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18 September 2023
Meet Us at the 2023 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, 16–18 October 2023, Lingshui, Hainan, China


The 2023 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT2023) will be held from 16 to 18 October 2023, in Lingshui, Hainan, China. The conference is co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tsinghua University, AVIC Aerodynamics Research Institute, Beihang University and Civil Aviation University of China. It is co-organized by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Royal Aeronautical Society, The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences and KSAS.

Topics include the following:

  • Aerodynamics and design;
  • Structures and materials;
  • Dynamics/control/avionics;
  • Combustion and propulsion.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Aerospace;
  • Invention;
  • Drones;
  • Materials;
  • Energies;
  • Machines;
  • Micromachines;
  • Automation.
If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #1 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.apisat2023.com/.

11 September 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in the Section “Materials Physics”


The "Materials Physics" Section provides a forum for the rapid publication of original works that will significantly advance our current understanding of materials or unveil novel aspects of material physical properties with respect to target applications.

The Section will comprise, but will be not limited to, contributions on materials growth and processing techniques, microstructural and mechanical engineering, advanced characterization methods, surface and interface engineering of nanostructured and functional materials including metals and alloys, ceramics and coatings, optical and photonic materials, low-dimensional materials, metal oxides and semiconductors for energy and environmental applications, plasmonics and metamaterials, magnetic materials, superconducting and quantum materials, ferroelectrics, multiferroics and magnetoelectrics, thermoelectric materials, polymers, metal-organic materials, and amorphous solids.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the “Materials Physics” Section listed below:

“Characterization of Filigree Additively Manufactured NiTi Structures Using Micro Tomography and Micromechanical Testing for Metamaterial Material Models”
by Thomas Straub, Jonas Fell, Simon Zabler, Tobias Gustmann, Hannes Korn and Sarah C. L. Fischer
Materials 202316(2), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020676
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/676

“Prediction of Novel Ultrahard Phases in the B–C–N System from First Principles: Progress and Problems”
by Vladimir L. Solozhenko and Samir F. Matar
Materials 202316(2), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020886
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/886

“Effect of Ni Substitution on Thermoelectric Properties of Bulk β-Fe1−xNixSi2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03)”
by Sopheap Sam, Soma Odagawa, Hiroshi Nakatsugawa and Yoichi Okamoto
Materials 202316(3), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030927
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/927

“Correlation-Driven Topological Transition in Janus Two-Dimensional Vanadates”
by Ghulam Hussain, Amar Fakhredine, Rajibul Islam, Raghottam M. Sattigeri, Carmine Autieri and Giuseppe Cuono
Materials 202316(4), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041649
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1649

“Epitaxial CdSe/PbSe Heterojunction Growth and MWIR Photovoltaic Detector”
by Lance L. McDowell, Milad Rastkar Mirzaei and Zhisheng Shi
Materials 202316(5), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051866
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1866

“Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Photonic Device Applications: A Review”
by Shinpei Ogawa, Shoichiro Fukushima and Masaaki Shimatani
Materials 202316(5), 2005; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16052005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/2005

“Ferroelectricity and Oxide Reliability of Stacked Hafnium–Zirconium Oxide Devices”
by Ruo-Yin Liao, Hsuan-Han Chen, Ping-Yu Lin, Ting-An Liang, Kuan-Hung Su, I-Cheng Lin, Chen-Hao Wen, Wu-Ching Chou, Hsiao-Hsuan Hsu and Chun-Hu Cheng
Materials 202316(9), 3306; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093306
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/9/3306

“Recent Advances in Magnetic Polymer Composites for BioMEMS: A Review”
by Zhengwei Liao, Oualid Zoumhani and Clementine M. Boutry
Materials 202316(10), 3802; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103802
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/10/3802

“Cleaning Strategies of Synthesized Bioactive Coatings by PEO on Ti-6Al-4V Alloys of Organic Contaminations”
by Avital Schwartz, Alexey Kossenko, Michael Zinigrad, Viktor Danchuk and Alexander Sobolev
Materials 202316(13), 4624; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134624
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4624

“High-Pressure Synthesis and the Enhancement of the Superconducting Properties of FeSe0.5Te0.5
by Mohammad Azam, Manasa Manasa, Tatiana Zajarniuk, Ryszard Diduszko, Tomasz Cetner, Andrzej Morawski, Jarosław Więckowski, Andrzej Wiśniewski and Shiv J. Singh
Materials 202316(15), 5358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155358
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/15/5358

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose new topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of materials physics and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

8 September 2023
Materials 2024 Travel Award—Open for Applications


We are pleased to announce that Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) will be granting the Travel Award to two junior scientists. The applications will be assessed by an Evaluation Committee consisting of senior scholars from the Materials Editorial Board.

This award provides financial support for the winners to attend an international conference in the field of materials science and engineering to be held in 2024, in order to hold a presentation, present a poster, or both.

Candidate Requirements:

  • Postdoctoral fellow or Ph.D. student.
  • Plans to attend an international conference in 2024 (oral presentation or poster).

Required Application Documents:

  • Information of the conference the applicant is planning to attend and the abstract that will be submitted.
  • Curriculum vitae and list of publications.
  • Justification letter describing the focus of the research (max. 800 words).
  • Letter of recommendation from the supervisor, research director, or department head, which also confirms the applicant’s status as a postdoctoral fellow/PhD student.

The winners (two awardees) will each be awarded CHF 800 and a certificate.

Please submit your applications (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards/submit/2418) for the Materials 2024 Travel Award online by 30 November 2023. Prizes will be awarded at the end of January 2024 and announced on the Materials website.

Materials Editorial Office

8 September 2023
Materials 2023 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award—Open for Applications


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. This award is held to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists. This prize will be awarded to a Ph.D. student or doctor who has produced a highly anticipated academic thesis.

The prize includes:

  • CHF 800;
  • A certificate;
  • An offer to publish one paper free of charge in Materials after peer review before the end of 2024.

To find out more information about the award and how to apply for candidates, please click here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards/2482. To request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

6 September 2023
Recap of Awards Granted to Scholars in 2022


MDPI is committed to supporting the academic community, nurturing talent and advancing science. Awards are an important part of the research landscape and play a vital role in helping academics gain recognition, especially young researchers as they embark on new research avenues.

In 2022, our journals presented a total number of 394 Awards, including Travel Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Best Paper Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards, with several winners announced for some of the awards. The total prize sum amounted to just under 580,000 Swiss francs (CHF), or approximately 650,000 US dollars. Overall, more than 720 scholars were awarded.

The majority of the awards were dedicated to young researchers in relatively early stages of their careers. This encompassed 66 of the afore-mentioned Travel Awards, 60 Young Investigator Awards, supporting research projects and conference attendance, as well as 51 Best PhD Thesis Awards. Additionally, 113 Best Paper Awards were given by our journals. The selection committees were entrusted with identifying the most impactful and novel research and review articles published in their journal within a given year.

MDPI will continue its support and recognition for the academic community moving forward, sponsoring new awards across disciplines. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

31 August 2023
Meet Us at the 2023 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), 18–21 September 2023, Warsaw, Poland


The 2023 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) will take place from 18 to 21 September 2023, at the main campus of the University of Technology in Warsaw, Poland, and will consist of parallel symposia with invited speakers and oral and poster presentations assorted by one plenary session to provide an international forum for discussing recent advances in the field of materials science. The conference will be augmented by an exhibition of products and services of interest to the conference participants.

The high-quality scientific program will address different topics organized into 24 symposia arranged in 5 clusters covering the fields of information and communication technologies; energy and environment; manufacturing; health; and fundamentals. The latest scientific results will be presented, and authors are invited to submit papers in the selected journals that fit the scope of each symposium.

The focus of the scientific program will be both on fundamental investigations and technological applications, providing an international forum for discussing recent advances related to the different aspects to be considered to promote innovation.

MDPI will be attending the event as an exhibitor, and we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

We are looking forward to meeting you at our booth, where you can find out more information about the journals attending the conference:

Our representatives, Ms. Anna Krakowka and Ms. Paulina Maziarz, are eager to answer your questions and address any inquiries you may have.

We look forward to welcoming you to Warsaw.

30 August 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO’s Letter #3

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Our Commitment to Sustainability

As a pioneer in academic open access publishing since 1996, MDPI has always been dedicated to facilitating scientific exchange across all disciplines. Our approach to open science is guided by principles such as Open Access (OA), Timeliness and Efficiency, Simplicity, High-Quality Service, Flexibility, and a commitment to Sustainability. This commitment involves preserving published papers for the long term and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.

In this edition of the CEO Letter, I will delve into MDPI’s various sustainability initiatives. As a leader in OA publishing, we are able to provide the public with a significant amount of environment-related content at no cost.

MDPI and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2020, the SDG Publishers Compact was launched to accelerate implementation of the SDGs by promoting content that informs, develops, and inspires action. MDPI joined this initiative in 2021 and subsequently launched the MDPI SDG Hub in 2022, offering free access to recent research within the scope of each of the 17 SDGs. We also support authors from underrepresented communities by waiving publication charges for selected SDG-related papers. Detailed sustainability practices and supported publications are available in the report under each Goal page.

“More than 80% of MDPI articles and reviews published in 2022 relate to the Sustainable Development Goals.” [source: InCites, Accessed on 21.08.2023]

As at August 2023, MDPI boasts 14 journals dedicated to sustainability-related topics. Our first journal in this area, Sustainability, has published over 29,000 articles on the SDGs, accumulating over 240,000 citations (source: InCites, as at 1 January 2023). These journals serve as vital platforms for researchers to share insights and address environmental challenges. In addition:

MDPI journals specializing in sustainability-related topics:

  • 2009: Sustainability
  • 2012: Resources
  • 2013: Climate
  • 2014: Environments
  • 2016: Recycling
  • 2019: Clean Technologies
  • 2020: Sustainable Chemistry
  • 2021: Wind, Biomass, Conservation, Pollutants, Solar
  • 2022: Waste, Microplastics

Read more:

Impactful Research

Highly Cited Articles in Sustainability

In 2022, content published in Sustainability and indexed in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) received nearly 190,000 citations. This highlights the fact that Sustainability publishes highly cited research articles related to environmental sciences and SDG-related topics such as climate action.

We are pleased to share that Sustainability received a 2022 CiteScore of 5.8, marking a 16% increase from the 2021 metric. Specifically, the CiteScore positions Sustainability as follows: Q1 (27 out of 163) in the “Environmental Science (miscellaneous)” category, and Q1 (101 out of 779) in the “Geography Planning and Development” category. For additional journal statistics, please visit here.

“Sustainability received a 2022 CiteScore of 5.8”

While MDPI journals such as Climate and Atmosphere have a distinct focus on atmosphere pollution and its impact on climate processes, journals like Sustainability, Environments, Water, Remote Sensing, and IJERPH publish content related to climate change. These journals have published over 32,300 articles related to SDG 13: Climate Action.

Highly Cited Papers in Sustainability

Below are several highly cited papers published in Sustainability over the past three years. Citation metrics are current as at 15 August 2023.

1. “A Global Assessment: Can Renewable Energy Replace Fossil Fuels by 2050?
Authors: Jerry L. Holechek, Hatim M. E. Geli, Mohammed N. Sawalhah, and Raul Valdez
Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4792; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084792
Citations: Crossref (97), Scopus (91), Web of Science (82), Google Scholar (125)

This paper addresses one of the most significant challenges of climate change – achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The meta-analysis suggests that while difficult, this transition is possible through the concerted application of pathways, lifestyle changes, and global cooperation.

2. “Anxiety and the Ecological Crisis: An Analysis of Eco-Anxiety and Climate Anxiety
Author: Panu Pihkala
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7836; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197836
Citations: Crossref (144), Scopus (121), Web of Science (159), Google Scholar (382)

This paper has received substantial media attention, including coverage by The Guardian, BBC, Vice, and CNBC. An interview with Dr. Panu Pihkala, a leading interdisciplinary researcher on the topic, can be found on MDPI’s podcast: Insight Faster, Episode 1.

3. “Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Mitigation Strategies: A Review
Authors: Gurdeep Singh Malhi, Manpreet Kaur, and Prashant Kaushik
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031318
Citations: Crossref (207), Scopus (221), Web of Science (186), Google Scholar (355)

This paper reviews literature on climate change, addressing its causes, future projections, impact on agriculture, including plant physiology, growth, productivity, pest infestation, and the economic implications of mitigation strategies.

4. Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions
Authors: Rakesh Kumar, Anurag Verma, Arkajyoti Shome, Rama Sinha, Srishti Sinha, Prakash Kumar Jha, Ritesh Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Shubham, Shreyas Das, Prabhakar Sharma, and P. V. Vara Prasad
Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179963
Citations: Crossref (134), Scopus (136), Web of Science (113), Google Scholar (184)

This review aims to assess the adverse effects of plastic pollution on ecosystems, link the management of plastic with the SDGs, and propose policy measures using transdisciplinary approaches. Empowering communities to reduce plastic use is crucial. Addressing global plastic pollution is a priority.

Sustainability is an international, cross-disciplinary, open access journal that explores environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings. It provides a forward-looking platform for research on sustainability and sustainable development, and is published semi-monthly online by MDPI. Sustainability is affiliated with The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) and The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB).

Read more:

Inside MDPI

President of Ireland Authors Editorial in MDPI Journal Sustainability

It’s a very special occasion when the president of a country takes the initiative to write an editorial for a journal. Michael D. Higgins, President of the Republic of Ireland, has contributed his insights to a forthcoming Special Issue in Sustainability:

This Special Issue, focusing on “making sustainable development happen” at grassroots levels, allows for perspectives from, and on, the major world faiths, exploring how challenges have been conceptualised and addressed, in addition to case studies of faith-based sustainability initiatives in practice.

The experience of faith institutions and communities in translating theological and moral commitments to sustainable development into action is now a topic we must examine with urgency; one on which I am so glad this Special Issue focuses.

As President of Ireland, I very much support this Special Issue of Sustainability. It is my great hope that the contents of the papers contained herein will assist in making sustainable development happen at grassroots levels across the world so that we can cooperate together, people of faith and of none, to ensure a just, inclusive and sustainable future for all on our fragile planet.

Read the completed editorial here:

Special Issue “Faith and Sustainable Development: Exploring Practice, Progress and Challenges among Faith Communities and Institutions”: Foreword by the President of Ireland
Author: Michael D. Higgins
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129683

Coming Together for Science

The World Sustainability Forum 2023

The World Sustainability Forum (WSF) is a biennial MDPI event focused on sustainability. WSF 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the conference series, taking place on 14 September. For the first time, the event will be hosted as a 24-hour conference across three locations – Singapore, Basel in Switzerland, and Toronto in Canada – alongside virtual streaming.

This unique format allows us to span three time zones, providing live coverage of critical sustainability-related topics throughout the day:

  • The Singapore Hub, chaired by Professor Horn Mun Cheah and Associate Professor Renee Tan, will explore “Sustainability for Social and Community Impact”.
  • The Basel Hub, chaired by Prof. Dr. Anet Režek Jambrak and Dr. Lela Mélon, will delve into “Sustainability in the industry, and at university and corporate settings”.
  • The Toronto Hub, led by Dr. Umberto Berardi, will discuss “The Sustainable Built Environment”.

MDPI Sustainability Foundation: Recognizing Excellence in Sustainability Research

The MDPI Sustainability Foundation supports researchers through two sustainability-focused awards:

  1. The World Sustainability Award, amounting to USD 100,000, is given to senior researchers.
  2. The Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, valued at USD 20,000, sponsored by the journal Sustainability, is presented to early-career researchers.

The winners of the Sustainability Foundation will be formally awarded during the WSF2023 on 14 September. Interviews with the award winners and finalists are available below.

2023 World Sustainability Award Winners

  1. Professor Michael R. Templeton
  2. Professor Tom Lyon
  3. Dr Krithi K. Karanth

Interviews with 2023 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award Finalists

  • Dr. Bahareh Kamranzad
  • Dr. Youjin Kim
  • Dr. Julia Lohmann

As a hybrid event, WSF23 provides scholars with the option to attend in person at one of the conference sites or, for a more sustainable approach, virtually. All sessions will be recorded and archived for future access. Registration is open until 3 September 2023, with in-person and virtual tickets available here.

Read more:

Closing Thoughts

“Co-opetition”: Collaboration Plus Healthy Competition – A Visit to Elsevier

I firmly believe in fostering collaboration and at the same time promoting healthy competition within the academic publishing industry. The market offers ample room for publishers and related companies to provide valuable services and products that enrich the academic community. While MDPI is recognized for its efficient and streamlined processes –thanks to our over 6,000 colleagues, in-house tools, and initiatives that support the author journey – our ethos has always involved learning from and collaborating with other organizations.

MDPI’s Interaction with Elsevier

In January 2023, I had a brief conversation with Judy Verses, President of Global Academic and Government Markets at Elsevier, following her participation in a panel discussion at the Academic Publishers Europe event in Berlin. One of the highlights for me was Judy’s insight into the impact of research, particularly her emphasis on the role of collaboration, including policy and showing the impact of research to influence on funding decisions.

“Such collaborations drive forward-looking strategies to elevate our support for the scholarly community”

Judy and I resumed our discussion in August, when I visited Elsevier's office to review current projects, such as our recent agreement with Science Direct and the continued indexing of MDPI journals in Scopus (indexing database owned by Elsevier). We also explored possible opportunities for the future, including a potential collaboration to expand MDPI’s Scilit data infrastructure. This endeavour aims to aggregate and provide access to scholarly metadata encompassing journal articles, conference papers, books, preprints, and more. While these discussions are ongoing, the underlying principle remains that such collaborations drive forward-looking strategies to elevate our services and support for the scholarly community.

It was great that Judy and I acknowledged the merits of 'co-opetition,' a concept based of the belief that fostering cooperation alongside healthy competition can lead to shared advancements for both individual companies and the industry at large.

‘Fully OA’ Organizations Dedicated to Open Access

MDPI proudly aligns with the ‘Fully OA’ group, a collaborative initiative comprising nine organizations dedicated to Open Access. Our monthly meetings, including an OASPA representative, serve as platforms to share non-confidential information, resources, and projects. These gatherings also facilitate discussions on topics relevant to fully OA organizations. Occasionally, joint actions spring from these interactions, such as collaborative blog posts on pertinent subjects and joint statements, such as a recent response to the House Appropriations Committee.

This display of cooperation among competing entities forms a strategic alliance focused on nurturing the best interests of the OA publishing model.

As I wrap up this third edition of the CEO Letter, I encourage you to seize opportunities for collaboration and contribute to advancing our shared academic culture. As the African proverb has it, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 August 2023
Meet Us at the XXXV Eurosensors Conference, 10–13 September 2023, Lecce, Italy


MDPI will be attending the XXXV Eurosensors conference, which will be held from 10 to 13 September 2023 in Lecce, Italy. The conference will provide an opportunity for the presentation of updated results related to both theoretical and applied research in the fields of sensors, micro-nanosystems, etc., bringing together scientists from academic institutions and industry and promoting professional interactions between them. Furthermore, the conference also includes a one-day Tutorial Course on emerging and key arguments on the correlation between environment and health and the role of sensor technologies.

Eurosensors is an annual conference in the field of sensors that started in 1987. The Eurosensors 2020 and 2021 editions were eventually combined with the 2022 edition and held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eurosensors 2023 will be chaired by Pietro Siciliano (University of Bari, Italy). The Organizing Committee would like to express their appreciation for the scientific response to the conference, which demonstrates the level of interest in the field of sensors and related technologies. It is hoped that the conference will allow for fruitful interactions among participants and new cultural proposals for the positive development of the conference and for the intellectual growth of all the participants.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference and our booth, please visit the following link: https://www.eurosensors2023.eu/.

18 August 2023
Meet Us at the 74th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 3–8 September 2023, Lyon, France


MDPI will be attending the 74th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, hosted by the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE), which will be held by the International Society of Electrochemistry from 3 to 8 September 2023, in Lyon, France. France has a strong history of electrochemistry research and has a large number of ISE members in the country, and the ISE has hosted this congress on several previous occasions: Lyon in 1982; Paris in 1997, which was the occasion of a joint meeting with the ECS; and, more recently, in Nice in 2010. Thus, after more than 40 years, the congress returns to Lyon. About 1,800 participants have registered from all regions of the world. Thus, this congress will provide an opportunity for electrochemists in Lyon to participate in fruitful discussions in an atmosphere of friendly exchange.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth (#09) and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://annual74.ise-online.org/index.php.

17 August 2023
MDPI’s 2022 Young Investigator Awards in Chemistry and Materials Science—Winners Announced


MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising junior researchers, acknowledge their contributions, and enhance communication among scientists. We are proud to present the winners for the year 2022 in chemistry and materials science. The winners were selected by the journals’ Award Evaluation Committee.

We warmly congratulate the awarded young investigators for their outstanding contributions. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition for the academic community.

Crystals:

  • Mattia Biesuz, University of Trento, Italy

Metals:

  • Yonggang Yao, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Molecules:          

  • Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Nanomaterials:

  • Liang Huang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
  • Aiping Chen, Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), USA
  • Leonardo Ricotti, BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA), Italy

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To see more MDPI awards, click here.

17 August 2023
MDPI’s 2022 Travel Awards in Chemistry and Materials Science—Winners Announced


We are proud to recognize the winners of MDPI’s 2022 Travel Awards in chemistry and materials science for their outstanding presentations and present them with the prize.

MDPI journals regularly offer travel awards to encourage junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in specific fields, which helps increase their influence.

The winners mentioned below were carefully selected by the journal editors based on an outline of their research and the work to be presented at an academic conference.

We would like to warmly congratulate the winners of the 2022 Travel Awards and wish them the greatest success with their future research endeavors. MDPI will continue to enhance communication among scientists.

Catalysts:           

  • Shiva Mohajernia, University of Siegen, Germany

Chemistry:          

  • Maria Antonietta Casulli, Sophia University Yotsuya Campus, Japan            

Gels:     

  • Lan Xiao, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Materials:           

  • Danila Merino, Smart Materials Group of the Italian Institute of Technology, Italy
  • Elena Blundo, University of Rome, Italy

Nanomaterials:   

  • Arun Kumar, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Italy
  • Elena Blundo, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy            

Separations:        

  • Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To see more MDPI awards, click here.

17 August 2023
MDPI’s 2022 Outstanding Reviewer Awards in Chemistry and Materials Science—Winners Announced


In order to acknowledge our reviewers, who so generously dedicate their time to reviewing papers and demonstrate diligence, professionalism, and timeliness when reviewing manuscripts, MDPI journals regularly offer outstanding reviewer awards to scholars who participate in the peer-review process.

We are proud to recognize the winners for the 2022 Outstanding Reviewer Awards in chemistry and materials science for their outstanding contributions among the extensive competition.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners on their achievements. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition for the academic community.

Catalysts:

  • Aleksandr S. Kazachenko, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Russia
  • Ionut Banu, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania
  • Shahid Zaman, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
  • Rahat Javaid, Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, Japan

Coatings:

  • Anca Mazare, Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany
  • Costica Bejinariu, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania

Fibers:

  • Aref Abbasi Moud, University of British Columbia, Canada
  • Amit Kenny, Shamoon College of Engineering, Ashdod, Israel

Gels:

  • Bapan Pramanik, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
  • Mutian Hua, University of California, USA            

JFB:

  • Elisa Boanini, University of Bologna, Italy

Materials:

  • Alexander Sobolev, Ariel University, Israel
  • Anca Mazare, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen Nurnberg, Germany
  • László Almásy, Centre for Energy Research, Hungary
  • Valerio Belardi, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
  • Wenbin Zhou, Imperial College London, UK
  • Piotr A. Gauden, Nicholas Copernicus University, Poland

Magnetochemistry:

  • Moustafa Darwish, Tanta University, Egypt

Metals: 

  • Wolfgang Löser, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), Germany
  • Weimin Wang, Shandong University, China

Nanomaterials:

  • Gueorgui Gueorguiev, Linköping University, Sweden
  • Tsung-Rong Kuo, Taipei Medical University, China
  • Kisan Chhetri, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea

Polymers:

  • Yiwen Li, Sichuan University, China
  • Saulius Grigalevicius, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
  • Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romania
  • Narsimha Mamidi, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
  • Nikolaos Politakos, University of the Basque Country, Spain

Separations:

  • Balawanthrao Jadhav, South Dakota State University, USA
  • Łukasz Dąbrowski, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Poland
  • Sidi Zhu, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

For more MDPI awards, click here.

17 August 2023
MDPI’s 2022 Best PhD Thesis Awards in Chemistry and Materials Science—Winners Announced


MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are presented to recognize the young scholars who are judged to have completed the most outstanding PhD thesis in their field of research, and to encourage them to continue their outstanding work and further contribution to their field.

We would like to warmly congratulate the winners of the 2022 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors. MDPI will continue to enhance communication among scientists.

Ceramics:

  • “Metal Nanoparticle Carbon Nanocomposites to Produce Electrochemical Devices for Environmental Water Monitoring”
    by Wenchao Duan, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) and Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC), Spain

Crystals:

  • “Modeling and Design of a Phononic Crystal with Piezoelectric Defects for Broadband Energy Localization and Harvesting”
    by Soo-Ho Jo, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University, South Korea

Logistics:

  • “A Decision-Support Framework for Smart and Sustainable Reverse Logistics Network Design”
    by Xu Sun, The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Macromol:

  • “Polymer Drug Carriers for Immuno-Oncotherapy”
    by Marina Rodrigues Tavares, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
  • “Design and Fabrication of Advanced Materials Obtained from Hemp Fibers and Sustainable Polymers”
    by Gianluca Viscusi, Department of Industrial Engineering-University of Salerno, Italy

Materials:

  • “Ultrafast Processes in Perylene and Rubrene Systems: Singlet Fission, Excimer Formation and Charge Transfer”
    by Wenjun Ni, Dalian University of Technology, China

Metals:

  • “Computational and Experimental Thermo-Mechanics of Metal Additive Manufacturing: Stress, Warpage, Cracks and Properties”
    by Xufei Lu, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Spain

Molecules:

  • “Development of Modern Sample Preparation Techniques Utilizing Novel Materials Combined with Chromatographic and Spectrometric Methods for the Determination of Environmental Pollutants in Food and Environmental Samples”
    by Natalia Manousi, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • “Studying Protein Function with Fluorescent Nanoantennas”
    by Scott G. Harroun, University of Montreal, Canada

Nanomaterials:

  • “Predictive Modelling of Ultrafast Hot Carrier Dynamics and Nonlinear Photothermal Phenomena in Designer Nanophotonic Structures”
    by Andrea Schirato, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Physchem:

  • “Studying Protein Function with Fluorescent Nanoantennas”
    by Scott G. Harroun, Université de Montréal / Polytechnique Montréal, Canada

Polymers:

  • “Formation, Modification and New Applications of Orderly Structured Titanium Oxide Nanostructures”
    by Simonas Ramanavicius, State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuania 

Sustainable Chemistry:

  • “Electrochemical Routes for Upgrading Carbon-based Greenhouse Gases”
    by Aditya Prajapati, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To see more MDPI awards, click here.

