Announcements

More than 100 German universities and research institutions have entered into a national agreement with MDPI. The publication agreement negotiated by ZB MED comes into effect on 1 January 2025 and is valid until the end of 2026. Joining the consortium is still possible until the beginning of 2025. We are delighted by the high level of interest this agreement has already garnered, reflecting the strong demand for accessible and cost-effective open access publishing solutions among German research institutions.

This new cooperation aims to make scientific gold open access publishing more affordable and less administratively burdensome for researchers in Germany. The agreement includes substantial discounts on article processing charges (APCs) for corresponding authors from participating institutions. It offers flexible payment options, including centralized invoicing or individual payment of fees by researchers or their institutions. Additionally, the agreement features a flat-fee model that enables institutions to precisely plan expenses and optimize their library budgets.

"MDPI can look back on over a decade of successful partnerships with German research institutions," says Peter Roth, MDPI Head of Publishing. "The new agreement marks another milestone in the long-standing co-operation between MDPI and the German scientific community. It emphasizes our commitment to developing up-to-date and inventive solutions for the diverse needs of scientific institutions to promote open research for the benefit of researchers."

Petra Labriga, Head of Strategic License Management at ZB MED, highlighted the agreement's significance: "As one of the world's leading Gold OA publishers, MDPI plays a central role in the German publishing landscape. We are particularly pleased that we were able to achieve considerable potential cost savings for scientific institutions and their authors at a national level through our negotiations."

The partnership reflects a common goal of advancing the idea of open access and supporting researchers in making their scientific excellence internationally visible.

"We would like to thank the ZB MED consortium team for their excellent collaboration," added Adrian Stefan Zamfir, MDPI Institutional Partnership Manager for the DACH region. "We are delighted that this agreement will give even more researchers in Germany access to our tried-and-tested and reliable publication platform."

Franziska Fischer (right), Commercial Director at ZB MED, an Peter Roth (left), Head of Publishing at MDPI, celebrate the signing of the new national open access agreement between MDPI and the ZB MED Consortium.

More Information

• Conditions and participation opportunities (German): Link
• Frequently asked questions (German): Link

Contact

• ZB MED: Team Konsortiallizenzen (konsortiallizenzen@zbmed.de) - Website
  MDPI: Adrian Stefan Zamfir, Institutional Partnership Manager (zamfir@mdpi.com)
  
  

About ZB MED

ZB MED - Information Centre for Life Sciences is an infrastructure and research centre for life science information and data. Its aim is to support and strengthen research for people and the environment: from medicine to biodiversity and environmental protection.

The work of ZB MED is orientated towards the strategic guidelines:

• Research + Networking: We conduct research together with the regionally, nationally, European and globally networked research community.
• Data science: We enable data analyses and generate new knowledge through research.
• Access to information: We provide sustainable access to information, literature and data as a central information infrastructure.
• Open + FAIR: We promote open and reproducible science in line with open science and FAIR principles.
• Knowledge and skills transfer: We actively impart knowledge, competences and skills.

More information at www.zbmed.de.

About MDPI

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI is one of the world's leading open access publishers with a current portfolio of more than 440 journals in all scientific disciplines. MDPI‘s goal is to advance open science worldwide through greater transparency, efficiency and collaboration. To date, more than 3.7 million researchers have published their results in MDPI journals. The editorial process is overseen by a large network of dedicated reviewers and editors and supported by more than 6500 MDPI employees. MDPI currently works with over 800 academic institutions and 180 scientific societies worldwide, which benefit from a wide range of MDPI services and products.

We are pleased to announce a series of updates to our template, aimed at improving the readability and overall aesthetics of our publications. These changes have been meticulously designed to enhance the user experience and ensure consistency across all our publications. The updated template will be available for download from the Instructions for Authors page.

The following updates will be applied to articles published in the 2025 volumes, starting on 24 December 2024:

• Main text: The line spacing has been increased to improve the readability of publications;
• Header and footer: The link to the journal website will be removed, as a hyperlink has been integrated into the journal logo. Additionally, the DOI link will be moved from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, and both the header and footer will be slightly raised to achieve a better balance;
• Left information bar: The information provided here has been rearranged for better organization; the CC-BY logo will be removed;
• Font size: The font size used for the abstract, keywords, and first-level headings will be increased.

Furthermore, MDPI journals will continue to use article numbers. This approach enables us to maintain a rapid and efficient production process by being able to define pagination as soon as a paper is accepted.

We hope that the new version of the template will provide users with a better experience and make the process more convenient.

Please contact production@mdpi.com if you have any questions or suggestions.

