The Future of Analytical Chemistry and Material Science for Cultural Heritage
A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials and Heritage".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 717
Special Issue Editor
Interests: block copolymers; nanomaterials; functional materials; soft lithography; material science for cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The future of analytical chemistry and material science in cultural heritage lies in increasingly precise, non-destructive, and interdisciplinary approaches to studying and preserving historical artifacts. Analytical chemistry may provide increasingly powerful tools—such as, but not limited to, advanced spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and imaging techniques—that allow heritage scientists to characterize pigments, binders, metals, ceramics, and organic residues at microscopic and even molecular levels. That is without forgetting that novel portable instruments now enable more affordable in situ analysis in museums, archeological sites, and conservation laboratories, reducing the need for sampling and minimizing the risk to fragile objects.
Material science complements these techniques by investigating the physical and chemical properties of heritage materials, including their aging mechanisms, structural weaknesses, and environmental sensitivities. Understanding how materials deteriorate over time—due to light exposure, humidity, pollution, or biological activity—supports the development of innovative conservation treatments. Emerging materials such as nanostructured consolidants, compatible polymers, and smart protective coatings are being designed to stabilize artifacts while remaining reversible and minimally invasive.
Digital transformation will also play a crucial role. Artificial intelligence and machine learning is starting to assist in interpreting complex datasets, identifying patterns of degradation, and predicting long-term material behavior under varying environmental conditions. Big data platforms will allow researchers to share analytical results, creating global knowledge networks for heritage preservation. Sustainable conservation practices will also become increasingly important, emphasizing environmentally friendly materials and preventive conservation strategies.
In the future, starting from the contributions to this Special Issue, the integration of artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and portable instruments will enable fast, in situ diagnostics and predictive models for decay and environmental risk. Collaboration across disciplines—including chemists, conservators, archeologists, and digital technologists—will expand our ability to understand manufacturing techniques of the past, optimize preservation strategies, and ensure that cultural heritage endures for future generations.
Prof. Dr. Massimo Lazzari
Guest Editor
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. Heritage 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 1800 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
- analytical chemistry
- material science
- cultural heritage
- non‑destructive analysis
- artificial intelligence
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