17 August 2023
MDPI’s Best Paper Awards in Chemistry and Materials Sciences—Winners Announced in 2022


The purpose of our best paper awards is to promote and recognize the most impactful contributions published within MDPI journals.

The editors of each journal have carefully selected reviews and research papers through a rigorous judging process based on criteria such as the scientific merit, overall impact and the quality of presentation of the papers published in the journal.

We are honored to present the winners announced in 2022 in chemistry and materials science, who were selected among an extensive competition, and congratulate the authors for their outstanding scientific publications. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition for the academic community.

C:

Coatings:

Fibers:

Inorganics:

Magnetochemistry:

Materials:

Membranes:

Molecules:

Nanomaterials:

Polymers:

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To see more MDPI awards, click here.

16 August 2023
Prof. Dr. Xinyu Liu Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section “Quantum Materials” in Materials


We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Xinyu Liu has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section "Quantum Materials" in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Prof. Dr. Xinyu Liu received his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, USA, in 2003. In 2013, he began his current position as a Research Associate Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the same institution. With a deep interest in spin-related phenomena in quantum materials and devices, Prof. Dr. Liu's research focuses on molecular beam epitaxy techniques and the development of integrated nanomaterials and devices based on traditional and magnetic semiconductors, superconductors, quantum and topological materials, and ferromagnetic materials. His groundbreaking contributions have significantly impacted areas such as ferromagnetic semiconductors, Majorana fermions, topological insulators, semiconductor/superconductor heterojunctions, and more. Throughout his career, Prof. Dr. Liu has been actively involved in numerous NSF and DOE-funded projects in condensed matter physics. He has authored over 400 research publications indexed in the Web of Science with an impressive h-index of 46 and has gathered more than 10,000 citations, according to Google Scholar.

The following is a Q&A with Prof. Dr. Xinyu Liu, who shared his vision for the Section, in addition to his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?

I have always admired the journal for its breadth in covering diverse topics, showcasing the dynamic landscape of materials science. Its commitment to publishing cutting-edge research and maintaining a rigorous yet swift peer-review process has always stood out. As Section Editor-in-Chief, I see an opportunity to influence the direction of discussions within the materials community. Given the journal's global reach and significant impact, it presents the ideal platform for such a role.

2. What is your vision for the Section “Quantum Materials”?

My vision for “Quantum Materials” is to stand at the forefront of innovation and exploration in the following fields. First and foremost, the Section aims to dive deeper into the realm of quantum simulation. By closely emulating complex quantum systems, we can pave the way for insights that traditional computational methods might overlook, pushing the boundaries of what is scientifically possible. In the field of microelectronics, as devices become progressively smaller and more efficient, quantum materials promise to revolutionize the way we store and process data, not just the miniaturization of components, but a paradigm shift in how they function. In this regard, the Section aims to explore and develop materials that can act as qubits, process quantum information, and maintain quantum coherence, all while reducing the vulnerability to external perturbations. Thus, machine learning and AI are essential to my vision. I believe these tools can significantly expedite the discovery of new quantum materials and optimize their properties. One of the groundbreaking areas I am interested in is the development of room-temperature superconductors. The discovery of such materials can revolutionize power transmission, transportation, and countless technological applications, making them more efficient and sustainable. In essence, “Quantum Materials” seeks to be a beacon of cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative thinking, all directed towards harnessing the quantum realm for a better tomorrow.

3. As an expert in the field of quantum materials, which research topics do you think are popular at present, and what does the future of this field of research look like?

I would like to discuss this with my specific perspective and expertise on spintronics and topological materials.

The current research in spintronics focuses on magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) devices, which are becoming increasingly important for memory storage and magnetic random-access memories (MRAM). In these devices, spin-orbit torques (SOTs) that can harness spin–orbit coupling to manipulate magnetic states offer the potential for faster and more energy-efficient data storage solutions. Furthermore, exploring utilizing spin waves (and their quanta, magnons) for data transfer and processing is gaining attraction.

In the field of topological materials, observing the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) at higher temperatures in thin films of magnetic topological materials has become a thrilling motivation in the field. There is much interest in hunting for Majorana fermions in topological superconductors, which could be game-changers for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Exploring other 2D topological materials exhibiting exotic topological states are aspect of the future. The confluence of materials science, condensed matter physics, electrical engineering, and even AI for material discovery will shape the evolution of quantum materials research.

4. You have reviewed many articles as a reviewer. What do you think are the most important points of an article?

The article should offer a fresh perspective, novel findings, or innovative methodologies. It should fill a knowledge gap or provide a unique viewpoint that can stimulate further research or discussion. The article should contribute clearly to its field by introducing a new concept and insight, validating or refuting an existing theory, or providing new empirical evidence that advances understanding.

The methods used should be relevant to the research questions and the most suitable ones. The choice of methodologies can greatly influence the outcomes, so their justification and appropriateness are vital. An article must demonstrate a thorough and meticulous approach to the research. Central to the credibility of any research is the ability of other researchers to reproduce the experiments and obtain similar results. Clear, detailed experimental procedures, including any controls, must be provided to ensure the reliability of the findings.

An article should be well-organized, with a logical flow of ideas, making it easy for readers to follow and understand the research narrative.

5. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?

Open access (OA) has transformed scientific publishing, making research, especially publicly funded studies, accessible worldwide. At its core, science is about the pursuit and distribution of knowledge. Open access embodies this philosophy by ensuring that knowledge is freely accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. This can significantly accelerate advancements, foster collaborations, and ensure that discoveries are built upon previous findings without impediments. However, OA's rise has led to predatory journals that compromise quality for profit. Despite challenges like the 'author-pays' model, OA's future is promising with growing support and mandates. Ensuring rigorous peer review is essential for the success of OA. Open access should not mean a compromise on quality. While some publishers might prioritize profits, the focus should always be on the integrity and quality of research. Overall, when executed with integrity, OA's benefits surpass its challenges.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Xinyu Liu as the new Section Editor-in-Chief, and we look forward to him leading Materials to many more milestones.

16 August 2023
Meet Us at the 9th International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology (ChinaNANO 2023), 26–28 August 2023, Beijing, China


The ChinaNANO conferences have been held biennially since 2005 and have garnered great success in the field of nanoscience. The 2021 conference was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a four-year hiatus, the conference is returning. ChinaNANO 2023 is a highly anticipated international nanotechnology conference that will provide an unparalleled opportunity for global colleagues to reconnect and engage in discussions on the latest scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, and emerging trends in the field. As the largest and most prestigious conference on nanotechnology in Asia and beyond, ChinaNANO 2023 is expected to draw more than 2500 participants.

MDPI will be attending the event as an exhibitor, and we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

We are looking forward to meeting you at our booth, where you can find more information about the journals attending the conference:

  • Nanomaterials;
  • Nanomanufacturing;
  • Symmetry;
  • Crystals;
  • Micromachines;
  • Materials;
  • Inorganics;
  • Batteries;
  • Applied Nano;
  • Molecules;
  • Nanoenergy Advances;
  • Electronics.

Our representatives Ms. Sally Tsui and Ms. Cassie Zhang are eager to answer your questions and address any inquiries you may have.

We welcome you to Beijing in August 2023!

You can find out more about the conference at the following link: http://www.chinanano.org.cn/en/.

16 August 2023
Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song Appointed Associate Editor of Materials


We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song has been appointed Associate Editor of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We wish Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

Name: Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song
Affiliation: Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Homepage: http://ylsong.iccas.ac.cn/
Interests: nanomaterials and green printing technology; printed electrics and photonics; fabrication and applications of photonic crystals

Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song has been a Full Professor at the Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS) since 2001. His research interests include green printing materials and technology, polymer photonic crystals, and optic/electric device fabrication. He has published more than 600 academic papers in peer-reviewed journals, has an h-index of 100, and has been granted more than 140 patents. He has proposed and developed nano-green printing as well as micro/nanomanufacturing technology, breaking through fundamental challenges, such as the coffee ring effect, Rayleigh instability, and the Marangoni effect, that affect printing accuracy. He has printed wearable electronics, solar cells, ultrasensitive biosensing chips, and other functional devices. He has won numerous academic awards, including the Second Prize of National Natural Science Award in 2005 and 2008, the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2006, the First Prize of Beijing Science and Technology Award in 2016, the IEC 1906 Award in 2019, and National Innovation Competition Award in 2023.

We are honored that we have the opportunity to introduce Prof. Dr. Yanlin Song to our editorial team, and we are confident that, with the guidance of our new Associate Editor, we will continue to improve the reputation and quality of Materials (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials).

14 August 2023
Meet Us at the 17th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes (FEMS EUROMAT 2023), 3–7 September 2023, Frankfurt am Main, Germany


The 17th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes (FEMS EUROMAT 2023) will be held from 3 to 7 September 2023, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The conference is organized by the German Materials Society.

Areas include the following:

  • Functional materials;
  • Structural materials;
  • Processing;
  • Characterization and modeling;
  • Energy and transportation;
  • Materials for healthcare;
  • Education, strategy, and technology transfer;
  • Materials for circularity and sustainability.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #B-20 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://euromat2023.com/congress/welcome-address.

11 August 2023
Meet Us at the 6th International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cell and Optoelectronics (PSCO 2023), 18–20 September 2023, Oxford, UK


MDPI will be attending the 6th International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cell and Optoelectronics (PSCO 2023) in Oxford, UK, which will take place from 18 to 20 September 2023. The program will include a combination of invited talks, contributing talks and poster presentations in a meeting that will bring a broad spectrum of the community together to discuss and share knowledge on the latest advances in perovskite materials, devices and photophysical and optoelectronic properties and phenomena.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.psco-conference.org/.

11 August 2023
Meet Us at the 18th International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets (ICMM2023), 10–14 September 2023, Nanjing, China


Conference: 18th International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets (ICMM2023)
Date: 10–14 September 2023
Location: Nanjing, China

MDPI will be attending ICMM 2023 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

ICMM is a grand ceremony for all researchers working in related areas all over the world, and is the largest conference covering all topics in molecule-based magnets. The topics that will be covered at the conference will include molecular nanomagnets, spin-crossover materials, long-range ordering magnets, multifunctional and/or switchable materials, nanostructured magnetic materials, molecular spintronics, and devices, as well as other hot topics related to molecule-based magnetism. The conference is organized by the State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry and the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://icmm2023.nju.edu.cn/.

27 July 2023
Materials | Exploring Possible Breakthroughs in Tc Calculations for 11-Type and 111-Type Iron-Based Superconductors

The following paper was published in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), providing possible breakthroughs regarding Tc calculations for 11-type and 111-type iron-based superconductors:

“Preliminary Tc Calculations for Iron-Based Superconductivity in NaFeAs, LiFeAs, FeSe and Nanostructured FeSe/SrTiO3 Superconductors”
by Chi Ho Wong and Rolf Lortz
Materials 202316(13), 4674; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134674
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4674

Our model has successfully shown that when all relevant conduction electrons interact with local Fe moments in iron-based superconductors, the coexistence of superconductivity with local fluctuating antiferromagnetism together with the induced xy potential can lead to an enormous increase in the electron–phonon coupling, which is sufficient to predict the high Tc values in the studied iron-based superconductors. By applying the model to monolayered FeSe on a SrTiO3 substrate, we have concluded that the interfacial phonons are of major importance to explain the high-temperature superconductivity.

Figure 1. The theoretical and experimental Tc values of (a) NaFeAs, (b) LiFeAs and (c) FeSe are consistent. (d) A FeSe monolayered film is deposited on a SrTiO3 monolayer to form a composite. The offset in theoretical and experimental Tc is 100-91=9K only.

High-temperature superconductors are important because they allow for the development of more efficient and powerful technologies. They can be used to create devices with zero electrical resistance, enabling them to conduct electricity without any loss of energy. This makes them ideal for applications such as power transmission lines, magnetic levitation trains, and high-speed computing systems. High-temperature superconductors also have potential applications in medical imaging and quantum computing. One of the families of high-temperature superconductors, iron-based superconductors, has been an area of intense research since its discovery in 2008. The superconducting transition temperature observed in FeSe/SrTiO3 films has been found to be up to 100K. Despite significant advances in understanding the physical properties of these materials, no theoretical calculation of the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of iron-based superconductors has been successful so far. This is mainly due to the complexity of the electronic structure and strong electron–electron correlations that are present in these materials. Nevertheless, a team of researchers (Prof. Chi Ho Wong1,2 and Prof. Rolf Lortz1) from the 1Department of Physics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the 2Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a new model that can calculate the Tc of several iron-based superconductors (bulk FeSe, LiFeAs, NaFeAs and FeSe/SrTiO3 film) with good accuracy; the model was published in Materials. The model may make a significant contribution to the comprehension of superconductivity in iron-based materials.

Prof. Wong and Prof. Lortz have recently announced a major breakthrough in the Tc calculation of iron-based superconductors (IBSC) for bulk LiFeAs, NaFeAs, FeSe and FeSe/SrTiO3 film. Although antiferromagnetic-enhanced electron–phonon coupling on the Fermi surface cannot produce such high Tc values, they have created the two-channel model to call out the hidden induced xy potential originating from the out-of-plane phonon under antiferromagnetic fluctuations (abbreviated as the Coh factor), in order to refine the calculation of electron–phonon coupling. Furthermore, they have based their model on ARPES data to consider all relevant electrons participating in iron-based superconductivity (abbreviated as the ARPES factor) instead of solely focusing on the interactions at the Fermi level. In the experimental proof of ARPES, all the relevant electrons in the studied superconductors located in the energy range between EF-EDebye and EF are taken into consideration, with EF being the Fermi energy and EDebye being the Debye Energy. The ARPES factor and Coh factor have made a big step to reduce the discrepancy between theoretical and experimental Tc values of the aforementioned materials. This approach allows their model to reasonably predict the superconducting transition temperatures of bulk LiFeAs, NaFeAs, FeSe as a function of pressure in Figure 1a–c. However, the team was able to calculate the highest-Tc IBSC material, FeSe/SrTiO3 (~100K), only if the effect of interfacial phonon between FeSe and SrTiO3 is considered in Figure 1d, which connects phonons to iron-based superconductivity indirectly. The team is now upgrading the model by considering momentum dependence on the superconducting gap and spin-orbital coupling, etc., and checking whether the model is one of the missing puzzles in a unified theory of iron-based superconductors or not.

27 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO’s Letter #2

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Open Peer Review Reports

Continuing the topic of openness from my inaugural monthly CEO letter, in these Opening Thoughts, I highlight the growth and importance of open peer-review reports at MDPI. Open peer reports align with the principles of open science, making the publishing process more transparent and facilitating rigorous peer review.

MDPI journals operate an open peer-review option by default, allowing authors to publish review reports and author responses (often referred to as open reports) together with the published paper. Publishing the reviewer reports and author responses together with the article provides greater transparency and trust for readers, as this allows them to track the editorial decision-making process. Open peer-review also encourages reviewers and editors to provide high-quality comments, as these will be made public if the article is accepted for publication.

Start and Growth of Open Peer Review at MDPI

The MDPI journal Life was a pioneer in offering this opportunity to its authors in 2014. The first MDPI article with peer-review reports openly published was a review by the Nobel Laureate Werner Arber, in which the review reports were published as supplementary material. By 2018, open peer-review was available across all MDPI journals. As such, MDPI authors have embraced the open peer-review model, providing a steady increase in the number of MDPI articles. As of 2023, approximately one-third (34.0%) of MDPI articles were published with open review reports.

As at July 2023, the percentage of MDPI articles published with open peer review has increased to 36.2% of the total papers published in 2023 so far, indicating ongoing growth in adoption.

Open peer review continues to play a critical role in the assessment of the peer-review process in Life. For further insights, please see the recent editorial by Dr. Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto, the former Editor-in-Chief of Life, who spearheaded the implementation of the open peer-review process.

Benefits of Open Peer Review

The benefits of open peer review include increased transparency, trust and constructive feedback. To promote open communication further and increase the robustness of the peer-review process, we encourage reviewers to sign their reports so that their name appears on the review report (this process is referred to as open identity). The default option is for reviewers to remain anonymous; however, by signing the reports, reviewers receive direct credit for their contribution to the peer-review process and show their commitment towards open science.

As the leading open access publisher, MDPI remains committed to promoting open peer-review and encourages authors to choose this approach. Our goal is to provide a rigorous and transparent peer-review process that benefits the scientific community, and we believe that open peer-review is a vital step in fostering openness and collaboration in scientific communication.

Impactful Research

MDPI Papers Cited in the News – IJERPH edition

Every month, our corporate marketing team compiles data from Altmetrics to create a list of MDPI papers that have been cited in the news. This list continues to grow as renowned news outlets regularly reference research published by MDPI in their articles.

During 2022, a total of 111,965 MDPI research papers were mentioned in prominent news outlets such as National Geographic, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Guardian, the BBC, CNN, Time, and Harvard Business Review.

Highly Cited Journal Publications

IJERPH, known for publishing impactful research, received the most news mentions among all MDPI journals in 2022, based on Altmetrics data:

  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: 3509 mentions
  • Nutrients: 2698 mentions
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences: 1701 mentions
  • Journal of Clinical Medicine: 1131 mentions
  • Viruses: 1111 mentions

These numbers show the recognition and impact of the articles published in IJERPH. For a more detailed view of the journal’s most cited and viewed papers, you can visit here. In total, IJERPH has garnered over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets, and as at July 2023, an impressive count of over 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more. These figures highlight the impactful contribution of IJERPH publications to the scientific community.

Example of Recent Mentions

During May and June 2023, a noteworthy selection of articles from IJERPH was cited in news articles, including:

The Washington Post: “Bringing nature inside can improve your health. Here’s how to do it.”
IJERPH paper:Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments

Harvard Business Review: “How to Take Better Breaks at Work, According to Research
IJERPH paper:Canine-Assisted Therapy Improves Well-Being in Nurses

National Geographic: “Lyme disease is spreading fast—but a vaccine may be on the way
IJERPH paper:Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease

Inside MDPI

MDPI Develops an Artificial Intelligence Tool to Enhance the Peer-Review Process

At MDPI, we believe that rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing. We are grateful to the scholars who generously dedicate their time to peer-review articles submitted to MDPI journals. Their contributions are invaluable to the advancement of science.

Peer-review is a critical part of the publication process, ensuring that MDPI upholds the highest quality standards for the papers we publish. Every manuscript submitted to our journals undergoes a comprehensive peer-review process conducted by subject-matter experts.

To further enhance our peer-review process, our Data Analytics team has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool designed to support the selection of reviewers. This proprietary tool utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP), a specially designed AI language model, to extract information from the title and abstract of submitted papers. It then searches our database for similar manuscripts and suggests potential reviewers based on this analysis. Integrated with MDPI's submission system (SuSy), the AI tool cross-references the suggested candidates with our reviewer database to verify their invitation status and availability.

The goal of this tool is to provide better targeted peer-review invitations, reducing the number of emails sent for each paper and increasing the efficiency of our editorial staff.

In the near future, our Data Analytics team plans to deploy similar AI projects to improve other critical aspects of our services, offering an enhanced experience to our authors and readers.

Click here to learn about MDPI’s review process, including procedures, responsibilities, and benefits.

Read more:

Coming Together for Science

The Future of IJERPH

On 5 July 2023, Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou, the founding Editor-in-Chief of IJERPH, along with five Section Editors in Chief (Prof. Dr. Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, Prof. Dr. Karl Goodkin, Prof. Dr. William A. Toscano, Prof. Dr. Jimmy T. Efird, and Prof. Dr. William Douglas Evans), gathered in Basel to discuss the future of the journal. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the recent decision by The Web of Science to delist IJERPH due to the journal failing the Content Relevance criterion, and propose best strategies that will ensure high scientific rigor as well as a clear scope and aim of IJERPH, going forward.

While the delisting is disappointing for IJERPH, as well as for our authors, academic editors, and the entire scientific community supporting our journal, we see it as an opportunity to reflect and prepare for the future direction of the journal.

Since its launch in 2004, IJERPH’s vision and mission have evolved to be more complete and comprehensive in engaging scientific communities. In light of this, we will refresh the journal’s aims and scope, ensuring they align with the organic expansion of IJERPH. Additionally, we will restructure the journal sections into broader categories, encouraging collaborative research and transdisciplinary approaches for authors. This is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse fields, contributing to a holistic understanding of health promotion and disease prevention. We are confident that these next steps will enhance the scientific strength and societal impact of our journal.

Journal Achievements

In addition to the productive discussions, we took the time to celebrate some of the remarkable achievements of IJERPH, which I highlight below:

  • Founded by Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou in 2004
  • Indexed in PubMed in 2008
  • Received its first Impact Factor in 2012
  • Published its 5000th paper in 2017
  • Over 60,000 papers published as at June 30, 2023
  • 131,628,173 paper views in 2018–2022
  • Over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets
  • 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more as at June 30, 2023
  • No.1 journal in the 2022 Google Scholar Metrics in the category of Public Health
  • Awarded several editions of Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards since 2018.

These achievements showcase the journal’s significant contributions to the field and its impact on global health. We are proud of the exceptional work accomplished by the IJERPH team and look forward to building upon this success in the years to come.

Closing Thoughts

MDPI’s Impact in Spain

During the past month, I had the opportunity to visit our new office building in Barcelona, where I met with our local colleagues to discuss the ways we serve the scholarly community, particularly in Spain. The multi-functional office plays a vital role in supporting various business needs, including editorial, design, conference management, data analytics, journal relationship management, publishing partnerships, and collaborations with societies.

Spain holds a significant position in MDPI’s global market, ranking as the fourth-largest contributor to the total number of papers published by MDPI as at July 2023, ranking next to Italy, the USA, and China, with Germany completing the top five.

The Numbers

Out of the 1,680,000 total MDPI articles published as at 25 July, almost 80,000 articles are contributed by Spanish authors, representing nearly 40,000 unique authors affiliated with Spanish institutions. Remarkably, over 6,300 of these authors hold editorial board member (EBM) positions within MDPI journals, with 30 of them serving as Editors-in-Chief (EiCs).

Our commitment to working with institutions is very evident in Spain, where we have successfully established over 40 Institutional Open Access Programs (IOAP) with esteemed institutions such as the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra University, the University of Navarre, and Complutense University of Madrid.

Over the past five years, we have successfully organized eight in-person conferences in Barcelona, attracting over 1,150 registrations, with two forthcoming events scheduled for 2024. Barcelona's excellent connectivity to international airports makes it easily accessible to participants from around the world. Its welcoming atmosphere provides us with the perfect environment for knowledge-sharing, networking, and contributing to the local economy.

Our growth and presence in Spain are a true testament to the incredible service we provide to the scholarly community and the relationships we foster through responsive and collaborative communication. We look forward to continuing to support Spanish scholars, providing them a valuable and trusted experience with MDPI, the leader in open access publishing.

Testimonials

I close this letter as I did in the first edition, by sharing testimonials from our stakeholders. Here are a few IJERPH testimonials from a Spanish guest editor and an author:

Guest Editor
“I want to thank the kindness, attention and professionalism of the MDPI team throughout the editorial process of the Special Issue. I believe that it is a very professional and quality editorial process.”
- Professor Víctor Arufe-Giráldez, University of A Coruña
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Activity in Childhood and Adolescence
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Education: Present and Future
__
Author
“I want to thank the rigor of the revisions made to the manuscripts to improve their quality, the support to the authors for the editor assignment system they have and the follow-up they carry out, for the speed in answering and in carrying out the entire process of the revision, and for doing all this at an affordable price.”
- Dr. María Paz García-Caro, University of Granada
Article in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Factors Associated with Suicide Attempts and Suicides in the General Population of Andalusia (Spain)

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

25 July 2023
Meet Us at the 15th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2023), 27 August–1 September 2023, Prague, Czech Republic


Conference: 15th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2023)
Date: 27 August–1 September 2023
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

MDPI will be attending EuropaCat 2023 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

EuropaCat has become a traditional meeting place for scientists and researchers from academia and industry who are based all over Europe. Consequently, it has developed into a forum to discuss important challenges in the field of catalysis and the related industrial areas and beyond. The conference is jointly organized by the catalysis societies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.europacat2023.cz/.

25 July 2023
Meet Us at the 4th National Conference on Inorganic Membranes, 11–14 August 2023, Nanjing, China


MDPI will attend the 4th National Conference on Inorganic Membranes. This conference hosted by the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society and Nanjing University of Technology will be held in Nanjing from 11 to 14 August 2023.

The conference aims to fully display, exchange, and summarize the latest achievements in the field of academic research on inorganic membranes in China, and promote the development of the inorganic membranes industry and the improvement of academic levels. The theme of this conference is “Low-Carbon Process Reengineering with Membrane Technology as the Core”. The conference topics cover membrane material types, application fields and technical fields.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth (#8) and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://ncim2023.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/19014.

 

24 July 2023
Meet Us at the 9th International Discussion Meeting on Relaxations in Complex Systems, 12–18 August 2023, Chiba, Japan


MDPI will be attending the 9th International Discussion Meeting on Relaxations in Complex Systems, organized by the University of Tokyo, held from 12 to 18 August 2023, in Chiba, Japan.

The conference topics include the following:

  • Polymer Nanocomposites and MOF;
  • Photonic Disordered Materials;
  • Network and Inorganic Glasses;
  • Interrelation between T and V in Dynamics of Liquids and Polymers;
  • Colloidal Systems and Dispersions;
  • Information Science and Machine Learning;
  • Linear and Nonlinear Dielectric Dynamics.

During this conference, MDPI (at booth #Ex-14) will welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest views and research with us.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #Ex-14 and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://9idmrcs.jp/index.html.

17 July 2023
Materials Webinar | Nanoarchitectonics of Functional Materials, Held on 26 July 2023


On 26 July 2023, MDPI and the journal Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) organized the webinar on materials titled “Nanoarchitectonics of Functional Materials”. The webinar focused on functional materials, discussing how to use nanostructure technology to achieve specific properties and functions of materials, and enabling a better understanding of the cutting-edge trends in material design through an in-depth understanding of the principles and applications of nanostructure technology.

Dr. Fabien Grasset first explained the latest progress in nano-architecture. Prof. Dr. David Leong made a report on nanomaterials-induced endothelial leakiness. Prof. Dr. Jung Ho Kim focused on nanoarchitectonics of lithium-ion pathways through pores in a carbon framework and proposed that the structure is helpful for improving the storage capability and reversibility of lithium metal anode. Finally, Prof. Dr. Katsuhiko Ariga made a summary statement of the meeting.

