Polymeric foams, also known as three-dimensional (3D) polymeric sponges, are lightweight, flexible, compressible, and possess a high surface area compared with other bulk polymers. These sponges have traditionally been used for mattresses or seat cushions in homes, offices, aircraft, automobiles, and trains, and to insulate against heat, electricity, and noise. Recently, the demand for modern materials has expanded the application of polymeric foams to various high-value technologies, including in areas that need high flame retardancy, flame sensors, oil/water separation, metal adsorption, solar steam generation, piezoresistivity, electromagnetic interference shielding, thermal energy storage, catalysis, supercapacitors, batteries, and triboelectric energy harvesting. Proper modification of foams is a prerequisite for their use in high-value applications. Several new strategies for the surface coating of 3D porous foams and novel emerging applications have been recently developed. Therefore, in this review, current advances in the field of surface coating and the application of 3D polymeric foams are discussed. A brief background on 3D polymeric foams, including the unique properties and benefits of polymeric sponges and their routes of synthesis, is presented. Different coating strategies for polymeric sponges are discussed, and their advantages and drawbacks are highlighted. Different advanced applications of polymeric sponges, in conjunction with specific and detailed examples of the above-mentioned applications, are also described. Finally, challenges and potential applications related to the coating of polymeric foams are discussed. We envisage that this review will be useful to facilitate further research, promote continued efforts on the advanced applications mentioned above, and provide new stimuli for the design of novel polymeric sponges for future modern applications.

中文翻译：

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软质聚合物泡沫表面工程方法及先进应用的最新进展

聚合物泡沫，也称为三维 (3D) 聚合物海绵，与其他本体聚合物相比，重量轻、柔韧、可压缩，并且具有高表面积。这些海绵传统上用于家庭、办公室、飞机、汽车和火车的床垫或座垫，并隔热、电和噪音。近年来，对现代材料的需求将聚合物泡沫的应用扩展到各种高价值技术，包括需要高阻燃性、火焰传感器、油/水分离、金属吸附、太阳能蒸汽发电、压阻、电磁干扰屏蔽等领域、热能储存、催化、超级电容器、电池和摩擦能量收集。泡沫的适当改性是其用于高价值应用的先决条件。最近开发了几种用于 3D 多孔泡沫表面涂层的新策略和新颖的新兴应用。因此，在这篇综述中，讨论了表面涂层领域和3D聚合物泡沫应用领域的最新进展。介绍了 3D 聚合物泡沫的简要背景，包括聚合物海绵的独特性能和优点及其合成路线。讨论了聚合物海绵的不同涂层策略，并强调了它们的优点和缺点。还结合上述应用的具体和详细示例，描述了聚合物海绵的不同先进应用。最后，讨论了与聚合物泡沫涂层相关的挑战和潜在应用。我们预计本次综述将有助于促进进一步的研究，促进上述先进应用的持续努力，并为未来现代应用的新型聚合物海绵的设计提供新的刺激。