In order to further enhance the international influence of the journal Crystals (ISSN: 2073-4352), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Crystals is inviting interested and eligible early career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

A total of 80 Early Career Editorial Board Members are planned to be recruited. Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application Eligibility:

• Completed their doctorate/Ph.D. degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Evidence of significant research achievements in the field of crystalline materials;
• Willingness to dedicate their time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Researchers that are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).

Benefits of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized on journal media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who participated in the peer-review process on the journal website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Providing input on any new initiatives of journal development;
• Inviting submissions from local and overseas world-leading scientists in respective research fields.

Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to crystals@mdpi.com with the subject of “Crystals Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 30 June 2025.

Selection Process and Announcement:
The selection process: initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline, and the results will be announced on the journal website.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 685 Editorial Board Members of our journals – from 39 different countries and territories – who have been recognized as Highly Cited Researchers for 2024 by Clarivate. This distinction highlights their exceptional scientific achievements and significant contributions, which transcend academic boundaries to advance global knowledge, sustainability, security, and well-being.

Clarivate's annual Highly Cited Researcher™ list identifies the most influential scientists of the past decade, whose work has had a profound and widespread impact across various scientific and social science disciplines. Their impactful papers rank among the top 1% by citations in one or more of the 21 fields analyzed within the "Essential Science Indicators," marking them as leaders in their respective domains.

"Highly Cited Researchers have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research," according to Clarivate. In 2024, a total of 6,886 Highly Cited Researcher designations were awarded to 6,636 individuals.

The following is a list of MDPI's Editorial Board Members named Highly Cited Researchers in 2024. We congratulate them for their achievement and their contributions to advancing knowledge in their respective fields.

We are pleased to announce that the 5th International Conference on Symmetry (Symmetry 2025) is scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 May 2025 in Hangzhou, China. The conference, organized by MDPI’s Symmetry (ISSN: 2073-8994, Impact Factor: 2.2), aims to gather researchers, professionals, and experts interested in this field to share their latest research findings, innovations, and experiences.

For this upcoming event, we are proud to announce the following conference chairs and plenary speakers.

Conference Chairs:

• Dr. Sergei D. Odintsov, Institute of Space Sciences, Spain;
• Dr. Changzheng Qu, Ningbo University, China;
• Dr. Jihuan He, Soochow University, China.

Plenary Speakers:

• Dr. Ronggen Cai, Ningbo University, China;
• Dr. Sergei D. Odintsov, Institute of Space Sciences, Spain;
• Dr. Jiping Zhang, Peking University, China.

Topics of Interest and Session Chairs:
S1. Physics

• Session Chair: Shin'ichi Nojiri, Nagoya University, Japan;
• Session Chair: Prof. Tianjun Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Henan Normal University, China;
• Session Chair: Prof. Yuxiao Liu, Lanzhou University, China.

S2. Mathematics

• Session Chair: Prof. Qingwen Wang, Shanghai University, China;
• Session Chair: Prof. Shoufeng Shen, Zhejiang University of Technology, China.

S3. Chemistry

• Session Chair: György Keglevich, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary;
• Session Chair: Prof. Weihua Tang, Xiamen University, China.

S4. Engineering

• Session Chair: Prof. Chong Wang, Beihang University China, China;
• Session Chair: Prof. Deming Lei, Wuhan University of Technology, China.

S5. Computer Science

• Session Chair: Prof. Hu Xiong, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China;
• Session Chair: Prof. Kuo-Hui Yeh, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.

S6. Symmetry Applications

• Session Chair: Prof. Jihuan He, Soochow University, China;
• Session Chair: Prof. Chunli Zhang, Zhejiang University, China.

Conference Awards:

• Best Oral Presentation Award;
• Best Poster Award;
• Best Speaker Award.

Number of winners: 23.

Prizes:
CNY 1500 (5 winners); a full Article Processing Charge (APC) waiver for Symmetry (6 winners); a 50% APC waiver for Symmetry (12 winners); and a certificate celebrating this achievement (all winners).

Guide for Authors:
To submit your abstract, please click on the following link:
https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1219.

To register for the event, please click on the following link:
https://sciforum.net/event/symmetry2025?section=#registration.

For more information, you may refer to the following:
https://sciforum.net/event/symmetry2025?section=#instructions.

Important Dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline: 16 February 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 9 March 2025
Early-Bird Registration: 16 March 2025
Registration Deadline: 16 May 2025

We look forward to receiving your contribution to Symmetry 2025.