Please note that this webinar is associated with three Special Issues in the Materials journal:

You can watch the recorded webinar below:

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

  • Dr. Fabien Grasset, Rennes Institute for Chemical Sciences, CNRS, France; LINK, NIMS-Saint-Gobain-CNRS, Japan;
  • Prof. Dr. Katsuhiko Ariga, WPI Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan; Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan;
  • Prof. Dr. David Leong, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore;
  • Prof. Dr. Jung Ho Kim, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM), University of Wollongong, Australia.

11 July 2023
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in June 2023

With the first issue released in June 2023, five new MDPI journals disseminating multi-disciplinary science are due to launch, which will cover the subjects of medicine & pharmacology, biology and physical sciences.

The newly launched journals will be overseen by professional Editorial Board Members and Editors to ensure an accurate and rapid publication, rigorous peer review and broad visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal Founding Editor-in-Chief Journal topics (selected)
Prof. Dr. Jun Ma, Peking University, China| Editorial | view inaugural issue growth and development;
diet and nutrients; school health promotion policies and practices; child health and care; adolescent health and wellbeing | view journal scope | submit an article
Prof. Dr. Bernd Rehm, Griffith University, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue DNA and gene synthesis; synthetic transcription factors; protein engineering; viral engineering; metabolic engineering | view journal scope | submit an article
Prof. Dr. Varsha Gandhi, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue lymphatics; cancers associated with lymphocytes and lymphoblasts; lymphatic tissues; lymphoma; lymphoid leukemia | view journal scope | submit an article
Dr. Bradley Turner, University of Melbourne, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; primary lateral sclerosis; atherosclerosis; systemic sclerosis | view journal scope | submit an article
Prof. Dr. Clemens Burda, Case Western Reserve University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue Gamma ray, X-ray, and UV–Vis spectroscopies; NIR/mid-infrared/Raman spectroscopy; microwave and THz spectroscopy; high-resolution gas-phase atomic, molecular, and cluster spectroscopy; MS, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to submit an application to the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

3 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO’s Letter

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

The Future is Open, and MDPI is Leading the Way

I strongly believe in a future that embraces openness, where open source, open information, and open access (OA) take center stage. This belief that led me to join MDPI in 2020, and I am honored to have recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In this capacity, and operating in close liaison with Dr. Lin and MDPI’s senior management, I shall work to build on Dr. Lin’s achievements of the past quarter-century. In this role, I will focus on communication initiatives to promote MDPI's remarkable work and continue to build our company as a trusted leader in OA publishing. For over two decades, MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020. This trajectory is deeply rooted in our history and reflects our unwavering commitment and vision for an open future.

1 Million Published Articles

2023 began with a remarkable achievement for MDPI, as we became the first OA publisher to reach the milestone of 1 million published articles. This represents 2.7 million unique authors who have trusted us with their work, or about a third of all researchers worldwide. As the world's most cited OA publisher, we are proud in sharing these significant milestones.

Our mission remains unchanged: to make science open and accessible to all. We understand the importance of knowledge access, empowering researchers to stay at the forefront of a rapidly changing world. Our diverse range of journals covers a wide spectrum of disciplines, offering cutting-edge insights, trusted tools, and crucial knowledge to address global challenges.

Liberating Science

As the world’s leading OA publisher, MDPI is actively liberating science. We are committed to eliminating the frustrations researchers and the general public face when accessing information, ensuring it is not locked behind paywalls. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to information, and our commitment to open access publishing drives our work.

In this inaugural edition of Insights: The CEO's Letter, I draw inspiration from the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access. Its stated mission reminds us that true impact is achieved when knowledge is widely and readily available to society:

"Our mission of disseminating knowledge is only half complete if the information is not made widely and readily available to society”

Impactful Research

MDPI Publishes Impactful Research: Recognized by Leading Indexing Databases

MDPI journals are indexed in every single top database in the world.

As of June 2023, we have 214 journals indexed within Web of Science, 223 indexed within Scopus, 87 indexed within PubMed and PMC, and 17 indexed within MEDLINE, and these numbers increase every month. We constantly strive to expand the coverage of our journals within leading multi-disciplinary and scope-specific databases, resulting in an incredibly broad range of journals that are indexed within a variety of databases. MDPI has active relationships with approximately 65 well-known databases around the world, and we continue to expand our portfolio every year so that your work can be found, cited, and referenced with ease.

Continued Growth of MDPI Journals

The 2022 Scopus and Web of Science journal citation metrics were officially released in June, and I am pleased to report that 31 MDPI journals received their first CiteScore, taking the total number of journals with a CiteScore to 216. The number of MDPI journals receiving an Impact Factor (IF) also continues to grow with 111 receiving their first, by being covered in the ESCI, bringing our total number of journals with an IF to 208 of which 41 journals received an IF above 4.0. Looking at 2022 CiteScores in the Scopus database, 80% of MDPI journals have a score that ranks them in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.

Publishing impactful science would not be possible without all of our authors, editors and reviewers. Thank you for your contribution and continued support! Together we share the latest scientific insights faster and ensure that your work is accessible to all.

Read more

Interview with Indexing Manager—Constanze Shelhorn

Inside MDPI

Preprints.org: Clarivate adds the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science

At MDPI, we are dedicated to driving the advancement of science. Through our initiative, Preprints.org, researchers can publish their work and gain valuable feedback from the broader research community, ensuring rapid progress in their respective fields. This is particularly crucial during times of health and climate challenges, where timely dissemination of findings is essential.

Increased Visibility for Preprints

I am pleased to share that Clarivate recognizes the significance of preprints and has taken a crucial step to enhance their visibility. Clarivate has added the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science, encompassing preprints published not only on Preprints.org but also on other reputable repositories.

Looking ahead, the future of preprints appears promising, bolstered by the recent indexing announcement from the Web of Science. As a result, preprints will receive increased visibility, serving as a valuable resource for staying informed about the latest research developments.

Read more

What are Preprints?
The Pros and Cons of Preprints
Preprints and COVID-19
Preprints—The Future of Open Access Publishing?

Coming Together for Science

The First International Conference on Antioxidants: Sources, Methods, Health Benefits and Industrial Applications

In this edition of ‘Coming Together for Science,’ I am pleased to highlight the First International Conference on Antioxidants organized by our conference team in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. The conference attracted over 130 attendees, who engaged in 42 talks, and 89 poster presentations spread across several sessions.

Working Together

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano (Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy) and Prof. Dr. Rosa M. Lamuela Raventos (Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, University of Barcelona, Spain) as chairs, and supported by the committee members, 10 invited keynote speakers, poster presenters, and all the attendees, this dedicated group of academics came together to discuss the natural sources, methodologies, health benefits, and industrial applications of antioxidants.

Especially noteworthy is the positive feedback received from attendees, with 94% rating the overall organization of the conference as good or excellent. I particularly love the picture above, capturing the gathering of some of the participants. You can browse through more photos in the event gallery located here.

Managing Events With Sciforum

If you are considering hosting your own academic event, I highly recommend checking out Sciforum, MDPI's event management platform. Sciforum simplifies the entire process, making it easy to host your own event by allowing you to focus on what really matters: Science!

Read more

Sciforum: forthcoming events
Spotlight on Antioxidants

Closing Thoughts

Stefan Tochev, Dr. Shu-Kun Lin, Dr. Eric O. Freed, Peter Roth, Wynne Wang, Allison Yang

Viruses and Editorial Quality: Acknowledging the Dedication of our Viruses Journal Team

During a June meeting with Dr. Eric O. Freed, the founding and current Editor-in-Chief of our journal Viruses, I was reminded of the exceptional dedication of our editorial board. Meeting with Eric is a pleasure, as he has a strong commitment and clear vision for the journal. Over the course of two days, we gained a deep understanding of the journal’s expectations and focus on strategic growth, editorial board representation, and engagement.

I am pleased to share that Viruses holds a CiteScore of 7.1 (an increase of 7.57% versus the 2021 metric) and an Impact Factor of 4.7. You can view the journal statistics here. Viruses publishes highly cited papers, and is indexed in renowned databases such as Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, and others, and maintains affiliations with prestigious societies. Moreover, the Viruses team has recently announced an exciting upcoming event titled ‘Viruses 2024 – A World of Viruses,’ scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 14–16 February 2024.

Testimonials

If you notice my enthusiasm regarding our editorial service, it’s because the surveys and testimonials we receive speak volumes about the experiences of our authors, reviewers, and guest editors who collaborate with MDPI. The purpose of these letters is to highlight the exceptional work that we do and the experiences we create for the scholars – thus, let me end with this testimonial from an author:

“It was a great pleasure to publish in Viruses Special Issue [Emerging Viruses in Aquaculture]. The submission process was easy. Guest editors were very helpful and provided all the guidance and support as needed. The handling of the manuscript by the Editorial Team was very fast, efficient, and professional. The reviewer’s comments were insightful, and the publication processes were remarkably rapid.”
Ms. Magdalena Stachnik, Państwowy Instytut Weterynaryjny | PIWet

Article in Viruses: Emerging Viral Pathogens in Sturgeon Aquaculture in Poland: Focus on Herpesviruses and Mimivirus Detection

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 June 2023
2022 Impact Factors for MDPI Journals

The 2022 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals:

We are thrilled to announce that 90% of our ranked MDPI journals, specifically 86 out of 96 (captured in the table below), are performing above average in Q1 or Q2. This year, Clarivate has expanded its Impact Factor (IF) awards to include journals in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), providing greater transparency for the full set of journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. As a result, 111 of MDPI journals have received their first IF in 2023, with 37 journals surpassing an IF of 3.0. In total, 208 MDPI journals have been honored with an IF.

Clarivate explains that by "expanding the coverage but holding to highly selective standards, the [Impact Factor] is now a reliable indicator of trustworthiness, as well as a measure of scholarly impact, at the journal level."

Please visit our blog post where we discuss the release of the latest citation metrics with our Indexing Manager, Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, to find out what's different this time around and how to make use of different metrics available.

Journal Impact Factor Rank Quartile Category
Vaccines 7.8 Q1 Immunology
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Antioxidants 7.0 Q1 Food Science & Technology
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chemistry, Medicinal
Cells 6.0 Q2 Cell Biology
Nutrients 5.9 Q1 Nutrition & Dietetics
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 5.6 Q1 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research 5.6 Q2 Business
Biomolecules 5.5 Q1 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biosensors 5.4 Q1 Chemistry, Analytical
Instruments & Instrumentation
Q2 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Fractal and Fractional 5.4 Q1 Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Marine Drugs 5.4 Q1 Chemistry, Medicinal
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Pharmaceutics 5.4 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nanomaterials 5.3 Q1 Physics, Applied
Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Cancers 5.2 Q2 Oncology
Foods 5.2 Q1 Food Science & Technology
Polymers 5.0 Q1 Polymer Science
Remote Sensing 5.0 Q1 Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Q2 Remote Sensing
Imaging Science & Photographic Technology
Environmental Sciences
Antibiotics 4.8 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Q2 Infectious Diseases
Drones 4.8 Q2 Remote Sensing
Journal of Functional Biomaterials 4.8 Q2 Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Biomedicines 4.7 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Q2 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Journal of Fungi 4.7 Q2 Mycology
Microbiology
Viruses 4.7 Q2 Virology
Bioengineering 4.6 Q2 Engineering, Biomedical
Gels 4.6 Q1 Polymer Science
Molecules 4.6 Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pharmaceuticals 4.6 Q2 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chemistry, Medicinal
Toxics 4.6 Q1 Toxicology
Q2 Environmental Sciences
Biomimetics 4.5 Q1 Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Q2 Materials Science, Biomaterials
Microorganisms 4.5 Q2 Microbiology
Plants 4.5 Q1 Plant Sciences
Biology 4.2 Q2 Biology
Chemosensors 4.2 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Chemistry, Analytical
Electrochemistry
Membranes 4.2 Q2 Engineering, Chemical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Polymer Science
Toxins 4.2 Q1 Toxicology
Q2 Food Science & Technology
Metabolites 4.2 Q2 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Batteries 4.0 Q2 Electrochemistry
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Q3 Energy & Fuels
Catalysts 3.9 Q2 Chemistry, Physical
Journal of Clinical Medicine 3.9 Q2 Medicine, General & Internal
Land 3.9 Q2 Environmental Studies
Sensors 3.9 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Chemistry, Analytical
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Sustainability 3.9 Q2 Environmental Sciences (SCIE)
Environmental Studies (SSCI)
Q3 Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SCIE)
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SSCI)
Buildings 3.8 Q2 Construction & Building Technology
Engineering, Civil
Agronomy 3.7 Q1 Agronomy
Q2 Plant Sciences
Fermentation 3.7 Q2 Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pathogens 3.7 Q2 Microbiology
Agriculture 3.6 Q1 Agronomy
Diagnostics 3.6 Q2 Medicine, General & Internal
Genes 3.5 Q2 Genetics & Heredity
Journal of Intelligence 3.5 Q2 Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Lubricants 3.5 Q2 Engineering, Mechanical
Processes 3.5 Q2 Engineering, Chemical
Coatings 3.4 Q2 Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Physics, Applied
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 3.4 Q2 Geography, Physical
Q3 Computer Science, Information Systems
Remote Sensing
Materials 3.4 Q2 Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Micromachines 3.4 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Physics, Applied
Chemistry, Analytical
Q3 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Water 3.4 Q2 Water Resources
Environmental Sciences
Brain Sciences 3.3 Q3 Neurosciences
Energies 3.2 Q3 Energy & Fuels
Fire 3.2 Q1 Forestry
Q2 Ecology
Life 3.2 Q2 Biology
Current Issues in Molecular Biology 3.1 Q3 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Horticulturae 3.1 Q1 Horticulture
Animals 3.0 Q1 Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Veterinary Sciences
Insects 3.0 Q1 Entomology
Atmosphere 2.9 Q3 Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Electronics 2.9 Q2 Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Physics, Applied
Q3 Computer Science, Information Systems
Forests 2.9 Q1 Forestry
Inorganics 2.9 Q2 Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2.9 Q1 Engineering, Marine
Q2 Oceanography
Engineering, Ocean
Metals 2.9 Q2 Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 2.9 Q2 Tropical Medicine
Parasitology
Q3 Infectious Diseases
Universe 2.9 Q2 Astronomy & Astrophysics
Physics, Particles & Fields
Healthcare 2.8 Q2 Health Policy & Services (SSCI)
Q3 Health Care Sciences & Services (SCIE)
Applied Sciences 2.7 Q2 Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Q3 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Crystals 2.7 Q2 Crystallography
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Entropy 2.7 Q2 Physics, Multidisciplinary
Magnetochemistry 2.7 Q2 Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Q3 Chemistry, Physical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Symmetry 2.7 Q2 Multidisciplinary Sciences
Actuators 2.6 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Engineering, Mechanical
Aerospace 2.6 Q1 Engineering, Aerospace
Behavioral Sciences 2.6 Q2 Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Current Oncology 2.6 Q3 Oncology
Machines 2.6 Q2 Engineering, Mechanical
Q3 Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Medicina 2.6 Q3 Medicine, General & Internal
Separations 2.6 Q3 Chemistry, Analytical
Minerals 2.5 Q2 Mining & Mineral Processing
Mineralogy
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Children 2.4 Q2 Pediatrics
Diversity 2.4 Q2 Biodiversity Conservation
Q3 Ecology
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease 2.4 Q3 Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mathematics 2.4 Q1 Mathematics
Photonics 2.4 Q3 Optics
Veterinary Sciences 2.4 Q1 Veterinary Sciences
Fishes 2.3 Q2 Marine & Freshwater Biology
Fisheries
Axioms 2.0 Q2 Mathematics, Applied
Systems 1.9 Q2 Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Tomography 1.9 Q3 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging


Note: The Journal of Personalized Medicine's Impact Factor was omitted in the original release and will be assigned separately. Please find the data on the journal webpage in due course.

Source: 2022 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports TM (Clarivate, 2023)

 

28 June 2023
Meet Us at the 3rd National Cellulose Symposium of the Chinese Chemical Society, 8–11 August 2023, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

The 3rd National Cellulose Symposium of the Chinese Chemical Society will be held from 8 to 11 August 2023, in Guiyang, Guizhou, China. The conference is hosted by the Chinese Chemical Society and is organized by the School of Materials and Metallurgy of Guizhou University. 

Topics include the following:

  • Functional structure and application of cellulose-based materials;
  • Basic theory and function of nanocellulose;
  • Efficient green conversion of cellulose;
  • Separation, structure, modification, and application of lignin;
  • Development and utilization of other biomass resources;
  • Natural polymer energy storage, smart materials, and devices;
  • Cellulose chemicals and cellulose recycled materials industry forum. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Polymers;
  • Gels;
  • Fibers;
  • Polysaccharides;
  • Macromol;
  • Materials;
  • Membranes. 

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #2 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/home/m484.

27 June 2023
Meet Us at the International Conference on Processing & Manufacturing of Advanced Materials: Processing, Fabrication, Properties, Applications, 2–7 July 2023, Vienna, Austria


The International Conference on Processing & Manufacturing of Advanced Materials: Processing, Fabrication, Properties, Applications (THERMEC’2023) is the twelfth international conference on the advanced materials series built upon the proven concept and continues the tradition of its eleven predecessors: Japan (1988), Australia (1997), USA (2000), Spain (2003), Vancouver, Canada (2006), Berlin, Germany (2009), Quebec City, Canada (2011), Las Vegas, USA (2013), Graz, Austria (2016), Paris, France (2018) and Virtual Conference in June 2021.

MDPI will be attending the event as an exhibitor, and we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

We are looking forward to meeting you at our booth #35, where you can find more information about the MDPI journals attending the conference:

Our representatives Igor Matic and Teodora Stepanov are eager to answer your questions and address any inquiries you may have.

19 June 2023
Materials 2024 Travel Award—Open for Nominations

We are pleased to announce that Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) will be granting the Travel Award to two junior scientists. The applications will be assessed by an Evaluation Committee consisting of senior scholars from the Materials Editorial Board.

This award provides financial support for the winners to attend an international conference in the field of materials science and engineering, to be held in 2024, in order to hold a presentation, present a poster, or both.

Candidate requirements:

  • Postdoctoral fellows or Ph.D. students;
  • Plans to attend an international conference in 2024 (oral presentation or poster).

Required application documents:

  • Information of the conference the applicant is planning to attend and the abstract that will be submitted;
  • Curriculum vitae and list of publications;
  • Justification letter describing the focus of the research (max. 800 words);
  • Letter of recommendation from the supervisor, research director, or department head, which also confirms the applicant’s status as a postdoctoral fellow/Ph.D. student.

The winners (two awardees) will each be awarded CHF 800 and an electronic certificate.

Please submit your applications for the Materials 2024 Travel Award at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards/submit/2418 by 30 November 2023. Prizes will be awarded at the end of January 2024 and announced on the Materials website.

Materials Editorial Office

16 June 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in Section “Energy Materials”


Section “Energy Materials” is a platform for the publication of original articles and comprehensive reviews on the fundamental science and application of materials used for harvesting, conversion, storage, transmission, and the utilization of energy.

Both simulation/modeling and experimental contributions on the design, preparation, processing, characterization, and performance of materials for energy-related technologies and applications are welcome.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the “Energy Materials” Section listed below:

“Modeling Analysis of a Polygeneration Plant Using a CeO2/Ce2O3 Chemical Looping”
by Greta Magnolia, Massimo Santarelli, Domenico Ferrero and Davide Papurello
Materials 2023, 16(1), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010315
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/315

“Nanocomposite Electrode of Titanium Dioxide Nanoribbons and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Storage”
by Mohammad BinSabt, Mohamed Shaban and Ahmed Gamal
Materials 2023, 16(2), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020595
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/595

“Modeling and Characterization of Surface Discharges in Insulating Material for Spacers: Electrode Shape, Discharge Mode, and Revision of the Creepage Concept”
by Debasish Nath, Qichen Yang, Giancarlo Montanari, Weijun Yin, Han Xiong and Karim Younsi
Materials 2023, 16(3), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030989
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/989

“Physicochemical Modeling of Electrochemical Impedance in Solid-State Supercapacitors”
by Davood Peyrow Hedayati, Gita Singh, Michael Kucher, Tony D. Keene and Robert Böhm
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031232
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1232

“Bismuth−Antimony Alloy Embedded in Carbon Matrix for Ultra-Stable Sodium Storage”
by Wensheng Ma, Bin Yu, Fuquan Tan, Hui Gao and Zhonghua Zhang
Materials 2023, 16(6), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062189
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/6/2189

“Black Liquor and Wood Char-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Materials for Supercapacitors”
by Loreta Tamasauskaite-Tamasiunaite, Jolita Jablonskienė, Dijana Šimkūnaitė, Aleksandrs Volperts, Ance Plavniece, Galina Dobele, Aivars Zhurinsh, Vitalija Jasulaitiene, Gediminas Niaura, Audrius Drabavicius et al.
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072551
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/7/2551

“Mechanistic Study of Fast Performance Decay of PtCu Alloy-based Catalyst Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy”
by Maximilian Grandi, Matija Gatalo, Ana Rebeka Kamšek, Gregor Kapun, Kurt Mayer, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Martin Šala, Bernhard Marius, Marjan Bele, Nejc Hodnik et al.
Materials 2023, 16(9), 3544; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093544 
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/9/3544

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:

This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:

You have the opportunity to propose new topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:

If you are an active researcher in the field of energy materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

13 June 2023
Materials Receives an Increased CiteScore of 5.2


We are pleased to inform you that Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has received an updated CiteScore of 5.2, an increase of 10.6% compared with the 2021 metric. The 2022 CiteScore™ was released recently, making an assessment of the scientific influence of journals in the 2019 to 2022 period.

Materials’ CiteScore ranks as follows:

  • Q2 (125 out of 423) in the "Condensed Matter Physics" category;
  • Q2 (163 out of 453) in the "General Materials Science" category.

For more journal statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/stats.

Excellent performance is inseparable from the support and dedication of all journal editors, reviewers, authors, and readers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed to the journal.

12 June 2023
Meet Us at the 33rd CCS Congress, 17–20 June 2023, Qingdao, Shandong, China


MDPI will be attending the 33rd CCS Congress, held in Qingdao, China, from 17 to 20 June 2023. The Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Chemical Society is held every two years. It is the highest level, largest scale and most influential comprehensive academic exchange platform in the field of chemistry in China. During this conference, MDPI will welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest views as well as research with us.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/33rd/.

12 June 2023
Meet Us at ACS Fall 2023 Harnessing the Power of Data, 13–17 August 2023, San Francisco, USA


Conference: ACS Fall 2023
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 13–17 August 2023
Place: Moscone Center, 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA, USA
Booth: #845

MDPI journals will be attending ACS Fall 2023 Harnessing the Power of Data as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in San Francisco, CA, USA, from 13 to 17 August 2023.

American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with more than 151,000 members in 140 countries. ACS Meetings & Expos are held biannually. This expo is an opportunity for thousands of chemistry professionals to meet, share ideas, and advance scientific and technical knowledge. The topic in Fall 2023 is “Harnessing the Power of Data”.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.acs.org/meetings/acs-meetings/fall-2023.html.

12 June 2023
Interview with Dr. Bharat Gwalani—Winner of the Materials 2023 Young Investigator Award

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Materials 2023 Young Investigator Award—Dr. Bharat Gwalani.

 

 

Name: Dr. Bharat Gwalani
Affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Research Interests: alloy design; material processing; corrosion; high entropy alloy; solid phase processing

 

We would like to thank the award committee for selecting one winner from many exceptional candidates, Dr. Bharat Gwalani. We will continue to reward scholars with the Young Investigator Award to express our acknowledgment of their support for the Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We wish them every success in their careers.

The following is a short interview with Dr. Bharat Gwalani:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Since August 2022, I have served as an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University, USA. Before that, I worked as a research scientist at the Pacific Northwest International Lab for approximately four years. My primary research revolves around applying solid-phase processing techniques to create innovative multifunctional materials suitable for challenging extreme environments. At present, my team and I are dedicated to advancing our understanding of deformation-based processing methods at the atomic level. We aim to utilize this knowledge for sustainable manufacturing practices, emphasizing energy conservation and using recycled materials, as opposed to traditional melting technologies.
Before joining the Pacific Northwest International Lab, I completed my Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at the University of North Texas, USA. During my doctoral studies, my focus was on developing high entropy alloys strengthened by precipitation. In 2010, I earned my bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering from India, my country of origin. Additionally, prior to commencing my Ph.D. program in the United States, I gained three years of experience in the steel manufacturing sector.

2. What is your current research, and why did you choose this research field?
The focus right now is trying to reduce energy input because natural resources are limited, and there is an energy crisis, so we need to recycle materials that have already been extracted from ore, so the solid phase processing route seems to be a very practical one. Developing new alloys for advanced processing techniques was very exciting to me, so that was my main motivation.

3. Have you encountered any difficulties in your research? How did you overcome them?
Working at a national laboratory, we are not involved with teaching, but we are involved with multiple projects simultaneously. Switching between each project can be a challenge, particularly in today's competitive environment. It is important to keep learning every day and develop beyond your Ph.D. to continue improving and publishing. The initial phase following a Ph.D. is more difficult, but the different problems inspired me to work hard, and it gave me good exposure and experience. In academia, much time is dedicated to teaching, creating course materials, and helping students while also needing to set up a lab and purchase equipment and pursue funding. Finding funding in areas you want to work in can be a challenge for all new researchers. However, teaching helps you go back to fundamentals which reaffirms your knowledge, so it is a good thing.

4. What qualities do young scholars need to possess?
I think it is very important not to give up easily. Things can be very challenging and can easily seem as if they will not work out, but persistence and drive to keep trying, and also to not feel embarrassed about failing, really helps. Just because it did not work today does not mean the approach you are taking is bad. It just was not your day. Keep going and take baby steps, and it will eventually happen. It is also important to manage your time effectively, to make the most of your time at work and still have a life outside of work. It is different from studying for a Ph.D. because, as a researcher, you work during your stipulated hours, so it is much more important to become efficient at an early stage of your research career.

5. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?
A lab is made up of different members, from the PI to the students, and they work as a cohesive unit. The ‘team’ feeling is very important, and if members are happy to do work rather than feel pushed, then that has long-term benefits. It is important to have fun when you work, so creating that environment in the lab is my focus. I used to enjoy my Ph.D. because I was doing research for myself rather than for somebody else, which helped me a lot.

6. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone to thank?
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to encounter influential individuals who have played pivotal roles in shaping my professional journey. In my initial job at Jindal Stainless Ltd., Dr. L.K. Singhal, the Director of R&D, served as a catalyst, encouraging and inspiring me to explore my curiosity and think outside the box. This guidance ultimately motivated me to pursue a Ph.D., as I realized the significance of nurturing that inner drive. During my Ph.D., I was fortunate to have Dr. Raj Banerjee as my advisor, who struck a perfect balance between providing guidance and fostering independence. His mentorship empowered me to push boundaries and develop my own unique path of research. Similarly, in my previous position at PNNL, the support from leaders such as Dr. Cindy Powell, the Chief Science and Technology Officer, was exceptional. Their dedication to nurturing younger scientists and providing valuable guidance greatly influenced my professional development.
As a recent addition to the NC State community, I have already experienced tremendous support from Dr. Don Brenner, the department head. His unwavering support has been invaluable since joining the university. Personally, I have been fortunate to receive support from numerous individuals who have propelled me forward in life. This support is crucial for anyone striving to make progress, as the trust and belief others have in you serve as powerful motivators.

