Synergizing Crystallography, Mineral Materials Science and Solid Waste Upcycling for Sustainable Materials Innovation
A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 422
Special Issue Editors
Interests: low dimensional materials; condensed matter physics; material science; atomic and molecular nanostructures; spintronics and magnetronics
Interests: mineral materials; computational materials science; environmental materials; catalytic materials
Interests: luminescence materials; crystal structure; gemology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Crystals, characterized by their highly ordered atomic structures, serve as foundational units for deciphering the properties and applications of materials. In mineralogy, crystallographic analysis remains indispensable for mineral identification and classification, as well as the elucidation of formation mechanisms, stability fields, and structure–property relationships. Beyond natural mineral systems, rationally designed crystalline materials, including zeolites, perovskites, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and their derivatives, are redefining frontiers in functional materials science, enabling breakthroughs in catalysis, renewable energy technologies, and environmental applications such as carbon capture and pollutant sequestration. Particularly, integrating artificial intelligence with crystal structure prediction and design can accelerate the R&D cycle, reduce trial-and-error costs, and significantly expedite the development of novel crystal materials. Equally transformative is the role of crystalline phases in sustainable waste management. Industrial byproducts (e.g., metallurgical slags, fly ash, and construction residues) are increasingly recognized as secondary resource reservoirs. By transforming waste into valuable crystalline materials, we can reduce environmental impacts and promote circular economy principles. This Special Issue explores the synergistic convergence of crystallography, mineral materials science, and solid waste valorization. We welcome contributions that highlight the potential of crystals to drive technological and environmental progress, leading to a paradigm shift in materials innovation and waste-to-resource transitions
Prof. Dr. Limei Wu
Dr. Xin Liu
Dr. Qingfeng Guo
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mineral crystallography
- mineral materials
- solid waste valorization
- AI-driven material design
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