Conference Chairs
Symmetry 2025 Organizing Team (symmetry2025@mdpi.com)

“Optimization of a LaNiO₃ Bottom Electrode for Flexible Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ Film-Based Ferroelectric Random Access Memory Applications”
by Yeong Uk Choi, Hyun Soo Ahn, Jung Ehy Hong, Dong In Yang, Hwa-Pyeong Lee, Dae-Yong Jeong, Minbaek Lee, Jong Hun Kim and Jong Hoon Jung
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121613
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1613

“Liquid Crystals for Luminescent Concentrators: A Review”
by Atchutananda Surampudi, Guanxiong Zhang, Ravinder Singh, Grahame Faulkner, Dominic C. O’Brien, Martin J. Booth and Stephen M. Morris
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121615
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1615

“Wetting of Graphite and Platinum Substrate by Oxide System with Graded B₂O₃ Content”
by Dalibor Novák, Lenka Řeháčková, Vlastimil Novák, Dalibor Matýsek and Pavlína Peikertová
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1618; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121618
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1618

“NiO/Ga₂O₃ Vertical Rectifiers of 7 kV and 1 mm² with 5.5 A Forward Conduction Current”
by Jian-Sian Li, Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, Chao-Ching Chiang, Timothy Jinsoo Yoo, Fan Ren, Honggyu Kim and Stephen J. Pearton
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1624; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121624
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1624

“In Situ Growth of Mg-Fe Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) Film on Titanium Dental Implant Substrates for pH Regulation in Oral Environments”
by Yuliu Li, Francesco Gianfreda, Carlotta Danesi, Patrizio Bollero, Anita Ermini, Roberto Pizzoferrato and Eleonora Nicolai
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1636; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121636
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1636

“Wafer-Scale Emission Energy Modulation of Indium Flushed Quantum Dots”
by Nikolai Spitzer, Nikolai Bart, Hans-Georg Babin, Marcel Schmidt, Andreas D. Wieck and Arne Ludwig
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1657; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121657
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1657

“O-Vacancy-Rich ε-MnO₂ Synthesized at Hydrophobic Interface: An Efficient Fenton-like Catalyst for Removing Ciprofloxacin from Water”
by Yulong Chen, Yuan Chi, Xiao Wu, Cong Lin, Tengfei Lin, Min Gao, Chunlin Zhao and Baisheng Sa
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121664
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1664

“Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Layered Ni^+1/+2 Oxides Obtained by Topotactic Oxygen Release on Nd_2−xSr_xNiO_4−δ Single Crystals”
by Chavana Hareesh, Monica Ceretti, Philippe Papet, Alexeï Bosak, Martin Meven and Werner Paulus
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121670
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1670

“Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties”
by Florin Andrei, Maria Dinescu, Valentin Ion, Floriana Craciun, Ruxandra Birjega and Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu
Crystals 2023, 13(12), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13121686
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1686

“EXtra-Xwiz: A Tool to Streamline Serial Femtosecond Crystallography Workflows at European XFEL”
by Oleksii Turkot, Fabio Dall’Antonia, Richard J. Bean, Juncheng E, Hans Fangohr, Danilo E. Ferreira de Lima, Sravya Kantamneni, Henry J. Kirkwood, Faisal H. M. Koua, Adrian P. Mancuso et al.
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111533
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1533

“Nitride Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors for UV Nonlinear Optics”
by Shihang Li and Lei Kang
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111536
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1536

“Raman Spectroscopic Study of Ruddlesden—Popper Tetragonal Sr₂VO₄”
by Romain Viennois, David Bourgogne and Julien Haines
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1541; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111541
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1541

“Fixed-Target Pink-Beam Serial Synchrotron Crystallography at Pohang Light Source II”
by Yongsam Kim and Ki Hyun Nam
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111544
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1544

“Crystal Growth and the Structure of a New Quaternary Adamantine Cu☐GaGeS₄”
by Yvonne Tomm, Daniel M. Többens, Galina Gurieva and Susan Schorr
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111545
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1545

“Unveiling the Magnetic and Structural Properties of (X₂YZ; X = Co and Ni, Y = Fe and Mn, and Z = Si) Full-Heusler Alloy Microwires with Fixed Geometrical Parameters”
by Mohamed Salaheldeen, Valentina Zhukova, Mihail Ipatov and Arcady Zhukov
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111550
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1550

“Single-Crystal Structure Analysis of Three Novel Iron(II) Coordination Polymers with Bridging 1,3,5-Tris((1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene”
by Aysenur Limon, Dustin N. Jordan, Till Strothmann, Laure P. Cuignet, Yann Garcia and Christoph Janiak
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111574
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1574

“Innovative Method for the Mass Preparation of α″-Fe₁₆N₂ Powders via Gas Atomization”
by Marian Grigoras, Mihaela Lostun, Marieta Porcescu, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei and Nicoleta Lupu
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111578
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1578