5 June 2023
Meet Us at the 7th ECCOMAS Young Investigators Conference (YIC 2023), 19–21 June 2023, Porto, Portugal


Conference:
7th ECCOMAS Young Investigators Conference (YIC 2023)
Date: 19–21 June 2023
Location: Porto, Portugal 

MDPI will be attending YIC 2023 as an exhibitor; we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

YIC 2023 is the 7th in the series of international conferences, organized since 2012, with the main purpose of bringing students and young researchers together within a relaxed environment, developing their work in all areas related to computational science and engineering.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Mathematics;
  • AppliedMath;
  • Algorithms;
  • Fluids;
  • Materials;
  • Buildings;
  • MCA;
  • Computation;
  • Symmetry.

If you are attending this conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://paginas.fe.up.pt/~yic2023/.

25 May 2023
Meet Us at the 7th Scientific Meeting of Ph.D. Students (JPhD2023), 7–9 June 2023, Barcelona, Spain
 


MDPI will be presenting at the 7th Scientific Meeting of Ph.D. Students at the UAB campus (JPhD2023). The event will be held at the Sala d'Actes Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, from 7 to 9 June 2023.

JPhD2023 aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge about scientific research from different fields, sharing of research works and communication among the Ph.D. students of the BNC-b in an academic and scientific environment.

MDPI Speaker

Dr. Gabriel Martínez Edo

Dr. Gabriel Martínez Edo
Presentation theme: MDPI Open Access & Peer Review Process 

Dr. Gabriel Martínez Edo holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (2013) and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry (2015) from the IQS school of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull (Barcelona, Spain). He completed his Ph.D. (2020) in chemistry and chemical engineering at the same institution focusing on the use of nanomaterials as drug delivery systems.

He joined MDPI in June 2020 as Assistant Editor and Section Managing Editor for the journal Nanomaterials. In 2021, he was appointed Managing Editor of the journal Nanomanufacturing, a position he held until his recent appointment as Journal Relations Specialist.  

If you are also attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit: https://jphd.icmab.es/.

Relevant Journals:

 

25 May 2023
Materials | 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles in the Section “Materials Simulation and Design”


The Section “Materials Simulation and Design” focuses on all aspects of inorganic and organic material properties, advances in the synthesis, processing, characterization, testing and design of materials and engineering systems, applications in technology, and the modeling and simulation of a broad range of materials, including ceramics, metals, glasses, semiconductors, polymers, biological materials, composites, etc. Papers on solid materials, interfaces, and material issues associated with surfaces, defects, and the microstructure are of particular interest.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Materials Simulation and Design”:

“Modeling Cyclic Crack Propagation in Concrete Using the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method Coupled with the Cumulative Damage-Plasticity Constitutive Law”
by Omar Alrayes, Carsten Könke, Ean Tat Ooi and Khader M. Hamdia
Materials 2023, 16(2), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020863
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/863

“Assessment of Convolutional Neural Network Pre-Trained Models for Detection and Orientation of Cracks”
by Waqas Qayyum, Rana Ehtisham, Alireza Bahrami, Charles Camp, Junaid Mir and Afaq Ahmad
Materials 2023, 16(2), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020826
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/826

“Electronic, Optical, Mechanical, and Electronic Transport Properties of SrCu2O2: A First-Principles Study”
by Sheng Jiang, Chaohao Hu, Dianhui Wang, Yan Zhong and Chengying Tang
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051829
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1829

“Application of the ps−Version of the Finite Element Method to the Analysis of Laminated Shells”
by Cheng Angelo Yan and Riccardo Vescovini
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041395
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1395

“The Characteristic Microstructures and Properties of Steel-Based Alloy via Additive Manufacturing”
by Chunlei Shang, Honghui Wu, Guangfei Pan, Jiaqi Zhu, Shuize Wang, Guilin Wu, Junheng Gao, Zhiyuan Liu, Ruidi Li and Xinping Mao
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2696; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072696
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/7/2696

“Band Gaps and Optical Properties of RENiO3 upon Strain: Combining First-Principles Calculations and Machine Learning”
by Xuchang Tang, Zhaokai Luo and Yuanyuan Cui
Materials 2023, 16(8), 3070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083070
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/8/3070

“Inductive Determination of Rate-Reaction Equation Parameters for Dislocation Structure Formation Using Artificial Neural Network”
by Yoshitaka Umeno, Emi Kawai, Atsushi Kubo, Hiroyuki Shima and Takashi Sumigawa
Materials 2023, 16(5), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16052108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/2108

“On the Springback and Load in Three-Point Air Bending of the AW-2024 Aluminium Alloy Sheet with AW-1050A Aluminium Cladding”
by Stanisław Kut, Grzegorz Pasowicz and Feliks Stachowicz
Materials 2023, 16(8), 2945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16082945
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/8/2945

“Heat Transfer Analysis of Warm Guss Asphalt Concrete for Mini-Trench Overlaying”
by Kyung-Nam Kim, Yeong-Min Kim, Sang-Yum Lee and Tri Ho Minh Le
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072808
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/7/2808

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field. Proposals may be submitted via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Materials Simulation and Design and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

25 May 2023
Materials | 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles in the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces”. Thin film materials are widespread for technological applications, spanning from electronics through medicine. Thin film materials can exhibit a greater number of vastly different structural, chemical, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties compared to their corresponding bulk counterparts due to the choice of substrate or underlying material, the material deposition and fabrication process, and the resulting variations in the crystal phase, disorder and defects within poly-/nano-crystalline and amorphous materials, strain, and composition. The very nature of thin films involves the formation of interfaces, including that with the substrate, underlying or overlying layers, and/or the ambient. These interfaces and interfacial regions may exhibit additional variations due to confinement, bonding configurations, chemical composition, exposure to ambient, physical mixing, and the morphology present.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces” listed below.

“Analyzing the Bolometric Performance of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films Modified by Carbon Nanotube Dispersions”
by Usha Philipose, Chris Littler, Yan Jiang, Alia Naciri, Michael Harcrow and A. J. Syllaios
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041534
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1534

“CALPHAD-Based Modelling of the Temperature–Composition–Structure Relationship during Physical Vapor Deposition of Mg-Ca Thin Films”
by Philipp Keuter, Moritz to Baben, Shamsa Aliramaji and Jochen M. Schneider
Materials 2023, 16(6), 2417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062417
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/6/2417

“Effect of a ZrO2 Seed Layer on an Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 Ferroelectric Device Fabricated via Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition”
by Ji-Na Song, Min-Jung Oh and Chang-Bun Yoon
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1959; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051959
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1959

“Enhanced Surface Properties of the Al0.65CoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloy via Laser Remelting”
by Junwei Miao, Tianxin Li, Qiang Li, Xiaohu Chen, Zheng Ren and Yiping Lu
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031085
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1085

“Laser Emission Spectroscopy of Graphene Oxide Deposited on 316 Steel and Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy Suitable for Orthopedics”
by Barbara Nasiłowska, Wojciech Skrzeczanowski, Aneta Bombalska and Zdzisław Bogdanowicz
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2574; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072574
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/7/2574

“Silver Nanoparticles for Fluorescent Nanocomposites by High-Pressure Magnetron Sputtering”
by Tomáš Zikmund, Jiří Bulíř, Michal Novotný, Ladislav Fekete, Sergii Chertopalov, Stefan Andrei Irimiciuc, Mariana Klementová, Jarmila Balogová and Jan Lančok
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041591
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1591

“Surface Modification and Properties of Thin Ink Films with Added TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles Applied on Paperboard Substrates”
by Sanja Mahović Poljaček, Tamara Tomašegović, Maja Strižić Jakovljević and Davor Donevski
Materials 2023, 16(2), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020478
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/478

“The Effect of Fe/Al Ratio and Substrate Hardness on Microstructure and Deposition Behavior of Cold-Sprayed Fe/Al Coatings”
by You Wang, Nan Deng, Zhenfeng Tong and Zhangjian Zhou
Materials 2023, 16(2), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020878
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/878

“Towards Room Temperature Phase Transition of W-Doped VO2 Thin Films Deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition: Thermochromic, Surface, and Structural Analysis”
by Yannick Bleu, Florent Bourquard, Vincent Barnier, Anne-Sophie Loir, Florence Garrelie and Christophe Donnet
Materials 2023, 16(1), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010461
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/461

“Ultrafiltration Membranes Modified with Reduced Graphene Oxide: Effect on Methyl Green Removal from Aqueous Solution”
by María Dolores Murcia, Asunción M. Hidalgo, María Gómez, Gerardo León, Elisa Gómez and Marta Martínez
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041369
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1369

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: 
https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Thin Films and Interfaces and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

8 May 2023
Meet Us at the 31st European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE 2023), 05–08 June 2023, Bologna, Italy


MDPI will attend the 31st European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE 2023) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Bologna, Italy, from 5 to 8 June 2023.

EUBCE is the largest biomass conference and exhibition in the world. Each year, EUBCE brings together the greatest minds and latest advancements in biomass, with the aim of accelerating research and market uptake across the globe. During the conference, over 2,000 experts from both academia and industry share and discuss groundbreaking ideas, technologies, applications, and solutions for the sourcing, production, and utility of biomass. The scientific program is coordinated by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Since its 30th edition, the event has been complemented by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, aiming at identifying innovation, stimulating investment, and mobilizing the bio-based industry sector. This is an excellent opportunity to address even more stakeholders globally through the conference.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth #36. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.eubce.com/.

5 May 2023
Materials | The Best Editor's Choice Article in 2022 in the Section “Soft Matter”—Winning Article Announced


The Section “Soft Matter” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) was established to enhance our understanding of soft matter in the context of material science. In December 2022, Dr. Ingo Dierking from the University of Manchester, UK, was appointed the Section Editor-in-Chief.

On the initiative of Dr. Dierking, and in order to advance the development of this Section, the Editorial Office organized a voting, requesting the Editorial Board Members to choose the best Editor's Choice Article (ECA, a carefully curated selection of high-quality articles in Materials) of 2022 in this Section. We are pleased to announce the winning article.

Title:Thioether-Linked Liquid Crystal Trimers: Odd–Even Effects of Spacers and the Influence of Thioether Bonds on Phase Behavior
Authors: Yuki Arakawa, Kenta Komatsu, Yuko Ishida, Takuma Shiba and Hideto Tsuji
Affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi 441-8580, Japan

We would like to congratulate Prof. Yuki Arakawa, Mr. Kenta Komatsu, Ms. Yuko Ishida, Mr. Takuma Shiba and Prof. Hideto Tsuji again for their accomplishments.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted manuscripts to the Section “Soft Matter” of Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field:
https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of soft matter, and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

18 April 2023
Materials | Sponsoring the Best Student Paper Awards at WOCSDICE-EXMATEC 2023, 21–25 May 2023, Palermo, Italy


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is proud to sponsor the Best Student Paper Awards for the 46th Workshop on Compound Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits held in Europe and 17th Expert Evaluation and Control of Compound Semiconductor Materials and Technologies conference, a major event for experts in scholarly communications.

The 46th Workshop on Compound Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits held in Europe and 17th Expert Evaluation and Control of Compound Semiconductor Materials and Technologies connects librarians, publishers, content providers, consultants and intermediaries from around the world with high-quality plenary presentations, lightning talks and breakout sessions. The program of the conference can be accessed here.

Date: 21–25 May 2023
Place: Palermo, Italy

Check the latest conference news on LinkedIn.

For corporate conference sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected].

17 April 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in the Section “Metals and Alloys”


The Section “Metals and Alloys” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) aims to provide an international peer-reviewed medium for the dissemination and active discussion of the latest and most important advances in the field of metals and alloy science, as well as advances in engineering technology and innovative applications. Experimental and theoretical approaches to solve materials problems require novel scientific disciplines based on traditional disciplines. Those reports on the simulation of metals and alloys science can only be accepted if the results have already been validated by experiments or a dedicated application. All submitted contributions are subject to a strict peer-review process and the final decision on publication should be made based on the recommendations of independent experts.

The Section “Metals and Alloys” welcomes the submission of high-quality research on various aspects of the metals and alloys science field. Papers submitted for publication should contain new experimental or theoretical results and their interpretation. Design, modeling and simulation, processing, and characterization techniques of metals and alloys are welcome, in particular the relationship of advanced manufacturing processing and microstructure properties of metals and alloys.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Metals and Alloys”, as listed below:

“A Review of Characterization and Modelling Approaches for Sheet Metal Forming of Lightweight Metallic Materials”
by Yong Hou, Dongjoon Myung, Jong Kyu Park, Junying Min, Hyung-Rim Lee, Ali Abd El-Aty and Myoung-Gyu Lee
Materials 2023, 16(2), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020836
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/836

“Research Progress on Multi-Component Alloying and Heat Treatment of High Strength and Toughness Al–Si–Cu–Mg Cast Aluminum Alloys”
by Mingshan Zhang, Yaqiang Tian, Xiaoping Zheng, Yuan Zhang, Liansheng Chen and Junsheng Wang
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031065
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1065

“Ongoing Challenges of Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Al Alloys and Potential Solutions from the Literature—A Review”
by Alessandra Martucci, Alberta Aversa and Mariangela Lombardi
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031084
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1084

“Novel Ultrafine-Grain Mg-Gd/Nd-Y-Ca Alloys with an Increased Ignition Temperature”
by Stanislav Šašek, Peter Minárik, Jitka Stráská, Klára Hosová, Jozef Veselý, Jiří Kubásek, Robert Král, Tomáš Krajňák and Dalibor Vojtěch
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031299
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1299

“Mechanical Behavior of Austenitic Steel under Multi-Axial Cyclic Loading”
by Abhishek Biswas, Dzhem Kurtulan, Timothy Ngeru, Abril Azócar Guzmán, Stefanie Hanke and Alexander Hartmaier
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041367
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1367

“Changes in Abrasion Resistance of Cast Cr-Ni Steel as a Result of the Formation of Niobium Carbides in Alloy Matrix”
by Grzegorz Tęcza
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041726
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1726

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that have submitted their work to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Metals and Alloys and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

7 April 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in the Section “Materials Chemistry”

The Section “Materials Chemistry” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) covers the areas of materials science, chemical engineering, and related crossing fields.

Some topics of interest are:

  • Synthesis, chemical and physical characterization of materials;
  • Fundamental, theoretical and experimental studies of materials;
  • Optical, electrical, energy, environmental, biomedical, magnetic and catalytic applications of materials;
  • Nanotechnology;
  • Fabrication of materials using advanced methods and techniques;
  • Hybrid materials;
  • Organic/Inorganic chemistry;
  • Electrochemistry;
  • Colloid and surface/interface chemistry;
  • Polymers and molecules.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Materials Chemistry” listed below:

“Effect of Blend Composition on Barrier Properties of Insulating Mats Produced from Local Wool and Waste Bast Fibres”
by Anna Kicińska-Jakubowska, Jan Broda, Małgorzata Zimniewska, Marcin Bączek and Jerzy Mańkowski.
Materials 2023, 16(1), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/459

“Photocatalytic Removal of Antibiotics from Wastewater Using the CeO2/ZnO Heterojunction”
by Nicolae Apostolescu, Ramona Elena Tataru Farmus, Maria Harja, Mihaela Aurelia Vizitiu, Corina Cernatescu, Claudia Cobzaru and Gabriela Antoaneta Apostolescu
Materials 2023, 16(2), 850; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020850
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/850

“Raclopride-Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: A Promising Technology for Selective [11C]Raclopride Purification”
by Roberta Del Sole, Giancarlo Pascali, Giuseppe Mele, Gary Perkins and Lucia Mergola
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031091
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1091

“Optical Properties Investigation of Upconverting K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):20%Yb3+,Tm3+ Phosphors”
by Julija Grigorjevaite and Arturas Katelnikovas
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031305
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1305

“The Historical Development of Infrared Photodetection Based on Intraband Transitions”
by Qun Hao, Xue Zhao, Xin Tang and Menglu Chen
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041562
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1562

“Hydrothermal Synthesis of ZnO Superstructures with Controlled Morphology via Temperature and pH Optimization”
by Aleksander Ejsmont and Joanna Goscianska
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041641
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1641

“Characterization of Ruddlesden-Popper La2−xBaxNiO4±δ Nickelates as Potential Electrocatalysts for Solid Oxide Cells”
by Kiryl Zakharchuk, Andrei Kovalevsky and Aleksey Yaremchenko
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041755
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1755

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that have submitted their work to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Materials Chemistry and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

6 April 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in the Section “Optics and Photonics”

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the “Optics and Photonics” Section. Optics and photonics are all methodologies and technologies that use photons over the entire spectrum from X-ray to ultraviolet, visible, and infrared, to the terahertz range, and their interaction with a variety of materials. This is an evolving interdisciplinary field of research covering all the optical technologies used in life sciences and medicine. Special, new, and biocompatible materials for implants, tissue phantoms, cell printing, cell labeling, light delivery, etc., require research from scientists from various professions, such as physicists, chemists, engineers, biologists, and doctors.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the “Optics and Photonics” Section listed below:

“Manganese Luminescent Centers of Different Valence in Yttrium Aluminum Borate Crystals”
by Anastasiia Molchanova, Kirill Boldyrev, Nikolai Kuzmin, Alexey Veligzhanin, Kirill Khaydukov, Evgeniy Khaydukov, Oleg Kondratev, Irina Gudim, Elizaveta Mikliaeva and Marina Popova
Materials 2023, 16(2), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020537
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/537

“Tet-Regulated Expression and Optical Clearing for In Vivo Visualization of Genetically Encoded Chimeric dCas9/Fluorescent Protein Probes”
by Liliya Maloshenok, Gerel Abushinova, Natalia Kazachkina, Alexei Bogdanov Jr. and Victoria Zherdeva
Materials 2023, 16(3), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030940
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/940

“Decay Kinetics of Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+ Luminescence under Dense Laser Irradiation”
by Paweł Karasiński, Magdalena Zięba, Ewa Gondek, Jacek Nizioł, Sandeep Gorantla, Krzysztof Rola, Alicja Bachmatiuk and Cuma Tyszkiewicz
Materials 2023, 16(3), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030971
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/971

“ZGSO Spinel Nanoparticles with Dual Emission of NIR Persistent Luminescence for Anti-Counterfeiting Applications”
by Guanyu Cai, Teresa Delgado, Cyrille Richard and Bruno Viana
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031132
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1132

“MoS2/Au Heterojunction Catalyst for SERS Monitoring of a Fenton-like Reaction”
by Qian Wei, Beibei Lu, Qing Yang, Can Shi, Yulan Wei, Minmin Xu, Chenjie Zhang and Yaxian Yuan
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031169
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1169

“Polarization Doping in a GaN-InN System—Ab Initio Simulation”
by Ashfaq Ahmad, Pawel Strak, Pawel Kempisty, Konrad Sakowski, Jacek Piechota, Yoshihiro Kangawa, Izabella Grzegory, Michal Leszczynski, Zbigniew R. Zytkiewicz, Grzegorz Muziol et al.
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031227
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1227

“Abnormal Eu3+ Eu2+ Reduction in Ca9−xMnxEu(PO4)7 Phosphors: Structure and Luminescent Properties”
by Elena V. Sipina, Dmitry A. Spassky, Nataliya R. Krutyak, Vladimir A. Morozov, Evgenia S. Zhukovskaya, Alexei A. Belik, Mikhail S. Manylov, Bogdan I. Lazoryak and Dina V. Deyneko
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041383
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1383

“Strong Plasmon-Mie Resonance in Si@Pd Core-Ω Shell Nanocavity”
by Haomin Guo, Qi Hu, Chengyun Zhang, Haiwen Liu, Runmin Wu and Shusheng Pan
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1453; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041453
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1453

“Guard Ring Design to Prevent Edge Breakdown in Double-Diffused Planar InGaAs/InP Avalanche Photodiodes”
by Yu-Chun Chen, Ruei-Hong Yan, Hsu-Chia Huang, Liang-Hsuan Nieh and Hao-Hsiung Lin
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041667
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1667

“Enhanced Luminescence of Yb3+ Ions Implanted to ZnO through the Selection of Optimal Implantation and Annealing Conditions”
by Renata Ratajczak, Elzbieta Guziewicz, Slawomir Prucnal, Cyprian Mieszczynski, Przemysław Jozwik, Marek Barlak, Svitlana Romaniuk, Sylwia Gieraltowska, Wojciech Wozniak, René Heller et al.
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051756
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1756

“Optical Characterization of Thin Films by Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy Using an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter”
by Ildus Sh. Khasanov, Boris A. Knyazev, Sergey A. Lobastov, Alexander V. Anisimov, Pavel A. Nikitin and Oleg E. Kameshkov
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051820
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1820

“Intercoupling of Cascaded Metasurfaces for Broadband Spectral Scalability”
by Shaolin Zhou, Liang Liu, Qinling Deng, Shaowei Liao, Quan Xue and Mansun Chan
Materials 2023, 16(5), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16052013
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/2013

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of optics and photonics, and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

31 March 2023
Meet Us at the 7th Conference on New Energy and New Chemical Materials Cum National Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage Materials, 7–9 April 2023, Wuhan, China


Conference: The 7th Conference on New Energy and New Chemical Materials Cum National Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage Materials
Date: 7–9 April 2023
Place: Wuhan, China

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) will be attending the 7th Conference on New Energy and New Chemical Materials Cum National Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage Materials as an exhibitor from 7 to 9 April 2023, in Wuhan, China.

The 7th Conference on New Energy and New Chemical Materials Cum National Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage Materials is an important academic conference in the field of new energy materials and devices research in China. It has been successfully held six times in Xiamen, Suzhou, Dalian, Zhengzhou, and twice in Xi'an. The conference will focus on academic exchanges and discussions on secondary batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells and electrocatalysis, advanced energy storage materials and technologies, anode and cathode materials, and other energy storage technologies from the academic and application fields. The conference will bring together famous domestic experts, scholars, and enterprise technicians to discuss the future development prospects and directions of new energy materials and devices research.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Materials;
  • Metals;
  • Catalysts;
  • Nanomaterials;
  • Batteries;
  • Electrochem;
  • Electronic Materials;
  • Crystals.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: http://www.zgclzk.org.cn/col.jsp?id=141.

31 March 2023
Materials | 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles in the Section “Polymeric Materials”

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Polymeric Materials”. We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Polymeric Materials” listed below:

“Smart PEG-Block-PLA/PLA Nanosystems: Impact of the Characteristics of the Polymer Blend on the Redox Responsiveness”
by Louise Van Gheluwe, Stephanie David, Eric Buchy, Igor Chourpa and Emilie Munnier
Materials 2023, 16(2), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020539
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/539

“Polymer and Composite Materials in Two-Phase Passive Thermal Management Systems: A Review”
by Ali Ahmed Alqahtani and Volfango Bertola
Materials 2023, 16(3), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030893
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/893

“Effect of Polydopamine Coating of Cellulose Nanocrystals on Performance of PCL/PLA Bio-Nanocomposites”
by Ivan Kelnar, Ludmila Kaprálková, Sabina Krejčíková, Jiří Dybal, Michaela Vyroubalová and A. M. Abdel-Mohsen
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031087
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1087

“Epoxy and Bio-Based Epoxy Carbon Fiber Twill Composites: Comparison of the Quasi-Static Properties”
by Carlo Boursier Niutta, Raffaele Ciardiello, Andrea Tridello and Davide S. Paolino
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041601
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1601

“Properties and Emissions of Three-Layer Particleboards Manufactured with Mixtures of Wood Chips and Partially Liquefied Bark”
by Wen Jiang, Stergios Adamopoulos, Reza Hosseinpourpia, Thomas Walther and Sergej Medved
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051855
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/5/1855

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Polymeric Materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

29 March 2023
Meet Us at the 6th International Conference on Natural Fibers, 19–21 June 2023, Funchal, Portugal


Conference: 6th International Conference on Natural Fibers
Date: 19–21 June 2023
Place: Funchal, Portugal

MDPI will be attending the 6th International Conference on Natural Fibers as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held at the VidaMar Resort Hotel, Funchal, Portugal, from 19 to 21 June 2023. The Organizing Committee comprises the University of Minho. The theme of the conference is "Nature Inspired Sustainable Solutions". Through this meeting, we wish to contribute to discussing and exchanging progress in the potential of natural fibers as key materials for smart designs and sustainable solutions in future generations. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit: https://www.icnf2023.fibrenamics.com/.

 

28 March 2023
Interviews with the Winners of Materials 2023 Travel Awards

As the Editors-in-Chief of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), we are pleased to announce the winners of the Materials 2023 Travel Award—Dr. Barbara Tomadoni and Ms. Farah Daou.

With so many high-quality applicants, the evaluation process and the final decision were challenging. We want to thank all applicants for submitting their diverse and fascinating range of research topics.

The following is an interview with Dr. Barbara Tomadoni:

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest? 
My name is Barbara Tomadoni. I have focused my research on bio-based materials. I am currently a postdoctoral researcher as part of the Group of Technology and Design of Multicomponent Products, at the University of Sevilla, Spain, where I work developing bio-based superabsorbent materials.

2. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
There are many trending topics in different areas that are of interest to the community in general. For example, data science and artificial intelligence have progressed rapidly in recent years. In medicine, genomics is an interesting and fast-growing research topic. In every scientific area, research is focusing on sustainability, aiming to achieve a circular economy and the replacement of petroleum-derived products and water treatments, among many others. Some trending topics particularly interesting in the materials field include nanotechnology, 3D printing, the replacement of lithium batteries, and the development of tailor-made functional materials.

3. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?
For me, one of the key elements to a happy lab life is to have the freedom and independence to work and to express your ideas. Collaboration with your peers is an essential part as well since teamwork is key to conducting successful research. The head of the lab is also an important factor in the life of the researchers, as this person will have a tremendous impact on their scientific and academic careers: a good leader is key to a happy lab life. Last but not least, it is very important to have a proper work–life balance, to avoid burnout and to reach your full potential, which is easier said than done.

4. What is your opinion of the Open Access model of publishing?
I believe that making research widely available to everyone contributes to higher quality research and will boost innovation. It is also important to have a proper research data management plan. For example, depositing research data within the university or institution repository. Making sure that data are available also guarantees the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and contributes to open science. 

5. As the winner of this award, is there something you would like to express?
I would like to thank the Materials journal and MDPI for this award that will allow me to attend the Seventh International Symposium Frontiers in Polymer Science in Gothenburg, Sweden. This will give me the opportunity to connect with the materials community, share our latest findings on superabsorbent materials based on protein, and expand my network and learn about the latest research in the polymer field.

