing solubility, have been largely overcome, many issues affecting the film performance are still not fully understood. One of the pressing issues is the influence of water on the film structure and behavior, given the special relationship that many biopolymers share with water. Other open questions include the stability and the general structural order of the films. In this special issue, we have assembled the frontiers of biopolymer ultrathin films: topical studies on water interactions, protein adsorption, and film structure among many others. The materials choices in the thin films include cellulose, cellulose derivatives, lignin, alginate, and chitosan. (...)