“Growth, Structure, Spectroscopy, and Laser Operation of a “Mixed” Yb:(Y,Lu)₃Al₅O₁₂ Garnet Crystal”
by Sami Slimi, Pavel Loiko, Mingyan Pan, Pauline Lehoux, Venkatesan Jambunathan, Martin Smrz, Tomas Mocek, Yicheng Wang, Weidong Chen, Valentin Petrov et al.
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111588
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1588

“Additive Manufacturing and Mechanical Properties of Auxetic and Non-Auxetic Ti₂₄Nb₄Zr₈Sn Biomedical Stents: A Combined Experimental and Computational Modelling Approach”
by Sudipta Pramanik, Dennis Milaege, Maxwell Hein, Kay-Peter Hoyer and Mirko Schaper
Crystals 2023, 13(11), 1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13111592
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/11/1592

“Vibrational Properties of the Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Crystal Family”
by Sergej Neufeld, Uwe Gerstmann, Laura Padberg, Christof Eigner, Gerhard Berth, Christine Silberhorn, Lukas M. Eng, Wolf Gero Schmidt and Michael Ruesing
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101423
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1423

“Flux Growth and Characterization of Bulk InVO₄ Crystals”
by Olesia Voloshyna, Mikhail V. Gorbunov, Daria Mikhailova, Andrey Maljuk, Silvia Seiro and Bernd Büchner
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101439
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1439

“A Coupled Approach to Compute the Dislocation Density Development during Czochralski Growth and Its Application to the Growth of High-Purity Germanium (HPGe)”
by Wolfram Miller, Andrejs Sabanskis, Alexander Gybin, Kevin-P. Gradwohl, Arved Wintzer, Kaspars Dadzis, Jānis Virbulis and Radhakrishnan Sumathi
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101440
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1440

“Room-Temperature, Nanoscale Multiferroic Pb(Fe_0.5Ta_0.5)_1−x(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)_xO₃ (x = 0.2, 0.3) Thin Films Grown via the Pulsed Laser Deposition Technique”
by Dilsom A. Sanchez, Karuna Kara Mishra, Sujoy Saha, Gopalan Srinivasan and Ram S. Katiyar
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101442
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1442

“Off-Eutectic Growth Model for Solidifying Alloy from an Undercooled State”
by Junfeng Xu and Peter K. Galenko
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1453; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101453
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1453

“Side-Chain Labeling Strategy for Forming Self-Sorted Columnar Liquid Crystals from Binary Discotic Systems”
by Tsuneaki Sakurai, Kenichi Kato and Masaki Shimizu
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101473
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1473

“Ultrahigh-Density Superhard Hexagonal BN and SiC with Quartz Topology from Crystal Chemistry and First Principles”
by Samir F. Matar and Vladimir L. Solozhenko
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1498; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101498
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1498

“Spin-Polarized 2D Electron Gas at the EuTiO₃/EuO Interface”
by Jonathan Gjerde, Mahmoud Hammouri and Radi A. Jishi
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101511
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/10/1511

“Cortesognoite, CaV₂Si₂O₇(OH)₂·H₂O, a New Mineral from the Molinello Manganese Mine, Graveglia Valley, Italy”
by Chi Ma, Cristina Carbone and Donato Belmonte
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091295
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1295

“Imidazol(in)ium-2-Thiocarboxylate Zwitterion Ligands: Structural Aspects in Coordination Complexes”
by David Elorriaga, Blanca Parra-Cadenas, Paula Pérez-Ramos, Raquel G. Soengas, Fernando Carrillo-Hermosilla and Humberto Rodríguez-Solla
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091304
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1304

“Nanocrystallization of Cu₄₆Zr_33.5Hf_13.5Al₇ Metallic Glass”
by Jaskaran S. Saini, Tamara D. Koledin, Tittaya Thaiyanurak, Lei Chen, Melissa K. Santala and Donghua Xu
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091322
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1322

“Systematic Assessment of Phonon and Optical Characteristics for Gas-Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy-Grown InP_1−xSb_x/n-InAs Epifilms”
by Devki N. Talwar and Hao-Hsiung Lin
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091367
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1367

“Human Eye Contrast Sensitivity to Vehicle Displays under Strong Ambient Light”
by Yizhou Qian, Zhiyong Yang, En-Lin Hsiang, Qian Yang, Kevin Nilsen, Yu-Hsin Huang, Kuan-Heng Lin and Shin-Tson Wu
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091384
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1384

“Se-MAG Is a Convenient Additive for Experimental Phasing and Structure Determination of Membrane Proteins Crystallised by the Lipid Cubic Phase (In Meso) Method”
by Coilín Boland, Chia-Ying Huang, Shiva Shanker Kaki, Meitian Wang, Vincent Olieric and Martin Caffrey
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091402
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/9/1402