The following is an interview with Ms. Farah Daou:

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?
I am originally from Lebanon and moved to Italy as a research fellow. I am currently studying for my Ph.D. and my experiments are aimed at applications in real-life bone healing. I was interested in a European project, where I was introduced to Prof. Montini and began my journey in this field.

2. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
One of the most important challenges for the future is the global aging population, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing significantly compared to younger age groups. It is researchers' responsibility to maintain the older population's physical and cognitive health, and therefore work on cartilage and bone regeneration is essential due to a high proportion of older people being significantly impacted by these issues, not only physically, but also through harm to their mental health.

3. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?
First of all, my group is very international and this is amazing. It adds the benefit of getting to know other people's cultures, but also adds different approaches to science and lab work, which gives the chance to improve your own knowledge and learn from others. It is important to accept an old saying from the Greek philosopher Socrates, 'I know that I know nothing'. Having intellectual humility helps in science, as it improves communication between researchers of all experiences and fields. Being able to ask about a topic that you do not know about creates an empowering environment, so it is important for research quality and morale. Science is interdisciplinary, so collaboration is necessary. This is the key to a happy lab life: collaboration and cooperation.

4. What is your opinion of the Open Access model of publishing?
I could not do experiments, research and write my thesis without access to articles. Therefore, I am an advocate for an Open Access model. I commented that both the publisher and authors should get their rights to the paper, which is a very important consideration. Publishing is becoming unaffordable, which drives the gap between smaller groups with limited resources that cannot pay for publishing and bigger groups who can afford to carry on and grow. Therefore, some further balance is needed, because allowing access to all is essential for having a proper scientific dialogue.

5. As the winner of this award, is there something you would like to express?
First of all, I want to thank Prof. Montini as the lab director for giving me the chance to come to Italy despite my limited experience; she opened the door of knowledge for me. When I moved to Italy, I came to understand how big research groups work and how research in developed countries is on another level. I would also like to thank all the people she works with, in the center for autoimmune and allergic diseases. Finally, I would like to thank all of my family members who have supported me, which I cannot go without.

On behalf of the assessment committee, we wish to congratulate the winners on their accomplishments.

22 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2023 in the Section “Biomaterials”


The Section “Biomaterials” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) covers all aspects of the biomaterials field with a highly interdisciplinary scope, from the synthesis, processing, characterization, and testing to the biomedical applications of biomaterials. Topics of interest for this Section include but are not limited to materials for implants and prosthetic devices (orthopedic, cardiovascular, and other applications), bioactive and cell instructive materials, nanostructured biomaterials and nanoparticles, scaffolds for tissue engineering, biomedical coatings and antibacterial surfaces, materials for drug delivery carriers, tissue/biomaterial interfaces, and studies on clinical applications of biomaterials. Of special interest are papers that present the interaction of biomaterials and the biological environment, e.g., cell biology (in vitro) studies on biomaterials, microbiology interactions with materials (e.g., antibacterial materials), as well as in vivo studies that take the field closer to translation to clinical applications. Papers can present experimental or theoretical studies and should focus both on the “material” and on the “bio” component of biomaterials.

We are pleased to present the 2023 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Biomaterials” listed below:

“The Spray-Dried Alginate/Gelatin Microparticles with Luliconazole as Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery System”
by Marta Szekalska, Magdalena Wróblewska, Anna Czajkowska-Kośnik, Katarzyna Sosnowska, Paweł Misiak, Agnieszka Zofia Wilczewska and Katarzyna Winnicka
Materials 2023, 16(1), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010403
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/403

“A Novel Chitosan Composite Biomaterial with Drug Eluting Capacity for Maxillary Bone Regeneration”
by Barbara Giordano-Kelhoffer, Raquel Rodríguez-Gonzalez, Marina Perpiñan-Blasco, Jenifer O. Buitrago, Begoña M. Bosch and Roman A. Perez
Materials 2023, 16(2), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020685
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/685

“Effects of Altering Magnesium Metal Surfaces on Degradation In Vitro and In Vivo during Peripheral Nerve Regeneration”
by Rigwed Tatu, Leon G. White, Yeoheung Yun, Tracy Hopkins, Xiaoxian An, Ahmed Ashraf, Kevin J. Little, Meir Hershcovitch, David B. Hom and Sarah Pixley
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031195
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1195

“Freeze Drying of Polymer Nanoparticles and Liposomes Exploiting Different Saccharide-Based Approaches”
by Ilaria Andreana, Valeria Bincoletto, Maela Manzoli, Francesca Rodà, Vita Giarraputo, Paola Milla, Silvia Arpicco and Barbara Stella
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031212
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1212

“Novel Artificial Scaffold for Bone Marrow Regeneration: Honeycomb Tricalcium Phosphate”
by Yasunori Inada, Kiyofumi Takabatake, Hidetsugu Tsujigiwa, Keisuke Nakano, Qiusheng Shan, Tianyan Piao, Anqi Chang, Hotaka Kawai and Hitoshi Nagatsuka
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041393
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1393

“Antimicrobial Properties of TiNbSn Alloys Anodized in a Sulfuric Acid Electrolyte”
by Yu Mori, Satoko Fujimori, Hiroaki Kurishima, Hiroyuki Inoue, Keiko Ishii, Maya Kubota, Kazuyoshi Kawakami, Naoko Mori, Toshimi Aizawa and Naoya Masahashi
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1487; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041487
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1487

“Porous Thermoplastic Molded Regenerated Silk Crosslinked by the Addition of Citric Acid”
by Alessio Bucciarelli, Nicola Vighi, Alessandra Maria Bossi, Brunella Grigolo and Devid Maniglio
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041535
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/4/1535

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that have submitted their work to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Biomaterials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

21 March 2023
Materials | Hot Papers in 2022

We are pleased to highlight the hot papers published in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) last year. We invite you to read the selection of published papers listed below:

1. “Multifunctional Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: A Review”
by Hung-Vu Tran, Nhat M. Ngo, Riddhiman Medhi, Pannaree Srinoi, Tingting Liu, Supparesk Rittikulsittichai and T. Randall Lee
Materials 2022, 15(2), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15020503
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/2/503

2. “Synthesis and Applications of Graphene Oxide”
by Adéla Jiříčková, Ondřej Jankovský, Zdeněk Sofer and David Sedmidubský
Materials 2022, 15(3), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15030920
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/3/920

3. “Layered Oxygen-Deficient Double Perovskites as Promising Cathode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”
by Andrei I. Klyndyuk, Ekaterina A. Chizhova, Dzmitry S. Kharytonau and Dmitry A. Medvedev
Materials 2022, 15(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010141
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/141

 4. “Applications of Phyto-Nanotechnology for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders”
by Tanima Bhattacharya, Giselle Amanda Borges e Soares, Hitesh Chopra, Md. Mominur Rahman, Ziaul Hasan, Shasank S. Swain and Simona Cavalu
Materials 2022, 15(3), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15030804
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/3/804

 5. “A Comprehensive Review of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Films and Coatings and Their Food Packaging Applications”
by Vatsla Gupta, Deblina Biswas and Swarup Roy
Materials 2022, 15(17), 5899; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175899
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/17/5899

 6. “Microstructure Evolution and Improved Permeability of Ceramic Waste-Based Bricks”
by Wenfei Zhou, Huiling Du, Le Kang, Xian Du, Yupu Shi, Xiaojing Qiang, Haodong Li and Jing Zhao
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031130
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/3/1130

 7. “The Mechanical Resistance of Asphalt Mixture with Steel Slag to Deformation and Skid Degradation Based on Laboratory Accelerated Heavy Loading Test”
by Jiasheng Li, Jianying Yu, Shaopeng Wu and Jun Xie
Materials 2022, 15(3), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15030911
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/3/911

 8. “Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Application of Silver Nanoparticles”
by Ashwini Naganthran, Gayathiri Verasoundarapandian, Farah Eryssa Khalid, Mas Jaffri Masarudin, Azham Zulkharnain, Norazah Mohammad Nawawi, Murni Karim, Che Azurahanim Che Abdullah and Siti Aqlima Ahmad
Materials 2022, 15(2), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15020427
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/2/427

 9. “Review on Graphene-, Graphene Oxide-, Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Flexible Composites: From Fabrication to Applications”
by Aamir Razaq, Faiza Bibi, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Raffaello Papadakis, Syed Hassan Mujtaba Jafri and Hu Li
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031012
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/3/1012

17 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2022 in the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces”. Thin film materials are widespread for technological applications, spanning from electronics through medicine. Thin film materials can exhibit a greater number of vastly different structural, chemical, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties compared to their corresponding bulk counterparts due to the choice of substrate or underlying material, the material deposition and fabrication process, and the resulting variations in crystal phase, disorder and defects within poly-/nano-crystalline and amorphous materials, strain, and composition. The very nature of thin films involves the formation of interfaces, including that with the substrate, underlying or overlying layers, and/or the ambient. These interfaces and interfacial regions may exhibit additional variations due to confinement, bonding configurations, chemical composition, exposure to ambient, physical mixing, and the morphology present.

We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Thin Films and Interfaces” listed below:

“Tuning of the Titanium Oxide Surface to Control Magnetic Properties of Thin Iron Films”
by Juliusz Chojenka, Arkadiusz Zarzycki, Marcin Perzanowski, Michał Krupiński, Tamás Fodor, Kálmán Vad and Marta Marszałek
Materials 2023, 16(1), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010289
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/289

“Deposition of Sol–Gel ZnO:Mg Films and Investigation of Their Structural and Optical Properties”
by Tatyana Ivanova, Antoaneta Harizanova, Tatyana Koutzarova, Benedicte Vertruyen and Raphael Closset
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8883; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248883
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/8883

“Hybrid Dispersion Model Characterization of PAZO Azopolymer Thin Films over the Entire Transmittance Spectrum Measured in the UV/VIS/NIR Spectral Region”
by Dorian Minkov, Lian Nedelchev, George Angelov, Emilio Marquez, Blaga Blagoeva, Georgi Mateev and Dimana Nazarova
Materials 2022, 15(23), 8617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238617
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/23/8617

“Effects of Cold Rolling Reduction on Microstructure, Thickness, Adhesive Force of Al-Si Coating and on Bending Toughness of Al-Si Coated Press-Hardened Steel”
by Xue Feng, Xianlei Hu and Xianghua Liu
Materials 2023, 16(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010004
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/4

“Polycrystalline PbTe:In Films on Amorphous Substrate: Structure and Physical Properties”
by Vadim Kovalyuk, Evgeniia Sheveleva, Mark Auslender, Gregory Goltsman, Roni Shneck and Zinovi Dashevsky
Materials 2022, 15(23), 8383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238383
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/23/8383

“Effect of Substrate Temperature on the Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of DC Magnetron Sputtered VO2 Thin Films”
by Chunzi Zhang, Ozan Gunes, Shi-Jie Wen, Qiaoqin Yang and Safa Kasap
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7849; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217849
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/21/7849

“Characterization of Porous CuO Films for H2S Gas Sensors”
by Dawoon Jung, Sehoon Hwang, Hyun-Jong Kim, Jae-Hee Han and Ho-Nyun Lee
Materials 2022, 15(20), 7270; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207270
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/20/7270

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network.

Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
Papers may be submitted via the following link:
https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field. More information can be found at the following link:
https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Thin Films and Interfaces and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

17 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2022 in the Section “Manufacturing Processes and Systems”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Manufacturing Processes and Systems”. We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Manufacturing Processes and Systems” listed below:

“Processing and Properties of Tungsten-Steel Composites and FGMs Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering”
by Jiří Matějíček, Radek Mušálek, Zdeněk Dlabáček, Veronika Klevarová and Lenka Kocmanová
Materials 2022, 15(24), 9037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15249037
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/9037

“The Influence of Co Addition on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Tungsten Heavy Alloys”
by Paweł Skoczylas and Mieczysław Kaczorowski
Materials 2022, 15(24), 9064; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15249064
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/9064

“Growth Kinetics, Microstructure Evolution, and Some Mechanical Properties of Boride Layers Produced on X165CrV12 Tool Steel”
by Natalia Makuch, Michał Kulka, Mourad Keddam and Adam Piasecki
Materials 2023, 16(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010026
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/26

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted to Materials. We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network.

Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
Papers may be submitted via the following link:
https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field. More information can be found at the following link:
https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Manufacturing Processes and Systems and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

17 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in the Section “Advanced Composites”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Advanced Composites”. Advanced composites are increasingly used in several industrial sectors such as transportation (airplanes, helicopters, trains, automobiles, motorbikes, and bicycles), civil construction, electrical and electronic equipment, pipes and tanks, marine, energy conversion, and consumer goods. They play a key role in the development of lightweight structures with outstanding mechanical properties, high reliability, and environmental resistance.

We are pleased to present the Editor’s Choice Articles from December 2022, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Advanced Composites”, as listed below:

“Nonlinear Analytical Procedure for Predicting Debonding of Laminate from Substrate Subjected to Monotonic or Cyclic Load”
by Marco Lamberti, Francesco Ascione, Annalisa Napoli, Ghani Razaqpur and Roberto Realfonzo
Materials 2022, 15(23), 8690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238690
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/23/8690

“Open Hole Tension of 3D Printed Aligned Discontinuous Composites”
by Narongkorn Krajangsawasdi, Ian Hamerton, Benjamin K. S. Woods, Dmitry S. Ivanov and Marco L. Longana
Materials 2022, 15(23), 8698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238698
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/23/8698

Transparent Wood-Based Materials: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives”
by Alberto Mariani and Giulio Malucelli
Materials 2022, 15(24), 9069; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15249069
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/9069

“Polymer Composites with Self-Regulating Temperature Behavior: Properties and Characterization”
by Radu Setnescu, Eduard-Marius Lungulescu and Virgil Emanuel Marinescu
Materials 2023, 16(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010157
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/157

“Effective Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant Additives for Crosslinked Rigid Polyisocyanurate Foams: Comparison of Chemical Structures”
by Johannes U. Lenz, Doris Pospiech, Hartmut Komber, Andreas Korwitz, Oliver Kobsch, Maxime Paven, Rolf W. Albach, Martin Günther and Bernhard Schartel
Materials 2023, 16(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/172

“Microstructural Characterization and Property of Carbon Fiber Reinforced High-Density Polyethylene Composites Fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling”
by Partha Pratim Pandit, Chang Liu, Scott Iacono, Giancarlo Corti and Yingbin Huz
Materials 2023, 16(1), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010180
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/180

“In-Service Delaminations in FRP Structures under Operational Loading Conditions: Are Current Fracture Testing and Analysis on Coupons Sufficient for Capturing the Essential Effects for Reliable Predictions?”
by Andreas J. Brunner, René Alderliesten and John-Alan Pascoe
Materials 2023, 16(1), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010248
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/248

“Improvement of the Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of 3D-printed Polyurethane Composites by Incorporating Hydroxylated Boron Nitride Functional Fillers”
by Kai-Han Su, Cherng-Yuh Su, Wei-Ling Shih and Fang-Ting Lee
Materials 2023, 16(1), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010356
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/356

15 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2022 in the Section “Quantum Materials”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Quantum Materials”. This Section publishes novel scientific and applied research that significantly contributes to the understanding and discovery of quantum materials and related phenomena, functions, and applications. Quantum materials are characterized by quantum many-body-systems in a typical form of strongly correlated electrons in solids that can engender novel and remarkable properties and functions, including Mott transition, high-temperature superconductivity, topological superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, giant magnetoelectric effect, and so forth.

We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, which is a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Quantum Materials”.

“Pressure-Induced Superconductivity in Iron-Based Spin-Ladder Compound BaFe2+δ(S1−xSex)3
by Hiroki Takahashi, Ryosuke Kikuchi, Chizuru Kawashima, Satoshi Imaizumi, Takuya Aoyama and Kenya Ohgushi
Materials 2022, 15(4), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15041401
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/4/1401

“Magnetic Properties of A2Ni2TeO6 (A = K, Li): Zigzag Order in the Honeycomb Layers of Ni2+ Ions Induced by First and Third Nearest-Neighbor Spin Exchanges”
by Tatyana Vasilchikova, Alexander Vasiliev, Maria Evstigneeva, Vladimir Nalbandyan, Ji-Sun Lee, Hyun-Joo Koo and Myung-Hwan Whangbo
Materials 2022, 15(7), 2563; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072563
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/7/2563

“Pressure Tuning of Superconductivity of LaPt4Ge12 and PrPt4Ge12 Single Crystals”
by Gustavo A. Lombardi, Kamal Mydeen, Roman Gumeniuk, Andreas Leithe-Jasper, Walter Schnelle, Ricardo D. dos Reis and Michael Nicklas
Materials 2022, 15(8), 2743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15082743
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/8/2743

“Unraveling the Phase Stability and Physical Property of Modulated Martensite in Ni2Mn1.5In0.5 Alloys by First-Principles Calculations”
by Xin-Zeng Liang, Jing Bai, Zi-Qi Guan, Yu Zhang, Jiang-Long Gu, Yu-Dong Zhang, Claude Esling, Xiang Zhao and Liang Zuo
Materials 2022, 15(11), 4032; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15114032
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/11/4032

“Pressure-Induced Superconductivity of the Quasi-One-Dimensional Organic Conductor (TMTTF)2TaF6
by Miho Itoi, Toshikazu Nakamura and Yoshiya Uwatoko
Materials 2022, 15(13), 4638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134638
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4638

“Effect of Silver Doping on the Superconducting and Structural Properties of YBCO Films Grown by PLD on Different Templates”
by Ilya A. Shipulin, Aleena Anna Thomas, Sigrid Holleis, Michael Eisterer, Kornelius Nielsch and Ruben Hühne
Materials 2022, 15(15), 5354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15155354
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/15/5354

“Destabilization of the Charge Density Wave and the Absence of Superconductivity in ScV6Sn6 under High Pressures up to 11 GPa”
by Xiaoxiao Zhang, Jun Hou, Wei Xia, Zhian Xu, Pengtao Yang, Anqi Wang, Ziyi Liu, Jie Shen, Hua Zhang, Xiaoli Dong et al.
Materials 2022, 15(20), 7372; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207372
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/20/7372

“Bond-Orbital-Resolved Piezoelectricity in Sp2-Hybridized Monolayer Semiconductors”
by Zongtan Wang, Yulan Liu and Biao Wang
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7788; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217788
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/21/7788

“Critical Current Density in d-Wave Hubbard Superconductors”
by José Samuel Millán, Jorge Millán, Luis A. Pérez and Harold S. Ruiz
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8969; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248969
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/8969

“Theoretical Study of Dynamical and Electronic Properties of Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor NbReSi”
by Surajit Basak and Andrzej Ptok.
Materials 2023, 16(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010078
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/78

We want to thank all the research groups that submitted to Materials. Please circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You can propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Quantum Materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

15 March 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2022 in the Section “Smart Materials”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Smart Materials”. This Section is a forum for the rapid publication of works pertaining to the preparation, characterization, and application of all smart materials. The scope of smart materials comprises, without being limited to, various applications in sensors and actuators, soft robotics, wearable electronics, flexible/stretchable electronics, energy generation and storage devices, displays, and shape memory polymers by utilizing the concept of smart materials.

We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, which is a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Smart Materials”.

“Facile Fabrication of ZnO-ZnFe2O4 Hollow Nanostructure by a One-Needle Syringe Electrospinning Method for a High-Selective H2S Gas Sensor”
by Kee-Ryung Park, Ryun Na Kim, Yoseb Song, Jinhyeong Kwon and Hyeunseok Choi
Materials 2022, 15(2) 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15020399
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/2/399

“Investigation into the Performance of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Wire Reinforced Sn-Bi Self-Healing Metal Matrix Composite”
by Nathan Salowitz, Shobhit Misra, Istiaque Haider, Marco Povolo and Pradeep Rohatgi
Materials 2022, 15(9), 2970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15092970
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/9/2970

“Hinged Adaptive Fiber-Rubber Composites Driven by Shape Memory Alloys—Development and Simulation”
by Felix Lohse, Achyuth Ram Annadata, Eric Häntzsche, Thomas Gereke, Wolfgang Trümper and Chokri Cherif
Materials 2022, 15(11), 3830; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15113830
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/11/3830

“Design and Control of Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy Actuators”
by Bartosz Minorowicz and Andrzej Milecki.
Materials 2022, 15(13), 4400; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134400
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4400

“Comparison between Piezoelectric and Piezoresistive Wearable Gait Monitoring Techniques”
by Zhiyuan Zhang, Zhenyu Xu, Wenbin Chen and Shuo Gao
Materials 2022, 15(14), 4837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144837
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/14/4837

“Designing for Shape Memory in Additive Manufacturing of Cu–Al–Ni Shape Memory Alloy Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion”
by Mikel Pérez-Cerrato, Itziar Fraile, José Fernando Gómez-Cortés, Ernesto Urionabarrenetxea, Isabel Ruiz-Larrea, Iban González, María Luisa Nó, Nerea Burgos and Jose M. San Juan
Materials 2022, 15(18), 6284; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186284
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/18/6284

“Halochromic Inks Applied on Cardboard for Food Spoilage Monitorization”
by Liliana Leite, Inês Boticas, Navarro, Luís Nobre, João Bessa, Fernando Cunha, Pedro Neves and Raúl Fangueiro
Materials 2022, 15(18), 6431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186431
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/18/6431

“Smart Humidly Adaptive Yarns and Textiles from Twisted and Coiled Viscose Fiber Artificial Muscles”
by Mingrui Guo, Yangyang Peng, Zihan Chen, Nan Sheng and Fengxin Sun
Materials 2022, 15(23), 8312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15238312
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/23/8312

We want to thank all the research groups that submitted manuscripts to Materials. Please circulate this document among your colleagues and networks. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:
You can propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of Smart Materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

13 March 2023
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in December 2022

As a leading open access publisher, MDPI provides scholars with a high-quality and rich academic exchange platform by continuously expanding into new and exciting research areas.

In December 2022, MDPI launched five new journals, covering multiple subjects such as life sciences, biology, medicine and pharmacology, social sciences and humanities. These new journals are being edited by established scholars across the world.

Journal

Founding Editor-in-Chief

Journal Topics (Selected)

Prof. Dr. Fabio Gresta, University of Messina, Italy| Editorial | view inaugural issue

grass/forage/turf production; grassland management; pasture monitoring; grazing and livestock; grass agro-ecosystems| view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Christos G. Athanassiou, University of Thessaly, Greece| Editorial | view inaugural issue

pesticides; fungicides; herbicides; fertilizers; soil conditioners| view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Stephen H. Safe, Texas A&M University, USA| Editorial | view inaugural issue

receptor structure; receptor function; receptor signaling; receptor expression and regulation; receptor interactions with drugs| view journal scope | submit an article

Dr. Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde, University of Mons-UMONS, Belgium| Editorial | view inaugural issue

drug discovery; medicinal chemistry; preclinical and clinical research; marketed drugs; intellectual property and regulatory affairs| view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Heather Kanuka, University of Alberta, Canada| Editorial | view inaugural issue

higher education; tertiary education; policy and practice in higher education; educational leadership in higher education; educational administration and management in higher education| view journal scope | submit an article

If you are interested in creating more open access journals with us to publish cutting-edge research, please send your journal proposal application to [email protected].

7 March 2023
Displaying Co-Authors’ Email Addresses on the Webpage of Published Papers

MDPI is pleased to announce that we now display the co-authors’ email addresses in addition to the corresponding author’s email address on the webpage of published papers, protected by Captcha. For more information about this change, please visit the journal’s instructions for authors page. 

We believe this change will facilitate academic discussions and advance our cause of open science and research. The corresponding authors are responsible for communicating with their co-authors and indicating in our system (https://susy.mdpi.com/) if co-authors would prefer for their email addresses not to be displayed.

16 February 2023
Increasing Visibility for Preprints.org – Clarivate adds the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science

On 9 February 2023, Clarivate, a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics, added the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science platform, streamlining the research process by allowing researchers to locate and link to preprints alongside other trusted content in the database.

The Preprint Citation Index will act as a bridge to connect cutting-edge preprints with peer-reviewed journal articles published within the Web of Science Core Collection. Alerts can be easily set to monitor new research across several repositories and authors will also be able to include preprints on their Web of Science Research Profile to more accurately display their various research outputs.

As of its launch, the Preprint Citation Index will provide nearly two million preprints from various repositories, including MDPI’s own Preprints.org.

MDPI's Preprints Platform – Preprints.org

To advance Open Science and the fast dissemination of research, MDPI offers researchers a free multidisciplinary preprint platform. Preprints.org accepts submissions from all research areas and offers authors high visibility, permanent archiving, article-level Metrics and immediately citable content by assigning a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to all preprints.

During submission to any MDPI journal, authors have the option to share their research as a preprint. After an initial screening, the manuscript is available online in 48 hours or less. Once online, preprints can be downloaded, shared, commented on, and cited, providing authors maximum visibility.

We invite you to join the ranks of the over 100k researchers using Preprints.org and share your research.

For more information, please visit Preprints.org.

12 February 2023
Recruiting Topical Advisory Panel Members for Materials


We are currently recruiting Topical Advisory Panel Members for Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). Should you decide to serve on the Topical Advisory Panel, you would be responsible for some of the following tasks, depending on your availability:

  • Providing regular reviews of manuscripts;
  • Setting up at least one Special Issue (SI) in partnership with a senior researcher within two years of your appointment and proposing a detailed strategy plan for the SI. The topic of the proposal should be within the scope of Materials, but broad enough to attract a reasonable number of submissions, while also narrow enough to provide a cohesive collection of articles. The Special Issue should cover a small part of the scope of Materials;
  • Providing a detailed strategy plan for the SI, including assisting in preparing Special Issue/Topic titles, aims and scopes, summaries, and keywords, soliciting papers and promoting the SI;
  • Providing support for the Special Issues/Topics related to your expertise when the Guest Editors are not available. This includes SI promotion via social media and advice on some scientific cases;
  • Promoting our journal at conferences (adding 1–2 slides into your presentation, distributing flyers, recommending the journal to your colleagues, etc.), on social media and other relevant platforms;
  • Working with Editorial Board Members or the Editorial Office to promote high-quality/featured papers (for example, writing summaries or highlights for editor-selected papers).

To qualify as a Topical Advisory Panel Member, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Have expertise and experience in the field related to Materials;
  • Have completed their Ph.D. in the last 10 years (approximately);
  • Have published at least 6 papers in the last 5 years as a first author or corresponding author;
  • Currently hold an independent research position in academia or government institute.

Each year, the journal members’ performance is evaluated, and outstanding members are promoted to the Editorial Board by the Editor-in-Chief.

You can submit your application via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/topical_advisory_panel_application. Alternatively, you may send an email to the Editorial Office ([email protected]) with your academic CV attached.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

10 February 2023
15th Anniversary of Materials


The year 2023 marks the 15th anniversary of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), a peer-reviewed open access journal of materials science and engineering published semimonthly online by MDPI. To date, Materials has published more than 33,000 papers from more than 120,000 scholars. More than 45,000 reviewers and academic editors contribute to our peer review process. We sincerely appreciate the contributions and support of every author, reviewer, and academic editor. To celebrate the achievements and mark this significant milestone, we have arranged a series of special events. We hope you can join us in celebrating the 15th anniversary of our journal and enjoy the collection below.

Anniversary Video from the Editors of Materials

Development and Achievements

View the 15-year timeline infographic below. Trace the development of Materials from its origins and through key events.

Anniversary Special Issues

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of our journal Materials, we launched a series of anniversary Special Issues. For more details, please click here.

Collection of Excellent Works

Please click the covers above for details. For more collections of excellent works, please click here.

Issue Covers

Please click the covers above for details. For more issue covers, please click here.

9 February 2023
Materials | Seeking Cooperation with Academic Conferences


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) received its first Impact Factor of 3.748 in 2022 and is now published semi-monthly. Since it was first established, Materials has aimed to provide a professional publishing service to the scientific community and has strived towards the effective dissemination of high-quality scientific work.

Materials is a peer-reviewed, open access journal of materials science and engineering published semi-monthly online by MDPI. The Portuguese Materials Society (SPM), Spanish Materials Society (SOCIEMAT) and Manufacturing Engineering Society (MES) are affiliated with Materials and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.

In order to support the scientific community and contribute to the faster distribution of important scientific research, Materials has cooperated with various academic conferences and is now seeking cooperation with additional academic conferences. The journal is open to a diverse range of collaborations, such as media partnerships, awards, exhibitions, and publications.

The scope of Materials includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Publishing research related to all classes of materials, including ceramics, glasses, polymers (plastics), composites, semiconductors, magnetic materials, biological and biomimetics materials, silica, dots, and carbon materials, metals, and alloys from nanoscale to bulk alloys. All kinds of functional materials used for the development of medical implants in medicine and dentistry, coatings and films, pigments, ionic crystals, covalent crystals, metals, and intermetallics are also considered;
  • Covering all aspects of materials science or materials engineering, including nanoscience and nanotechnology;
  • Contributing to the advancement of material characterization techniques, such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, calorimetry, nuclear microscopy and spectroscopy, laser technology, optical fibers, Rutherford backscattering, and neutron diffraction, among others;
  • Inciting fundamental research in condensed matter physics and materials physics, continuum mechanics and statistics, mechanics of materials, tribology (friction, lubrication and wear), solid-state physics, etc.

We welcome consultations with any conferences related to materials. If you are interested in collaborating with Materials, please contact us at [email protected].

9 February 2023
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for Materials


We are currently recruiting Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). If you are interested in serving on the Editorial Board, or have potential candidates to recommend, please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Office ([email protected]).

The Editorial Board Members will be responsible for final decisions on manuscripts in their field of expertise, editing Special Issues, and they may be invited to review manuscripts.

The initial term is for 2 years, which entails the following responsibilities:

  • Pre-screening and making decisions on new submissions related to your research interests;
  • Setting up at least one Special Issue during your term on a topic related to your research interests (or supervising Special Issues related to your research field);
  • Providing input or feedback regarding journal policies;
  • Helping to promote the journal among your peers or at conferences;
  • Attending board meetings to suggest journal development strategies;
  • Reviewing manuscripts.

As an Editorial Board Member, you would have the following benefits:

  • Publishing one paper free of charge in Materials per year, and also publishing extra papers with special discounts;
  • Publishing one paper free of charge in your own Special Issue per year;
  • A travel grant opportunity will be offered to Editorial Board Members that make significant contributions to the journal;
  • Recommending/inviting your colleagues to submit full research articles or review papers with special discounts.

Materials is an open access journal that publishes spotlights, reviews, original research contributions, and short communications. The scientific community is encouraged to submit the details of both their experimental and theoretical results of any length to Materials. The aims and scope of the journal can be found on the following website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/about. Materials is abstracted and indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Ei Compendex, CaPlus/SciFinder, Inspec, Astrophysics Data System, and other databases. The impact factor of the journal is 3.748.

We look forward to hearing from you.

9 February 2023
Meet Us at the Fourth International Conference on Energy Storage Materials, 13–16 April 2023, Shenzhen, China

Conference: The Fourth International Conference on Energy Storage Materials
Date: 13–16 April 2023

MDPI will be attending the Fourth International Conference on Energy Storage Materials as the exhibitor. With the theme of advanced energy storage materials and energy storage devices, this seminar invites well-known scholars and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest research progress and industrial development status and trends in advanced energy storage materials and devices from academic and industrial perspectives in order to promote the application process of energy storage materials and energy storage devices. The conference is held annually.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth: #9. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.icensm.ac.cn/eindex.html.

20 January 2023
Meet Us at the XII Reunión del Grupo de Física de la Materia Condensada de la RSEF (GEFES 2023), 1–3 February 2023, Salamanca, Spain


MDPI will be attending the XII Reunión del grupo de física de la materia condensada de la RSEF (GEFES 2023) in Salamanca, Spain, which will take place from 1 to 3 February 2023. The GEFES 2023 is the annual meeting of GEFES, the Condensed Matter Physics Division of the Spanish Royal Physics Society. The theme of GEFES 2023 is to review the condensed matter physics research achievements of the society in the past year and discuss the opportunities and challenges in the field.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Electronics;
  • Nanomaterials;
  • Energies;
  • Materials;
  • Symmetry;
  • Electronic Materials;
  • Physics;
  • Condensed Matter.

If you are attending this conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://gefes2023.es/.

19 January 2023
Prof. Dr. Javier Gil Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section "Biomaterials" in Materials

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Javier Gil has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section "Biomaterials" in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

This Section of Materials covers the broad field of biomaterials, understood as materials for applications in contact with the human body in the biomedical field, including materials in medicine, medical devices, biosensors, implants, scaffolds for tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and antibacterial and dental materials.

Prof. Dr. Javier Gil’s self-introduction:

Throughout my professional life, I have never stopped researching. My research has led to very significant contributions in the development of new biomaterials for hard tissues substitution, dental implants, superelastic and shape memory alloys applied in biomedical applications, bioactive and osseoinductive materials, bacteriostatic and bactericide surfaces, biofunctionalized strategies, and the study of the mechanisms that control the interactions between biomaterials and cells or tissues. This has been possible thanks to having a team with a marked interdisciplinary character.

I have participated in numerous projects funded by national and international entities with very active international involvement, especially through European projects such as Reborne (2010‒2015) and Innovabone (2011‒2015), both in the field of biomaterials for bone regeneration. I have authored 370 research publications indexed in the Web of Science (h-index 57) and more than 11.150 citations (Google Academic) and have contributed to more than 275 international congresses. I have edited 10 books and authored 47 book chapters. At several foreign universities, I have been a visiting lecturer, such as the University of Southampton (UK), University of Michigan (US), University of Minnesota (US), UTSA-Health Campus (University of Texas, San Antonio, US), Universidade do Coimbra and Porto (P), and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México (UNAM), and I have delivered more than 70 invited lectures at international conferences. Mentoring young researchers has been a central part of my activities, with the supervision of 36 Ph.D. theses (36 presented and 6 more ongoing) and 12 Postdoctoral fellows, as well as 62 master theses and final engineering projects. I have been actively involved in translating research into clinical practice and the industrial sector, being the author of 6 patents licensed to companies and in operation. The Klockner ContacTi dental implant, which is used internationally and one of the best-selling dental implants in Spain, is the result of a patent. In 2013, I participated as a founding partner in the creation of the Spin-Off Company Mimetis Biomaterials, (https://www.mimetis.com/en/). In 2021, the company employed 15 employees.

I was President of the Iberian Society of Biomechanics and Biomaterials and, in 2014, I organized, as vice-president, the International Congress of Ceramics in Medicine, Bioceramics 26, in Barcelona and the 17th European Conference on Biomaterials. Additionally, I participated in the European Society for Biomaterials in Barcelona 2002 as the vice-president.

In 2020, I received the Prize for the Best Scientific Career in the Field of Materials Science and Technology (Materials Science Society). Since 2018, I have been the International Research Advisor to the MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. I received the Award of Honour Sociedad Española de Implantes in 2021. I am a numerary member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors and Royal Academy of Dentistry, which I became in 2013, and became, on 14 March 2018, Doctor Honoris Causa for the Universidad de La Habana (Cuba), which was actually proposed by the Universidad de Sevilla.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Javier Gil, who shared his vision for the Section with us as well as his views on the research area and Open Access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?

Over the last few years, I have been able to publish several contributions of my research in biomaterials in Materials and I have been an editor of several Special Issues. The scientific rigor, the good work of the reviewers, and the agility of the journal have been reasons for Materials to be a publication channel for our research group. I am proud and very excited to contribute to the growth of the journal.

2. What is your vision for the Section?

The number of research projects in biomaterials is steadily increasing and publication in this field is growing exponentially. Materials for health are key for people who are living longer and longer. Biomaterials aim to improve the quality of life and health of all human beings. In my opinion, this Section is one of the most important in Materials.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?

New biomaterials, biofunctionalization of implantable materials with specific missions, new methods of shaping biomaterials such as 3D printing and laser, advances in materials for regenerative medicine, bioactive materials, and bio-instructive materials are aspects of the future. It should be noted that biomaterials are an interdisciplinary area of science where biologists, engineers, chemists, microbiologists, etc., all collaborate with a common goal. This collaboration is occurring and the number of areas of knowledge involved in the advancement of materials for health is growing every day.

4. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?

In my opinion, Open Access is the present and the future of scientific publishing. The advancement of science is progressive and based on knowledge generated worldwide. The openness of science and the ease of reading internationally is critical for progress in any discipline.

5. What aspects do you focus on when reviewing a manuscript?

Firstly, scientific rigor, the reproducibility of the tests, and the use of appropriate methodologies to obtain the results of the work. Also, the importance of the topic, the originality of the study and the appropriate references so that readers can broaden their knowledge.

6. Do you have any suggestions for young researchers in this field?

My advice to young people is always to be passionate about their research, to work hard, to be patient in achieving results, and to collaborate with other research groups loyally. The fruits will come, and they will have prestigious publications that will advance the frontier of knowledge. The “Biomaterials” Section of Materials will be there to publish their excellent work. We want to continue to be a prestigious instrument for the expansion of science.

We wish Prof. Dr. Javier Gil every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

18 January 2023
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in 2022 in the Section “Optics and Photonics”


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has launched the Section “Optics and Photonics”. Optics and photonics are all methodologies and technologies that use photons over the entire spectrum from X-ray to ultraviolet, visible, and infrared, to the terahertz range, and their interaction with a variety of materials. This is an evolving interdisciplinary field of research covering all the optical technologies used in life sciences and medicine. Special, new, and biocompatible materials for implants, tissue phantoms, cell printing, cell labeling, light delivery, etc., require research from scientists from various professions, such as physicists, chemists, engineers, biologists, and doctors.

We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from the Section “Optics and Photonics” listed below:

  • “Experimental and Computational Studies on Bio-Inspired Flavylium Salts as Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells”
    by Iulia Păușescu, Anamaria Todea, Diana-Maria Dreavă, Tania Boboescu, Bianca Pațcan, Larisa Pațcan, Daiana Albulescu, Valentin Badea, Francisc Peter, Róbert Tőtős et al.
    Materials 2022, 15(19), 6985; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196985
    Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/19/6985
  • “Sol-Gel Derived Silica-Titania Waveguide Films for Applications in Evanescent Wave Sensors—Comprehensive Study”
    by Paweł Karasiński, Magdalena Zięba, Ewa Gondek, Jacek Nizioł, Sandeep Gorantla, Krzysztof Rola, Alicja Bachmatiuk and Cuma Tyszkiewicz
    Materials 2022, 15(21), 7641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217641
    Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/21/7641
  • “Synthesis, Structural and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt-Doped GaN Nanowires on Si by Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition”
    by Zhe Chuan Feng, Yu-Lun Liu, Jeffrey Yiin, Li-Chyong Chen, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Benjamin Klein and Ian T. Ferguson
    Materials 2023, 16(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010097
    Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/97
  • “Basic Characteristics of Dose Distributions of Photons Beam for Radiotherapeutic Applications Using YAG: Ce Crystal Detectors”
    by Janusz Winiecki, Sandra Witkiewicz-Lukaszek, Paulina Michalska, Seweryn Jakubowski, Sergiy Nizhankovskiy and Yuriy Zorenko
    Materials 2022, 15(21), 7861; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217861
    Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/21/7861

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We would appreciate it if you could circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:

This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=materials.

Launching a Special Issue:

You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field.

Joining the Editorial Board:

If you are an active researcher in the field of optics and photonics and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Materials Editorial Office

29 December 2022
Dr. Ingo Dierking Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section "Soft Matter" in Materials

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Ingo Dierking has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section "Soft Matter" in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Drones news

Dr. Ingo Dierking received his Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Clausthal in Germany. After employment at the IBM TJ Watson Research Center in the US, working on electronic paper, he joined Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden, as a Humboldt fellow. There, he was appointed docent, before joining the University of Darmstadt in Germany as a lecturer for several years and eventually moving to the University of Manchester in 2002, where he is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor at the Department of Physics & Astronomy. Dr. Ingo Dierking has published more than 150 scientific papers, as well as several books on the topic of liquid crystal research. He is the 2009 awardee of the Hilsum medal of the British Liquid Crystal Society (BLCS), the 2016 winner of the Samsung Mid-Career Award for Research Excellence of the International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS) and the 2021 awardee of the Gray medal. Ingo Dierking is the editor of Liquid Crystals Today, the current President of the ILCS and a former Chair of the BLCS. His current research interests are broadly focused on soft-matter systems, with an emphasis on liquid crystals, and LC-based composites with polymers and nanoparticles.

The following is a Q&A with Dr. Ingo Dierking, who shared his vision for the Section, in addition to his views on the research area and Open Access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?

The journal has a relatively wide scope and is appealing to a broad audience. It offers the possibility to obtain an overview of research topics one would not necessarily look for, for example, a soft matter physicist is exposed to nanomaterial research in the same issue of the journal and might run across an interesting title when looking through the table of contents. Similarly, as a Section editor with a background in liquid crystals, one is exposed to publications from the fields of polymers, colloids, or biological materials, which might enhance one’s own research.

2. What does the future of this field of research look like?

This is of course a question which is very different for each individual, so I would like to talk about this with my specific view and expertise on liquid crystals. The current research in liquid crystals as being applied in screens is slowly decreasing because there has already been so much research in this area that significant improvements from the side of materials are not needed anymore commercially. The future could lie in 3D screens or holography for screen-related technologies, and also in augmented reality applications. The applications in other areas are now being explored, such as drug delivery, biosensors, gas sensors and adaptive (micro)optics. From a fundamental point of view, different areas of soft matter could increasingly overlap, leading to a broader understanding of the field and the potential for further and largely different applications, especially through the exploitation of self-assembly and self-organization.

3. You have run several successful Special Issues, what did you find important to their success?

The activity and engagement of the Guest Editor are essential. I tend to send personalized emails to the authors I want to invite and to see participate in a special issue. Mass emailing does not attract me personally to submit, so that is what I try to avoid. On the other hand, receiving personalized emails from the GE makes me more likely to consider contributing, so this is what I do when I am a GE. Furthermore, a good and interesting choice of topic, which sets itself apart from those of other issues and journals, might also help.

4. What factors are important to you when selecting a journal to submit to?

In my opinion, the impact factor has become an overrated metric to judge the quality of research. Of course, as a researcher, one should have an interest in publishing quality research. For this, it is essential that a journal has a good review process in place. And of course, the impact factor in many cases allows us to distinguish quality research, but this has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as impact, for example, also depends on the size of the research field, etc. Personally, I believe that the primary question for an author should be: Who is my target audience for a particular research paper? Is it the science community, the soft matter community or the liquid crystal community? Who would I really want to read this paper? – of course, also with an eye on the impact.

5. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?

There are certain risks with the concept of Open Access publishing, like predatory journals publishing every submission simply for the sake of maximizing profits. As such, a robust review process might be easier to implement for other publishers, although, of course, most of these, in the end, also publish for profit. The positive side is, of course, that OA publishing reaches a potentially much larger audience, also colleagues who might otherwise not have access to the literature. And of course, there are the funding agencies who often demand Open Access publishing. I believe that OA is a good concept for research publishing, as long as thorough peer review is ensured, costs are controllable, and it is ensured that excellent research is published independent of the financial situation of the authors. Lack of funds should not be a reason for the rejection of good research.

We wish Dr. Ingo Dierking every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

22 December 2022
Special Issue Mentor Program

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the MDPI Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program will enable early career researchers (who must hold a Ph.D. in a related field) to experience editing a Special Issue in MDPI journals, under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program will provide an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience, and to cultivate their ability to edit scientific research.

The mentee’s responsibilities include:

  • Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting the mentor in preparing a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Issue;
  • Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
  • Preparing a list of scholars who may be interested in the Issue and personally e-mailing invitations on behalf of Guest Editors;
  • Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue together with the mentor.

The mentor’s responsibilities include:

  • Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
  • Performing editorial control of the Special Issue and quality control of the publications, both of which must be carried out in a timely manner;
  • Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
  • Organizing video calls with young scholars and the Editorial Office regularly to discuss problems and improvement suggestions for the Special Issue;
  • Making and submitting decisions regarding submissions with the assistance of mentees.

Certificates and awards:
After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates for all the mentors and early career researchers.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Editorial Office of a journal you choose, and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail. The full list of MDPI journals is as follows: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, we will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals focusing on hot research topics.

22 December 2022
Materials | Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster Award for the 4th International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials (ICM 2022)—Winners Announced

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has organized and sponsored the Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster Award for the 4th International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials (ICM 2022). The applications were processed by the Conference Committee. We are pleased to announce the Best Oral Presentation Award winner, Ms. Katherine Pérez, and Best Poster Award winner, Ms. Noor Abu Jarad.

Dr. Fernando Rubiera González

Best Oral Presentation Award winner: Ms. Katherine Pérez
Affiliation: Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia
Presentation Title: “Formation of PEO coatings on binary material Mg-33 wt% Ti processed by high-energy ball milling (HEBM)”

Dr. Fernando Rubiera González

Best Poster Award winner: Ms. Noor Abu Jarad
Affiliation: McMaster University, Canada
Poster Title: “Omniphobic Spray Coating with Repel and Kill Mechanism Prevents Contamination by Drug-Resistant Bacteria and Viruses on High-Touch Surfaces”

ICM 2022 was chaired by the Materials Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Maryam Tabrizian (McGill University, Montreal, Canada) and Associate Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Filippo Berto (Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway). The conference topics included: Materials Characterization, Nanotechnology in Material Sciences and Engineering, Materials Processing and Manufacturing, Soft and Bio-materials, Fibers and Membranes, and Optical, Electrical and Magnetic Materials. More details about the conference can be found on the following website: https://icm2022.sciforum.net/.

The following is an interview with Ms. Katherine Pérez:

We would like to congratulate Ms. Katherine Pérez and Ms. Noor Abu Jarad again for their accomplishments! If you are also interested in Materials’ awards, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards to apply or nominate someone else for an award.

14 December 2022
"Thanks a Million!" – One Million Articles Published in MDPI Journals

MDPI has just become the first open access (OA) publisher to reach the milestone of one million articles published. That is one million articles freely available to all, to circulate and build upon! We are proud to share this special moment with the global scientific community.

This landmark has been reached thanks to the immeasurable support of more than 600,000 expert reviewers, 66,000 editorial board members and 6700 hard-working colleagues across MDPI’s global offices.

Within more than 25 years of publishing, our journals received 2.1 million manuscripts and generated 4.6 million peer review reports to get to one million papers published.

1 Million Infographic

Reaching the milestone of one million articles published reinforces our mission to remove any existing barriers and to make scientific research accessible to all. Since its inception, MDPI’s goal has been to create reliable processes to make science open. This is a path towards facilitating the dissemination of novel insights in scientific communities.

Regular feedback from authors and reviewers shows that our service is greatly appreciated and needed. At the same time, the feedback helps us identify areas for further improvement.

As it stands, a significant share of published research findings remain closed access. More than half of the content published with the most well-known legacy publishers stays behind a paywall, and that is not including articles published in hybrid OA journals, or made available months or years after publication.

A new policy announced by the US administration in August 2022 requires that, as of January 2026, all US federally funded research be made freely and immediately available after publication. While the new policy does not mandate articles be published under an open access license, it is aligned with the open access movement in removing all barriers to research. Similarly, some of the most advanced research institutions in the world intend to have all funded research articles published in open access by 2025.

MDPI is proud to be the leading agent of the transition to open access.

"Thanks a Million" to all the contributors!

13 December 2022
Materials | Recruiting Section Editor-in-Chief for the Section “Green Materials”


We are now recruiting the Editor-in-Chief for the Section “Green Materials” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), which was launched this year. If you are an active researcher in one of the green materials fields and are passionate about publishing cutting-edge research, please do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected].

Section Information

Research in green materials covers, among other polymers, composites, polymeric materials, and non-conventional materials which can reduce the use of hazardous substances in the preparation, manufacturing process, and applications of green products. To enhance the impact of green materials in the context of material science, the Section includes but is not limited to contributions on:

  • Renewable materials;
  • Sustainable biomaterials;
  • Advanced polymer nanocomposites;
  • Inorganic functional nanomaterials;
  • Environmentally friendly polymeric materials;
  • Novel flame-retardant polymers;
  • Green chemical materials.

You can find more information about the Section on our homepage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/sections/green_materials.

The Section Editor-in-Chief has the following responsibilities:

  • Promoting Materials and the Section “Green Materials” and increasing their visibility at related academic conferences;
  • Making scientific decisions about the journal’s scope;
  • Inviting distinguished scientists to join the Editorial Board;
  • Suggesting topics for Special Issues and assisting the Guest Editors in the setup of Special Issues;
  • Providing support and guidance to Editorial Board Members and editorial staff where required;
  • Overviewing the editorial process for individual manuscripts (mainly by making the final decision on whether a paper can be published after peer review and revisions);
  • Understanding, leading, and upholding MDPI’s peer review guidelines and ethics guidelines.

We believe that by combining our rigorous editorial policies with your expertise, we can build a high-quality journal. We thank you in advance for your interest and look forward to collaborating with you.

Materials Editorial Office

9 December 2022
Welcoming New Editorial Board Members of Materials

We are pleased to announce that 15 new scholars were appointed Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of the journal Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) in November 2022.

Name Section Affiliation
Prof. Dr. Andrea Manes “Advanced Composites” Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Dr. Chris M. Fancher “Advanced Materials Characterization” Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA
Dr. Matteo Tonezzer “Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology” IMEM-CNR, Italy
Prof. Dr. Sangwon Park “Biomaterials” Chonnam National University, South Korea
Dr. Chun Yang Yin “Carbon Materials” Newcastle University, Singapore
Dr. Bing Zhang “Construction and Building Materials” Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), China
Dr. Luisa Rovero “Construction and Building Materials” University of Florence, Italy
Prof. Dr. Federico Bella “Energy Materials” Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Dr. Linfeng Lan “Materials Physics” South China University of Technology, China
Prof. Dr. Fuguo Li “Materials Physics” Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
Dr. Changho Lee “Mechanics of Materials” Chonnam National University, South Korea
Dr. Chih-Chun Hsieh “Metals and Alloys” National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Prof. Dr. Heng Li “Metals and Alloys” Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
Prof. Dr. Pan Gong “Metals and Alloys” Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Dr. Roberto Verucchi “Thin Films and Interfaces” National Research Council, Italy

Further details about the Editorial Board can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/editors.

We wish our new members every success in both their research and in the development of the journal.

Additionally, Materials is recruiting prestigious scholars from around the world to join our Editorial Board. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) with the following two files attached:

  • A full academic CV;
  • A short cover letter that details your interest in and enthusiasm for the position.

Materials Editorial Office

8 December 2022
MDPI Sustainability Foundation: New Look and Nominations for the 2023 Sustainability Awards Now Open

We are pleased to announce that the website of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation has been revamped! For the past couple of months, our UX UI team and front-end developers have been working hard to launch the website in time for the opening of the Sustainability Awards nominations.

The website is not the only thing that has had a remodeling. Indeed, the format of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) has been updated. ESLA is now a competition open to individual researchers or start-ups founded by researchers under the age of 35. Nominee applications will go through 2 rounds of selection until the final 3 are decided. The finalists will then be invited to give pitch presentations during the Award Ceremony to win either first place (10,000 USD) or runner-up (2 x 5000 USD).

The World Sustainability Award, on the other hand, remains the same: a total prize money of 100,000 USD is up for grabs by senior individual researchers or groups of researchers from the international research community.

Nominations for both the World Sustainability Award and the Emerging Sustainability Leader award are now open! Check out our new website for more information on how to nominate.

29 November 2022
Editorial Board Members from Materials Featured in 2022 Highly Cited Researchers List Published by Clarivate

Recently, ClarivateTM revealed its 2022 list of Highly Cited ResearchersTM—individuals at universities, research institutes and commercial organizations.

The scientists who were selected for this year’s list of Highly Cited Researchers have published highly cited papers in the 11-year period from January 2011 to December 2021, with citation frequency in the top 1% of academic subjects and the same year of publication in the Web of ScienceTM database. Based on Web of Science Citation data, 6938 researchers from across the globe who have demonstrated a disproportionate level of significant and broad influence in their chosen field or fields over the last decade have been awarded Highly Cited Researcher 2022 designations. The list is truly global, spanning 69 countries or regions and spread across a diverse range of research sciences and social sciences.

According to the statistics, 28 members of the Editorial Board of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) have been selected for the list of Highly Cited Researchers of Clarivate in 2022. They are being recognized for their high-quality scientific research achievements and outstanding contributions to professional fields. The Materials journal office would like to sincerely congratulate all elected Editorial Board Members and hopes that they continue to have an academically productive relationship with the journal.

Name Affiliation
Dr. Hui Wu Tsinghua University, China
Dr. Xiaojun Wu Beihang University, China
Dr. Yuyan Jiang Stanford University, USA
Prof. Dr. Bin Yu University of Science and Technology of China, China
Prof. Dr. Cheng Zhong Tianjin University, China
Prof. Dr. Dewei Zhao Sichuan University, China
Prof. Dr. Guoxiu Wang University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Prof. Dr. Haijun Wu Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Prof. Dr. Haijun Zhang Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
Prof. Dr. Hao Bin Wu Zhejiang University, China
Prof. Dr. Jie Yang RMIT University, Australia
Prof. Dr. Jun Yan Dalian University of Technology, China
Prof. Dr. Katsuhiko Ariga National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan
Prof. Dr. Lidong Chen Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Prof. Dr. Li-Dong Zhao Beihang University, China
Prof. Dr. Lijian Leng Central South University, China
Prof. Dr. Litao Sun Southeast University, China
Prof. Dr. Pan Liu Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Prof. Dr. Rafael Luque Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Prof. Dr. Shaowei Chen University of California Santa Cruz, USA
Prof. Dr. Weili Zhang Oklahoma State University, USA
Prof. Dr. Xiaodong Zhang University of Science and Technology of China, China
Prof. Dr. Xiaogang Zhang Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China
Prof. Dr. Xinhui Xia Zhejiang University, China
Prof. Dr. Yongzhen Wu East China University of Science and Technology, China
Prof. Dr. Yufeng Zheng Peking University, China
Prof. Dr. Zexiang Shen Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Prof. Dr. Zhiguo Xia South China University of Technology, China

21 November 2022
Prof. Dr. Federico Bella Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section "Energy Materials" in Materials


We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Federico Bella has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section "Energy Materials" in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Prof. Dr. Federico Bella (Torino, 1987) is a full professor of chemistry at Politecnico di Torino. In the Electrochemistry Group, he leads the research activities on post-Li batteries, electrochemical nitrogen reduction and hybrid photovoltaics.

Due to his important achievements in energy chemistry, Prof. Dr. Federico Bella received both the “ENI Award” and the “Roberto Piontelli Award” from the President of the Italian Republic. In 2021, he was the recipient of the USERN Prize, awarded among 10000 candidates by a jury of previous Nobel awardees.

Prof. Dr. Federico Bella is an author of more than 100 international publications (h-index 65) and leads the ERC project SuN2rise, a €1.5 M EU grant to redesign the process of NH3 production. He has coordinated the Early-Career Division of the Italian Chemical Society and is a member of the Editorial Board of cutting-edge journals in the field of chemistry, e.g., ChemSusChem and ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Federico Bella, who shared his vision for the Section, in addition to his views on the research area:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?
In recent years I have worked a lot for Materials in order to propose new Special Issues on emerging thematic areas and contribute to the manuscripts review process. Now, I am happy to have this opportunity to devote myself to the development of one of the most strategic Sections of this journal, i.e., “Energy Materials”.
 
2. What is your vision for the Section?
We are experiencing an energy transition that must necessarily be accompanied by an ecological transition. All of these challenges are achievable if new materials are developed and are capable of providing performance, sustainability and low costs at the same time: to this end, this Section of the Materials journal will be invaluable in collecting the best possible contributions in this field.
 
3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
Batteries, supercapacitors, electrocatalytic reactors and photovoltaic cells will be the main players in the electrification of society and industry during the next decade. And it is on these pillars that the “Energy Materials” Section will focus its efforts in order to offer high-quality research articles.
 
4. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?
Researchers must be able to work in the best possible conditions in order to reach important goals. To this purpose, the first requirement is to have access to the literature on one's own research topic, hence the high importance of the Open Access system emerges.
 
5. What aspects do you focus on when reviewing a manuscript?
I check these three items when I first read a newly submitted manuscript. First, the main challenge of the work must be clearly highlighted. Second, a phenomenological explanation for the measured performances has to be clearly indicated. Third, English style: authors often do not take care of this aspect, but this influences the way a research work is appreciated by a referee.
 
6. Do you have any suggestions for young researchers in this field?
There is strong competition between research groups in the field of energy materials, and this stems from the great challenges in place and the potential to be financed more easily than in other sectors. However, innovation always comes first: I suggest young people focus on a challenge where they can emerge with a new material or a new phenomenon, rather than chasing performance records on existing materials developed by others.

We wish Prof. Dr. Federico Bella every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

18 November 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Polymeric Materials”


1. "High-Temperature Properties and Applications of Si-Based Polymer-Derived Ceramics: A Review"
by Zhongkan Ren, Shakir Bin Mujib and Gurpreet Singh
Materials 2021, 14(3), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1403061
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/614

2. "Propolis and Organosilanes as Innovative Hybrid Modifiers in Wood-Based Polymer Composites"
by Majka Odalanowska, Magdalena Woźniak, Izabela Ratajczak, Daria Zielińska, Grzegorz Cofta and Sławomir Borysiak
Materials 2021, 14(2), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020464
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/464

3. "Antibacterial Films Based on Polylactide with the Addition of Quercetin and Poly(Ethylene Glycol)"
by Ewa Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Magdalena Gierszewska, Agnieszka Richert, Sylwia Grabska-Zielińska, Anna Rudawska and Mohamed Bouaziz
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071643
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1643

4. "Structure and Mechanical Properties of High-Density Polyethylene Composites Reinforced with Glassy Carbon"
by Piotr Olesik, Marcin Godzierz, Mateusz Kozioł, Jakub Jała, Urszula Szeluga and Jerzy Myalski
Materials 2021, 14(14), 4024; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14144024
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/14/4024

5. "Photocurable Epoxy Acrylate Coatings Preparation by Dual Cationic and Radical Photocrosslinking"
by Paulina Bednarczyk, Karolina Mozelewska, Małgorzata Nowak and Zbigniew Czech
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4150; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154150
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4150

6. "Bactericidal and Fungistatic Properties of LDPE Modified with a Biocide Containing Metal Nanoparticles"
by Katarzyna Janczak, Daria Kosmalska, Daniel Kaczor, Aneta Raszkowska-Kaczor, Lauren Wedderburn and Rafał Malinowski
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4228; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154228
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4228

7. "New Organosilicon Composite Based on Borosiloxane and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Inhibits Bacterial Growth, but Does Not Have a Toxic Effect on the Development of Animal Eukaryotic Cells"
by Denis N. Chausov, Dmitriy E. Burmistrov, Alexander D. Kurilov, Nikolai F. Bunkin, Maxim E. Astashev, Alexander V. Simakin, Maria V. Vedunova and Sergey V. Gudkov
Materials 2021, 14(21), 6281; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216281
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/21/6281

8. "Quantification Approaches for Fatigue Crack Resistance of Thermoplastic Tape Layered Composites with Multiple Delaminations"
by Anastasiia Khudiakova, Andreas J. Brunner, Markus Wolfahrt and Gerald Pinter
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061476
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1476

9. "Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Shell-Crosslinked Micelles of Poly(d,l-lactide)-b-poly((furfuryl methacrylate)-co-(N-acryloylmorpholine)) Prepared by Diels–Alder Reaction for the Triggered Release of Doxorubicin"
by Sonyabapu Yadav, Kalyan Ramesh, Parveen Kumar, Sung-Han Jo, Seong II Yoo, Yeong-Soon Gal, Sang-Hyug Park and Kwon Taek Lim
Materials 2021, 14(24), 7913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247913
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/24/7913

10. "High-Impact Polystyrene Reinforced with Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Filament for Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printing"
by Marta Sieradzka, Janusz Fabia, Dorota Biniaś, Tadeusz Graczyk and Ryszard Fryczkowski
Materials 2021, 14(22), 7008; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14227008
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/22/7008

18 November 2022
Welcoming New Editorial Board Members of Materials

We are pleased to announce that 18 new scholars have recently been appointed Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of the journal Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Name Affiliation
Prof. Dr. Adolfo Avella Universitá degli Studi di Salerno, Italy
Prof. Dr. Agata Przekora-Kuśmierz Medical University of Lublin, Poland
Dr. Christian Carloni Case Western Reserve University, USA
Dr. Dmitriy Igorevich Potemkin Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Russia
Dr. Hongwei Liu The University of Sydney, Australia
Dr. Jiapeng Sun Hohai University, China
Prof. Dr. Jie Li RMIT University, Australia
Prof. Dr. Joaquin Fernández Donostia International Physics Center, Spain
Dr. Jürgen Klepp University of Vienna, Austria
Prof. Dr. Margarita D. Apostolova Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Prof. Dr. Odda Ruiz de Ballesteros Università di Napoli Federico II, Italy
Prof. Dr. Shengtao Yang Southwest Minzu University, China
Prof. Dr. Tomasz Garbowski Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
Prof. Dr. Tomasz Goryczka University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
Dr. Valerio Pinchetti Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA
Prof. Dr. Xiaoding Qi National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Dr. Yingbin Hu Miami University, USA
Prof. Dr. Zhonghua Zhang Shandong University, China

Further details about the Editorial Board can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/editors.

We wish them every success in both their research and in the development of the journal.

Additionally, Materials is recruiting prestigious scholars from around the world to join our Editorial Board. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) with the following two files attached:

  • A full academic CV;
  • A short cover letter that details your interest in and enthusiasm for the position.

Materials Editorial Office

2 November 2022
Materials | Recruiting Section Editor-in-Chief for the Section “Soft Matter”


We are now recruiting the Editor-in-Chief for the Section “Soft Matter” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), which was launched last year. If you are an active researcher in one of the soft matter fields and are passionate about publishing cutting-edge research, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Section Information:

Research in soft matter covers, among other polymers, liquid crystals, colloids, granular matter, hybrids and active matter, as well as wetting and friction phenomena, soft surfaces and interphases, gels, liquid–liquid phase transitions, and biomimetic systems. To enhance our understanding of soft matter in the context of material science, the Section includes but is not limited to contributions to:

  • Theoretical, computational, and experimental studies of polymers, gels, colloids, wetting and friction phenomena, soft surfaces, and active and biomimetic systems;
  • The understanding of phase transitions and phase behavior in soft matter;
  • The understanding of non-equilibrium and meta-stable states in soft matter, including applications to device functions and processing;
  • Application of methods of artificial intelligence and machine learning in soft matter and soft materials, processing, and devices.

You can find more information about the Section on our homepage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/sections/soft_matter.

The Section Editor-in-Chief has the following responsibilities:

  • Promoting Materials and the Section “Soft Matter” and increasing their visibility at related academic conferences;
  • Scientific decisions about the journal’s scope;
  • Inviting distinguished scientists to join the Editorial Board;
  • Suggesting topics for Special Issues and assisting the Guest Editors in the setup of Special Issues;
  • Providing support and guidance to Editorial Board Members and editorial staff where required;
  • Overviewing the editorial process for individual manuscripts (mainly by taking the final decision on whether a paper can be published after peer review and revisions).
  • Understanding, leading, and upholding MDPI’s peer review guidelines and ethics guidelines.

We believe that by combining our rigorous editorial policies with your expertise, we can build a high-quality journal. We thank you in advance for your interest and look forward to collaborating with you.

Materials Editorial Office

1 November 2022
Materials | Best Oral Presentation Award for the VII Congress of the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Division (DCTC2022)—Winner Announced

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has sponsored the Best Oral Presentation Award for the Congress of the Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society (VII CONGRESSO DELLA DIVISIONE DI CHIMICA TEORICA E COMPUTAZIONALE—DCTC2022). The applications were processed by the Conference Committee. We are pleased to announce the winner— Mr. Cheng Giuseppe Chen.

Dr. Fernando Rubiera González

Mr. Cheng Giuseppe Chen is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Chemistry of the Sapienza University of Rome. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 2018 and his master's degree in chemistry (inorganic–physical chemistry curriculum) in 2020, both at the Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on modeling the spectroscopical properties of complex systems of biological interest using classical and QM/MM computational methods.

He is the winner of the Best Oral Presentation Award at the congress of the Computational and Theoretical Chemistry division of the Italian Chemical Society (VII CONGRESSO DELLA DIVISIONE DI CHIMICA TEORICA E COMPUTAZIONALE—DCTC2022), Modena, 21–23 September 2022. The title of the presentation was “PyMM: An open-source Python program for QM/MM Simulations based on the Perturbed Matrix Method”.

The award was delivered by the President of the Commission composed of the following people:

  • Prof. Isabella Daidone (University of L'Aquila);
  • Prof. Mauro Stener (University of Trento);
  • Dr. Francesco Muniz-Miranda (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia).

We would like to congratulate Mr. Cheng Giuseppe Chen again for his accomplishment! If you are also interested in Materials’ awards, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards to apply or nominate someone else for an award.

1 November 2022
Meet Us at the 14th National Surface Engineering Conference, 11–13 November 2022, Wuhan, China


MDPI will be attending the 14th National Surface Engineering Conference, held in Wuhan, China, from 11 to 13 November 2022. This conference aims to achieve an in-depth exchange of the latest research results in surface engineering and related disciplines and to discuss the frontier trends and future development trends of surface engineering research and engineering application. During this conference, MDPI will welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Lubricants;
  • Applied Sciences;
  • Surfaces;
  • Polymers;
  • Materials;
  • QuBS;
  • Coatings;
  • Clean Technologies

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have. 

For more information about the conference, please see the following link: http://bmgc2022.aconf.cn/index.html.

26 October 2022
Meet Us at the Journées de Chimie Organique (JCO 2022), 2–4 November 2022, Palaiseau, France


Conference: Journées de Chimie Organique (JCO 2022)
Date: 2–4 November 2022
Place: Palaiseau, France
Booth Number: 2

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) and Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049) will be attending the Journées de Chimie Organique (JCO 2022) as exhibitors from 2 to 4 November in Palaiseau, France.

The JCO is organized every 3 years by the Organic Chemistry Division committee. It aims to be a great opportunity for the sharing of science, gathering organic chemists from all over the world.

This year, the meeting will include 13 plenary lectures and 5 invited lectures given by French and foreign researchers from both academic and industrial backgrounds, and will also highlight awardees of the DCO prizes.

Numerous oral communications are open to young researchers in various areas, such as the following:

  • Catalysis;
  • New methods in organic synthesis;
  • Total synthesis of natural products;
  • Sustainable chemistry;
  • Medicinal chemistry;
  • Bioorganic chemistry;
  • Chemobiology;
  • Supramolecular chemistry;
  • Applications in materials and energy.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.jco2022.com/en/.

 

24 October 2022
Materials | Special Issue Mentor Program


We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the Special Issue Mentor Program. This program intends to provide an opportunity for early-career scientists to enhance their editing, networking, and organizational skills and to work closely with our journal to gain more editorial experience. Early career scientists who have novel ideas for new Materials Special Issues will act as Guest Editors under the mentorship of an experienced scientist; this mentor could be a member of the Editorial Board of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), from other well-established research institutes or laboratories, etc.

The mentee’s responsibilities include:

  • Providing a CV, including a list of publications;
  • Proposing a Special Issue title and a short introduction;
  • Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
  • Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue;
  • Reviewing and making decisions for submissions under the mentorship of our Editorial Board Members.

The mentor’s responsibilities include:

  • Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
  • Co-editing the Special Issue with younger scholars and performing quality control of the publications in the Special Issue;
  • Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
  • Regularly organizing video calls with young scholars and the office to discuss problems and offer suggestions for improvement for the Special Issue.

Certificates and awards:

When the Special Issue is closed, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates for all the mentors. The younger scholars will be prioritized as candidates for Materials Young Investigator Awards in future editions.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]), and we will discuss the process (mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, Materials will continually welcome all Special Issue proposals based on hot research topics as usual.

Materials Editorial Office

17 October 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Energy Materials”

1. “Application of Ionic Liquids for Batteries and Supercapacitors”
by Ray, A. and Saruhan, B.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2942; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112942
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2942

2. “Research Progress of Proton Exchange Membrane Failure and Mitigation Strategies”
by Xing, Y.; Li, H. and Avgouropoulos, G.
Materials 2021, 14(10), 2591; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102591
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/10/2591

3. “Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices”
by Kim, E.; Han, J.; Ryu, S.; Choi, Y. and Yoo, J.
Materials 2021, 14(14), 4000; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14144000
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/14/4000

4. “Undoped Sr2MMoO6 Double Perovskite Molybdates (M = Ni, Mg, Fe) as Promising Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”
by Skutina, L.; Filonova, E.; Medvedev, D. and Maignan, A.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071715
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1715

5. “Utilization of Red Mud as a Source for Metal Ions—A Review”
by Samal, S.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092211
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2211

6. “Investigation of Lithium Ion Diffusion of Graphite Anode by the Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration Technique”
by Park, J. H.; Yoon, H.; Cho, Y. and Yoo, C.-Y.
Materials 2021, 14(16), 4683; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164683
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/16/4683

7. “Enhanced Structural Stability and Electrochemical Performance of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 Cathode Materials by Ga Doping”
by Liu, Z.; Li, J.; Zhu, M.; Wang, L.; Kang, Y.; Dang, Z.; Yan, J. and He, X.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1816; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081816
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1816

8. “Nanocomposites Prepared from Carbon Nanotubes and the Transition Metal Dichalcogenides WS2 and MoS2 via Surfactant-Assisted Dispersions as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reactions”
by Ferreira, P.; Abreu, B.; Freire, C.; Fernandes, D. M. and Marques, E. F.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040896
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/896

9. “Recent Progress in Cathode Materials for Sodium-Metal Halide Batteries”
by Zhan, X.; Li, M. M.; Weller, J. M.; Sprenkle, V. L. and Li, G.
Materials 2021, 14(12), 3260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123260
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/12/3260

10. “Flexible Supercapacitors Based on Graphene/Boron Nitride Nanosheets Electrodes and PVA/PEI Gel Electrolytes”
by Wang, C.; Hu, K.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, M.-R.; Wang, Z. and Li, Z.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081955
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1955

28 September 2022
Peer Review Week 2022 – Research Integrity: Creating and Supporting Trust in Research

Peer Review Week began 19 September 2022 under the theme of “Research Integrity: Creating and Supporting Trust in Research”. Through various blog articles, podcast, and webinar, we discussed this crucial subject throughout the week, celebrating the essential role peer review plays in maintaining research quality.

To begin, we held a Webinar on the topic. Professor Peter W. Choate and Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi joined Dr. Ioana Craciun, one of MDPI’s scientific officers, for an in-depth discussion.

We invite you to view the event recording:

During the week, the MDPI Blog in a series articles highlighted how good Peer Review safeguards research integrity. The following topics were covered:

In a new edition of Insight Faster, an MDPI podcast, we were delighted to talk to the co-chairs of the Peer Review Week committee, Jayashree Rajagopalan (Senior Manager of Global Community Engagement for CACTUS) and Danielle Padula (Head of Marketing and Community Development at Scholastica) to get their take on this year’s event and its related topics.

You can find the Podcast here.

We hope you enjoy the contents!

20 September 2022
Materials | Editor’s Choice Articles in Q3 of 2022


The Editor’s Choice Articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles that have recently been published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to authors, or important in this field. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

We are pleased to present the Q3 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles. We hope that these papers can help and provide a reference for your academic research.

“An Overview of Some Nonpiezoelectric Properties of BaTiO3 Ceramics Doped by Eu Ions”
by Magdalena Krupska-Klimczak et al.
Materials 2022, 15(15), 5363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15155363
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/15/5363

“Evaluation of Solidified Wastewater Treatment Sludge as a Potential SCM in Pervious Concrete Pavements”
by Ognjen Govedarica et al.
Materials 2022, 15(14), 4919; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144919
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/14/4919

“Synthesis and Processing Parameter Optimization of Nano-Belite via One-Step Combustion Method”
by Hongfang Sun et al.
Materials 2022, 15(14), 4913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144913
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/14/4913

“The Effect of Bi2O3 and Fe2O3 Impurity Phases in BiFeO3 Perovskite Materials on Some Electrical Properties in the Low-Frequency Field”
by Cristian Casut et al.
Materials 2022, 15(14), 4764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15144764
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/14/4764

“Concrete/Glass Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) Synergies in Ternary Eco-Cement-Paste Mineralogy”
by Raquel Vigil de la Villa Mencía et al.
Materials 2022, 15(13), 4661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134661
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4661

“Pressure-Induced Superconductivity of the Quasi-One-Dimensional Organic Conductor (TMTTF)2TaF6
by Miho Itoi et al.
Materials 2022, 15(13), 4638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134638
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4638

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the research groups that submitted to Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We would appreciate it if you would circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

  • Submitting a manuscript:

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an open access journal that publishes spotlights, reviews, original research contributions, and short communications. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload/8865a3461895587443b8af1c017a16b7?form%5Bjournal_id%5D=14.

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Materials Editorial Office

16 September 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Manufacturing Processes and Systems”

1. “Functional Importance of Surface Texture Parameters”
by Pawlus, P.; Reizer, R. and Wieczorowski M.
Materials 2021, 14(18), 5326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14185326
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/18/5326

2. “Methodology for the Quality Control Process of Additive Manufacturing Products Made of Polymer Materials”
by Budzik, G.; Woźniak, J.; Paszkiewicz, A.; Przeszłowski, Ł.; Dziubek, T. and Dębski, M.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092202
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2202

3. “Tailoring Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Additively-Manufactured Ti6Al4V Using Post Processing”
by Ganor, Y. I.; Tiferet, E.; Vogel, S. C.; Brown, D. W.; Chonin, M.; Pesach, A.; Hajaj, A.; Garkun, A.; Samuha, S.; Shneck, R. Z. and Yeheskel, O.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030658
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/658

4. “Peening Techniques for Surface Modification: Processes, Properties, and Applications”
by John, M.; Kalvala, P. R.; Misra, M. and Menezes, P. L.
Materials 2021, 14(14), 3841; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143841
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/14/3841

5. “In Situ Monitoring of Additive Manufacturing Using Digital Image Correlation: A Review”
by Cunha, F. G.; Santos, T. G. and Xavier, J.
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061511
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1511

6. “Recent Attempts in the Design of Efficient PVC Plasticizers with Reduced Migration”
by Czogała, J.; Pankalla, E. and Turczyn, R.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040844
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/844

7. “Wear Resistance Improvement of Cemented Tungsten Carbide Deep-Hole Drills after Ion Implantation”
by Morozow, D.; Barlak, M.; Werner, Z.; Pisarek, M.; Konarski, P.; Zagórski, J.; Rucki, M.; Chałko, L.; Łagodziński, M.; Narojczyk, J.; Krzysiak, Z. and Caban, J.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020239
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/239

8. “Multiscale Analysis of Surface Texture Quality of Models Manufactured by Laser Powder-Bed Fusion Technology and Machining from 316L Steel”
by Gogolewski, D.; Bartkowiak, T.; Kozior, T. and Zmarzły, P.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2794; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112794
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2794

9. “Tribological Properties of 2D Materials and Composites—A Review of Recent Advances”
by Manu, B. R.; Gupta, A. and Jayatissa, A. H.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071630
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1630

10. “Reduction of Influence of the High-Frequency Noise on the Results of Surface Topography Measurements”
by Podulka, P.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020333
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/333

15 September 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Advanced Materials Characterization”

1. “Determination of Phase Transition and Critical Behavior of the As-Cast GdGeSi-(X) Type Alloys (Where X = Ni, Nd and Pr)”
by Gębara, P. and Hasiak, M.
Materials 2021, 14(1), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010185
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/1/185

2. “Defects in Electron Beam Melted Ti-6Al-4V: Fatigue Life Prediction Using Experimental Data and Extreme Value Statistics”
by Sandell, V.; Hansson, T.; Roychowdhury, S.; Månsson, T.; Delin, M.; Åkerfeldt, P. and Antti, M.-L.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030640
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/640

3. “On the Response of a Micro Non-Destructive Testing X-ray Detector”
by Linardatos, D.; Koukou, V.; Martini, N.; Konstantinidis, A.; Bakas, A.; Fountos, G.; Valais, I. and Michail, C.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040888
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/888

4. “Very-High-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Inconel 718 Alloy Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting at Elevated Temperature
by Song, Z.; Gao, W.; Wang, D.; Wu, Z.; Yan, M.; Huang, L. and Zhang, X.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14041001
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/1001

5. “Interactions between Dislocations and Boundaries during Deformation”
by Pan, H.; He, Y. and Zhang, X.
Materials 2021, 14(4),1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14041012
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/1012

6. “A New Approach in the Design of Microstructured Ultralight Components to Achieve Maximum Functional Performance”
by Calleja-Ochoa, A.; Gonzalez-Barrio, H.; López de Lacalle, N.; Martínez, S.; Albizuri, J. and Lamikiz, A.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071588
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1588

7. “Long-Term Stability of Different Kinds of Gas Nanobubbles in Deionized and Salt Water”
by Zhou, Y.; Han, Z.; He, C.; Feng, Q.; Wang, K.; Wang, Y.; Luo, N.; Dodbiba, G.; Wei, Y.; Otsuki, A. and Fujita, T.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071808
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1808

8. “The Influence of the Physical-Mechanical Parameters of Rock on the Extent of the Initial Failure Zone under the Action of an Undercut Anchor”
by Jonak, J.; Karpiński, R.; Wójcik, A. and Siegmund, M.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1841. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081841
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1841

9. “Analytical Prediction for Nonlinear Buckling of Elastically Supported FG-GPLRC Arches under a Central Point Load”
by Yang, Z.; Liu, A.; Yang, J.; Lai, S.-K.; Lv, J. and Fu, J.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14082026
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/2026

10. “Effect of Nitrogen Ion Implantation on the Cavitation Erosion Resistance and Cobalt-Based Solid Solution Phase Transformations of HIPed Stellite 6”
by Szala, M.; Chocyk, D.; Skic, A.; Kamiński, M.; Macek, W. and Turek, M.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092324
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2324

15 September 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Materials Physics”

1. “Effect of Layer Directions on Internal Structures and Tensile Properties of 17-4PH Stainless Steel Parts Fabricated by Fused Deposition of Metals”
by Abe, Y.; Kurose, T.; Santos, M. V. A.; Kanaya, Y.; Ishigami, A.; Tanaka, S. and Ito, H.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020243
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/243

2. “A Flow Stress Model of 300M Steel for Isothermal Tension”
by Chen, R.; Zhang, S.; Liu, X. and Feng, F.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020252
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/252

3. “Optimization of Mechanical Properties and Damage Tolerance in Polymer-Mineral Multilayer Composites”
by Wiener, J.; Kaineder, H.; Kolednik, O. and Arbeiter, F.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040725
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/725

4. “Influence of Polypropylene, Glass and Steel Fiber on the Thermal Properties of Concrete”
by Małek, M.; Jackowski, M.; Łasica,W. and Kadela, M.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081888
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1888

5. “Application of the Strain Compensation Model and Processing Maps for Description of Hot Deformation Behavior of Metastable β Titanium Alloy”
by Lypchanskyi, O.; ´Sleboda, T.; Łukaszek-Sołek, A.; Zyguła, K. and Wojtaszek, M.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14082021
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/2021

6. “High UV and Sunlight Photocatalytic Performance of Porous ZnO Nanostructures Synthesized by a Facile and Fast Microwave Hydrothermal Method”
by Ferreira, S. H.; Morais, M.; Nunes, D.; Oliveira, M. J.; Rovisco, A.; Pimentel, A.; Águas, H.; Fortunato, E. and Martins, R.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092385
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2385

7. “Influence of Alkali Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Coir and Abaca Fibers”
by Valášek, P.; Müller, M.; Šleger, V.; Koláˇr, V.; Hromasová, M.; D’Amato, R. and Ruggiero, A.
Materials 2021, 14(10), 2636; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102636
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/10/2636

8. “Review on the Use of Superconducting Bulks for Magnetic Screening in Electrical Machines for Aircraft Applications”
by Dorget, R.; Nouailhetas, Q.; Colle, A.; Berger, K.; Sudo, K.; Ayat, S.; Lêvêque, J.; Koblischka, M. R.; Sakai, N.; Oka, T.; et al.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2847; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112847
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2847

9. “Synthesis of Niobium-Alumina Composite Aggregates and Their Application in Coarse-Grained Refractory Ceramic-Metal Castables”
by Zienert, T.; Endler, D.; Hubálková, J.; Günay, G.; Weidner, A.; Biermann, H.; Kraft, B.; Wagner, S. and Aneziris, C. G.
Materials 2021, 14(21), 6453; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216453
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/21/6453

10. “Numerical Investigation on Guided Waves Dispersion and Scattering Phenomena in Stiffened Panels”
by De Luca, A.; Perfetto, D.; Lamanna, G.; Aversano, A. and Caputo, F.
Materials 2022, 15(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010074
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/74

14 September 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Biomaterials”

1. “Comparative Study of Gelatin Hydrogels Modified by Various Cross-Linking Agents”
by Skopinska-Wisniewska, J.; Tuszynska, M. and Olewnik-Kruszkowska, E.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020396
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/396

2. “Review on Development and Dental Applications of Polyetheretherketone-Based Biomaterials and Restorations”
by Qin, L.; Yao, S.; Zhao, J.; Zhou, C.; Oates, T. W.; Weir, M. D.; Wu, J. and Xu, H. H. K.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020408
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/408

3. “Effect of the Cross-Linking Density on the Swelling and Rheological Behavior of Ester-Bridged β-Cyclodextrin Nanosponges”
by Hoti, G.; Caldera, F.; Cecone, C.; Rubin Pedrazzo, A.; Anceschi, A.; Appleton, S. L.; Khazaei Monfared, Y. and Trotta, F.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030478
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/478

4. “Synthesis and Application of Cellulose-Polyethyleneimine Composites and Nanocomposites: A Concise Review”
by Riva, L.; Fiorati, A. and Punta, C.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030473
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/473

5. “Modelling ATR-FTIR Spectra of Dental Bonding Systems to Investigate Composition and Polymerisation Kinetics”
by Delgado, A. H. and Young, A. M.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040760
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/760

6. “Chitosan and Hydroxyapatite Based Biomaterials to Circumvent Periprosthetic Joint Infections”
by Costa-Pinto, A. R.; Lemos, A. L.; Tavaria, F. K. and Pintado, M.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040804
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/804

7. “Advances in Drug Delivery Nanosystems Using Graphene-Based Materials and Carbon Nanotubes”
by Jampilek, J. and Kralova, K.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051059
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1059

8. “Titanium and Protein Adsorption: An Overview of Mechanisms and Effects of Surface Features”
by Barberi, J. and Spriano, S.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma140510590
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1590

9. “Direct 3D Printing of Clear Orthodontic Aligners: Current State and Future Possibilities”
by Tartaglia, G.M.; Mapelli, A.; Maspero, C.; Santaniello, T.; Serafin, M.; Farronato, M. and Caprioglio, A.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071799
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1799

10. “Bioactive Glass Applications: A Literature Review of Human Clinical Trials”
by Cannio, M.; Bellucci, D.; Roether, J. A.; Boccaccini, D. N. and Cannillo, V.
Materials 2021, 14(18), 5440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14185440
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/18/5440

13 September 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Advanced and Functional Ceramics and Glasses”

1. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Fibre-Reinforced Cement–Glass Composite”
by Małek, M.; Łasica, W.; Kadela, M.; Kluczyński, J. and Dudek, D.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030637
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/637

2. Foam Replica Method in the Manufacturing of Bioactive Glass Scaffolds: Out-of-Date Technology or Still Underexploited Potential?”
by Fiume, E.; Ciavattini, S.; Verné, E. and Baino, F.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2795; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112795
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2795

3. “Zirconia–Alumina Composites Obtained by Centrifugal Slip Casting as Attractive Sustainable Material for Application in Construction”
by Zygmuntowicz, J.; Tomaszewska, J.; Żurowski, R.; Wachowski, M.; Piotrkiewicz, P. and Konopka, K.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020250
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/250

4. “Transparent Glasses and Glass-Ceramics in the Ternary System TeO2-Nb2O5-PbF2
by Santos Barbosa, J.; Batista, G.; Danto, S.; Fargin, E.; Cardinal, T.; Poirier, G. and Castro Cassanjes, F.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020317
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/317

5. “Resorbable Mg2+-Containing Phosphates for Bone Tissue Repair”
by Kazakova, G.; Safronova, T.; Golubchikov, D.; Shevtsova, O. and Rau, J.V.
Materials 2021, 14(17), 4857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14174857
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/17/4857

6. “Copper-Doped Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Powders: Dopant Release, Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Properties”
by Jacobs, A.; Renaudin, G.; Charbonnel, N.; Nedelec, J.-M.; Forestier, C. and Descamps, S.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092393
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2393

7. “Al2O3/ZrO2 Materials as an Environmentally Friendly Solution for Linear Infrastructure Applications”
by Zygmuntowicz, J.; Żurowski, R.; Tomaszewska, J.; Wachowski, M.; Torzewski, J.; Piotrkiewicz, P.; Gloc, M. and Konopka, K.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2375; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092375
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2375

8. “Influence of Quenching and Subsequent Annealing on the Conductivity and Electromechanical Properties of Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3
by Kodumudi Venkataraman, L.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2149; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092149
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2149

9. “Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Co-Electrodeposited Particulate-Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites: A Critical Review with Interfacial Aspects”
by Jenczyk, P.; Grzywacz, H.; Milczarek, M. and Jarząbek, D.M.
Materials 2021, 14(12), 3181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123181
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/12/3181

10. “Fabrication of Highly Transparent Y2O3 Ceramics with CaO as Sintering Aid”
by Yin, D.; Wang, J.; Ni, M.; Liu, P.; Dong, Z. and Tang, D.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020444
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/444

7 September 2022
Meet Us at the 8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 26–30 September 2022, Milan, Italy


The Scientific Conference Programme is coordinated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre and covers the entire range of PV research, technologies and applications focusing on bringing the latest scientific and technological research trends to the market.

It also offers a variety of broader insights into the current developments in the sector, acknowledging that PV integration needs to be approached from all dimensions—scientific, technical, economic, political, business, and also social and educational aspects.

The Programme is structured in plenary, oral, and visual presentations and is divided into 5 topics. These cover the entire range of PV research, technologies, and applications, with a special emphasis on the latest scientific, technological, and market-related trends.

During this conference, MDPI (at booth #B1) will welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest inspirations with us.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth at #B1. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about the conference, please see the following link: https://www.wcpec-8.com/index.php.

25 August 2022
Materials Webinar | Nanomaterials Saving the Environment: World Researchers Coming Together, 19 September 2022


Date
: 19 September 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. CEST | 8:00 a.m. EDT | 8:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 830 1209 2867
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4016602954991/WN_-RdHcpdORoOC8U6WkbIyJg
Participation fee: None
Language: English
Webinar keywords: nanomaterials; nanotechnology; environmental; energy; CO2 emissions; sustainability
Related Special Issues:
Advances in Synthesis, Properties and Application of Nanomaterials”;
Nanoparticles for Biophotonics and Nanomedicine”.

Webinar Chair and Speakers:

Chair:

Dr. Thomas Webster

Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China

 

 

 

Speakers:

Dr. Hasan Anwar

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

 

 

Dr. Sougata Ghosh

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand;
Department of Microbiology, School of Science, RK University, Rajkot, India

 

 

Dr. Gregory Guisbiers

Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AK, USA

 

 

Dr. Jose Miguel García-Martin

Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology, CSIC, Madrid, Spain

 If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact [email protected].

We look forward to your participation in this event.

Materials Editorial Office

20 July 2022
Meet Us at the 49th World Polymers Congress MACRO 2022, 17–21 July 2022, Winnipeg, Canada


Conference: 49th World Polymers Congress MACRO 2022
Date: 17–21 July 2022
Place: Winnipeg, Canada
Booth: #6

Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) and Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) will be attending the 49th World Polymers Congress MACRO 2022 as exhibitors from 17 to 21 July 2022 in Winnipeg, Canada.

The year 2022 marks the first time that Canada is hosting the World Polymers Congress since it became a biennial event in 1998. The polymer science community of Canada looks forward to connecting at the 49th World Polymers Congress, which is held in the city of Winnipeg from 17 to 21 July 2022. True to its mission, MACRO 2022 will be a forum for international scientists and students who are in various stages of their career development to share knowledge and experiences.

The MACRO 2022 program comprises nine themes that represent the following subjects:

  • Polymers for Biomedical Engineering;
  • Polymers for Energy and Environmental Applications;
  • Polymer Engineering and Rheology;
  • Polymers for Nanotechnology;
  • Polymer Physics and Characterization;
  • Polymers from Renewable Resources and Biodegradable Polymers;
  • Polymer Science Education;
  • Polymer Synthesis and Kinetics;
  • Smart and Functional Polymers.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Polymers;
  • Materials;
  • Membranes;
  • Pharmaceutics;
  • Sustainability;
  • Bioengineering;
  • Gels;
  • Electrochem;
  • Solar.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.macro2022.org/.

19 July 2022
Materials | Best Oral Presentation Award for the 18th European Student Colloid Conference—Winner Announced

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has sponsored the Best Oral Presentation Award for the 18th European Student Colloid Conference. The applications were processed by the Conference Committee. We are pleased to announce the winner, Mr. Tin Klačić.

Mr. Tin Klačić graduated in the field of chemistry at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, in 2017. Since then, he has been a Ph.D. student employed as an assistant at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science in Zagreb. His teaching activities are at the Division of Physical Chemistry, where his work is connected to seminars and laboratory exercises in several physical chemistry courses for undergraduate and graduate students. The main areas of his scientific work are colloidal and interfacial chemistry, physical chemistry of macromolecules (especially polyelectrolytes), electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics. He has experience in using several instruments, such as atomic force microscopes, ellipsometers, contact angle goniometers, zetasizers, spectrophotometers, etc. His scientific results have been published in 10 articles in journals from the Current Contents selection and presented at 14 conferences. He has also published one professional paper.

We would like to congratulate Mr. Tin Klačić again for his accomplishments! If you are also interested in Materials’ Awards, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/awards to apply or nominate someone else for an award.

7 July 2022
Meet Us at the International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials 2022, 15–17 July 2022, Nanning, China


Conference: International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials 2022
Date: 15–17 July 2022
Place: Nanning, China
Booth: #A5

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) and Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) will be attending the International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials 2022 as exhibitors from 15 to 17 July in Nanning, China.

The International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials is an important academic conference in the field of non-ferrous materials, sponsored by the Nonferrous Metals Society of China and co-organized by universities, research institutes, and enterprises engaged in the non-ferrous metal industry. It is held once a year. The meeting objectives are for China to be engaged in non-ferrous metal materials science research, the development and industrialization of experts, scholars, professors, and scientific as well as technical workers, the management of the relevant government department leaders, entrepreneurs, and other relevant personnel to build a communication platform, share the latest research results of materials, achieve the purpose of promoting each other, improving together, and, additionally, to improve the status and role of new materials in China's national economy and social development.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Materials;
  • Metals;
  • Technologies;
  • QuBS;
  • JMMP;
  • Alloys.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.huiyi-123.com/article/278-179.html.

4 July 2022
Materials Receives Updated Impact Factor of 3.748


We are pleased to report that the 2021 Impact Factor of Materials increased to 3.748 in the recent release of the Journal Citation Reports ®. Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) now ranks Q1 in the JCR “Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering” category. With the support of our scholars, the Impact Factor of Materials has grown steadily for 5 consecutive years.

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We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to the journal and helped us to reach this next big step.

For more information or to submit to our journal, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials.

28 June 2022
2021 Impact Factors - Released

The 2021 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals:

Journal Impact Factor Rank Category
Antioxidants 7.675 Q1 Food Science & Technology
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chemistry, Medicinal
Cells 7.666 Q2 Cell Biology
Nutrients 6.706 Q1 Nutrition & Dietetics
Cancers 6.575 Q1 Oncology
Pharmaceutics 6.525 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 6.208 Q1 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marine Drugs 6.085 Q1 Chemistry, Medicinal
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Biomolecules 6.064 Q2 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Batteries * 5.938 Q2 Electrochemistry
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Viruses 5.818 Q2 Virology
Biosensors 5.743 Q1 Chemistry, Analytical
Instruments & Instrumentation
Q2 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Journal of Fungi 5.724 Q1 Mycology
Q2 Microbiology
Nanomaterials 5.719 Q1 Physics, Applied
Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Metabolites 5.581 Q2 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Foods 5.561 Q1 Food Science & Technology
Drones * 5.532 Q2 Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing 5.349 Q1 Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Imaging Science & Photographic Technology
Q2 Remote Sensing
Environmental Sciences
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research 5.318 Q2 Business
Antibiotics 5.222 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Q2 Infectious Diseases
Pharmaceuticals 5.215 Q1 Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Q2 Chemistry, Medicinal
Biology 5.168 Q1 Biology
Fermentation 5.123 Q2 Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Toxins 5.075 Q1 Toxicology
Q2 Food Science & Technology
Bioengineering * 5.046 Q2 Engineering, Biomedical
Polymers 4.967 Q1 Polymer Science
Journal of Clinical Medicine 4.964 Q2 Medicine, General & Internal
Vaccines 4.961 Q2 Immunology
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Molecules 4.927 Q2 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Microorganisms 4.926 Q2 Microbiology
Journal of Functional Biomaterials * 4.901 Q2 Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Biomedicines 4.757 Q2 Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Plants 4.658 Q1 Plant Sciences
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 4.614 Q1 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (SSCI)
Q2 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (SCIE)
Environmental Sciences (SCIE)
Membranes 4.562 Q1 Polymer Science
Q2 Engineering, Chemical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Pathogens 4.531 Q2 Microbiology
Catalysts 4.501 Q2 Chemistry, Physical
Toxics 4.472 Q2 Toxicology
Environmental Sciences
Gels 4.432 Q1 Polymer Science
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease 4.415 Q2 Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chemosensors 4.229 Q1 Instruments & Instrumentation
Q2 Chemistry, Analytical
Q3 Electrochemistry
Genes 4.141 Q2 Genetics & Heredity
Diagnostics 3.992 Q2 Medicine, General & Internal
Agronomy 3.949 Q1 Agronomy
Plant Sciences
Land 3.905 Q2 Environmental Studies
Sustainability 3.889 Q2 Environmental Sciences (SCIE)
Environmental Studies (SSCI)
Q3 Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SCIE)
Q4 Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SSCI)
Sensors 3.847 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Chemistry, Analytical
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Materials 3.748 Q1 Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Q2 Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Biomimetics * 3.743 Q2 Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Q3 Materials Science, Biomaterials
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease * 3.711 Q1 Tropical Medicine
Q2 Parasitology
Q3 Infectious Diseases
Lubricants * 3.584 Q2 Engineering, Mechanical
Fractal and Fractional 3.577 Q1 Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Water 3.530 Q2 Water Resources
Q3 Environmental Sciences
Micromachines 3.523 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Physics, Applied
Chemistry, Analytical
Q3 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Journal of Personalized Medicine 3.508 Q2 Medicine, General & Internal
Health Care Sciences & Services
Agriculture 3.408 Q1 Agronomy
Processes 3.352 Q2 Engineering, Chemical
Separations 3.344 Q2 Chemistry, Analytical
Magnetochemistry 3.336 Q2 Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Q3 Chemistry, Physical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Brain Sciences 3.333 Q3 Neurosciences
Buildings 3.324 Q2 Construction & Building Technology
Engineering, Civil
Forests 3.282 Q1 Forestry
Energies 3.252 Q3 Energy & Fuels
Life 3.251 Q2 Biology
Coatings 3.236 Q2 Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Physics, Applied
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Animals 3.231 Q1 Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Veterinary Sciences
Journal of Intelligence * 3.176 Q2 Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Fishes 3.170 Q1 Marine & Freshwater Biology
Q2 Fisheries
Healthcare 3.160 Q2 Health Policy & Services (SSCI)
Health Care Sciences & Services (SCIE)
Inorganics * 3.149 Q2 Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Insects 3.139 Q1 Entomology
Atmosphere 3.110 Q3 Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Current Oncology 3.109 Q3 Oncology
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 3.099 Q2 Geography, Physical
Q3 Computer Science, Information Systems
Remote Sensing
Diversity 3.029 Q2 Biodiversity Conservation
Ecology
Tomography 3.000 Q3 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Current Issues in Molecular Biology 2.976 Q3 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Medicina 2.948 Q3 Medicine, General & Internal
Symmetry 2.940 Q2 Multidisciplinary Sciences
Horticulturae 2.923 Q1 Horticulture
Machines 2.899 Q2 Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Systems * 2.895 Q2 Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Applied Sciences 2.838 Q2 Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Q3 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Children 2.835 Q2 Pediatrics
Minerals 2.818 Q2 Mining & Mineral Processing
Mineralogy
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Universe 2.813 Q2 Astronomy & Astrophysics
Q3 Physics, Particles & Fields
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2.744 Q1 Engineering, Marine
Q2 Oceanography
Engineering, Ocean
Entropy 2.738 Q2 Physics, Multidisciplinary
Fire * 2.726 Q2 Forestry
Q3 Ecology
Metals 2.695 Q2 Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Electronics 2.690 Q3 Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Computer Science, Information Systems
Physics, Applied
Crystals 2.670 Q2 Crystallography
Q3 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aerospace 2.660 Q1 Engineering, Aerospace
Mathematics 2.592 Q1 Mathematics
Photonics 2.536 Q3 Optics
Actuators 2.523 Q2 Instruments & Instrumentation
Q3 Engineering, Mechanical
Veterinary Sciences 2.518 Q2 Veterinary Sciences
Behavioral Sciences * 2.286 Q3 Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Axioms * 1.824 Q2 Mathematics, Applied

For more information on Impact Factors and what it means to index academic journals, please visit our related blog posts.

 

* Journals given their first Impact Factor in 2022

Source: 2021 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports TM (Clarivate, 2022)

 

27 June 2022
MDPI’s 2021 Young Investigator Awards in “Chemistry & Materials Sciences”—Winners Announced

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising junior researchers, acknowledge their contributions, and enhance communication among scientists. We are proud to present the winners for the year 2021 in the “Chemistry & Materials Sciences” category. The winners were selected by the journals’ editors.

We warmly congratulate the awarded Young Investigators for their outstanding contributions.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Coatings:

  • Marta Mohedano, Complutense University of Madrid-UCM, Spain

Materials:

  • Edoardo Baldini, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Magnetochemistry:

  • Mauro Perfetti, University of Florence, Italy

Membranes:

  • Xu Hou, Xiamen University, China

Molecules:

  • Biplab Maji, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India

Nanomaterials:

  • Andres Castellanos-Gomez, Instituto de Ciencia de los Materiales de Madrid, Spain
  • Takuya Isono, Hokkaido University, Japan
  • Panbo Liu, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

27 June 2022
MDPI’s 2021 Outstanding Reviewer Awards in “Chemistry & Materials Sciences”—Winners Announced

In order to acknowledge our reviewers, who so generously dedicate their time to reviewing papers and demonstrate diligence, professionalism, and timeliness when reviewing manuscripts, MDPI journals regularly offer outstanding reviewer awards to scholars who participate in the peer-review process.

We are proud to recognize the winners for the year 2021 in the “Chemistry & Materials Sciences” category for their outstanding contributions among extensive competition by presenting them with the Outstanding Reviewer Award.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners on their achievement.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Catalysts:

  • Rahat Javaid, Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, Japan
  • Georgios Bampos, University of Patras, Greece
  • Esmail Doustkhah, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan
  • Pawan Kumar, University of Alberta, Canada

Magnetochemistry:

  • Lorenzo Sorace, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy

Materials:

  • Khaled Giasin, University of Portsmouth, UK
  • Oldrich Sucharda, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic
  • Danil Pimenov, South Ural State University, Russia
  • Marián Palcut, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia

Metals:

  • Khaled Giasin, University of Portsmouth, UK
  • Catalin Pruncu, University of Strathclyde, UK
  • Jacek Tomków, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland
  • Alexander Yu Churyumov, National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), Russia
  • Hesam Pouraliakbar, Chungnam National University, South Korea

Nanomaterials:

  • George Kenanakis, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece
  • Goshtasp Cheraghian, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
  • Oana Cadar, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Romania

Polymers:

  • Sawsan A. Zaitone, Suez Canal University, Saudi Arabia
  • Lucia Baldino, University of Salerno Via Giovanni Paolo II, Fisciano (SA) Italy
  • Gyorgy Szekely, University of Manchester, UK
  • Bin Jiang, Northeast Agricultural University, China
  • Haibao Lu, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

 

27 June 2022
MDPI’s 2021 Best Paper Awards in “Chemistry & Materials Sciences”—Winners Announced

The purpose of our Best Paper Awards is to promote and recognize the most impactful contributions published within MDPI journals.

The editors of each journal carefully selected reviews and research papers through a rigorous judging process based on criteria such as the scientific merit, overall impact, and the quality of presentation of the papers published in the journal last year.

We are honored to present the winners in the “Chemistry & Materials Sciences” category, who were selected amongst the extensive competition, and congratulate the authors for their outstanding scientific publications.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

C — Journal of Carbon Research

Catalysts:

Ceramics:

Coatings:

Crystals:

Magnetochemistry:

Membranes:

Nanomaterials:

Polymers:

27 June 2022
MDPI’s 2021 Travel Awards in “Chemistry & Materials Sciences—Winners Announced

We are proud to recognize the winners of MDPI’s 2021 Travel Awards in the “Chemistry & Materials Sciences” category for their outstanding presentations.

MDPI journals regularly offer travel awards to encourage talented junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in specific fields, which helps to increase their influence.

The winners mentioned below were carefully selected by the journal editors based on an outline of their research and the work to be presented at an academic conference.

We would like to warmly congratulate the winners of Travel Awards for the year 2021 and wish them the greatest success with their future research endeavors.

MDPI will continue to enhance communication among scientists.

Crystals:

  • Gaojun Mao, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
  • Lidia Bofill Herrera, University of Barcelona, Spain

Gels:

  • Demetra Giuri, University of Bologna, Italy
  • Martina Genta, Imperial College London, UK

Journal of Functional Biomaterials:

  • Anushree Seth, Washington University, USA

Magnetochemistry:

  • Fabio Ferreira, University of Coimbra, Portugal
  • Giulia Serrano, University of Florence, Italy

Materials

  • Giulia Fredi, University of Trento, Italy
  • Mattia Biesuz, Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republic

Metals:

  • Adriana Eres-Castellanos, Spanish National Center for Metallurgical Research, Spain
  • Pavel Shurkin, National University of Science and Technology, Russia

Nanomaterials:

  • Aleksandrs Leitis, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, France
  • Ekaterina Kolesova, ITMO, Russia

Separations:

  • Christoph Gstoettner, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands

27 June 2022
Materials Receives Updated CiteScore of 4.7


It is our great pleasure to announce that Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) has received an increased CiteScore of 4.7 for 2021 (an increase of 11.9% from last year). Materials now ranks Q2 (135/411) in the “Physics and Astronomy: Condensed Matter Physics” category and Q2 (159/455) in the “Materials Science: General Materials Science” category. With the support of our scholars, the CiteScore of Materials journals has grown steadily for 3 consecutive years.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to the journal and helped us reach this next big step!

For more information or to submit to our journal, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials.

24 June 2022
Meet Us at the 9th Forum on New Materials (CIMTEC 2022), 25–29 June 2022, Perugia, Italy


Conference: 9th Forum on New Materials (CIMTEC 2022)
Date: 25–29 June 2022
Place: Perugia, Italy

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) will be attending CIMTEC 2022 as an exhibitor from 25 to 29 June in Perugia, Italy.

CIMTEC 2022, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2021, is a major longstanding event for the international materials community. CIMTEC brings together materials scientists, physicists, chemists, and experts in the most demanding application engineering areas of modern materials, from the molecular scale and the nanoscale to large complex integrated systems.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Materials;
  • Machines;
  • Nanomaterials;
  • Processes;
  • Sci;
  • Sensors.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you might have.

For more information about the conference and our virtual booth, please visit the following website: http://2022.cimtec-congress.org/.

 

9 June 2022
2021 CiteScores - Released


The 2021 citation metrics have been officially released in Scopus!

We are pleased to announce that 182 MDPI journals are included, of which:

● 21 journals received their first CiteScore.
● 85% of journals increased their CiteScore from 2020.
● 155 journals (85%) ranked above average, in at least one category.

The following 65 MDPI journals (36%) ranked among the top 25% of journals, in at least one category:

Journal

CiteScore

Quartile

Category

Non-coding RNA

10.1

Q1

Genetics

Journal of Functional Biomaterials

10.0

Q1

Biomedical Engineering

Marine Drugs

8.1

Q1

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)

Batteries

7.9

Q1

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Nutrients

7.9

Q1

Nutrition and Dietetics

Remote Sensing

7.4

Q1

General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Drones

7.2

Q1

Computer Science Applications

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

6.9

Q1

Inorganic Chemistry

Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks

6.9

Q1

Computer Networks and Communications

Cells

6.7

Q1

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Nanomaterials

6.6

Q1

General Chemical Engineering

Toxins

6.6

Q1

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Viruses

6.6

Q1

Infectious Diseases

Antioxidants

6.5

Q1

Food Science

Fibers

6.5

Q1

Civil and Structural Engineering

Resources

6.4

Q1

Nature and Landscape Conservation

Sensors

6.4

Q1

Instrumentation

Big Data and Cognitive Computing

6.1

Q1

Management Information Systems

Molecules

5.9

Q1

Chemistry (miscellaneous)

Polymers

5.7

Q1

Polymers and Plastics

Biosensors

5.6

Q1

Engineering (miscellaneous)

Catalysts

5.5

Q1

General Environmental Science

Smart Cities

5.5

Q1

Urban Studies

Future Internet

5.4

Q2

Computer Networks and Communications

Beverages

5.3

Q1

Food Science

Fermentation

5.3

Q1

Plant Science

Environments

5.2

Q1

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Inventions

5.2

Q1

General Engineering

Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity

5.1

Q1

Development

Colloids and Interfaces

5.0

Q1

Chemistry (miscellaneous)

Energies

5.0

Q1

Control and Optimization

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information

5.0

Q1

Geography, Planning and Development

Sustainability

5.0

Q1

Geography, Planning and Development

Fire

4.9

Q1

Forestry

Robotics

4.9

Q1

Control and Optimization

Soil Systems

4.9

Q1

Soil Science

Geosciences

4.8

Q1

General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing

4.8

Q1

Mechanical Engineering

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

4.8

Q1

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Water

4.8

Q1

Geography, Planning and Development

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

4.5

Q1

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Sports

4.5

Q1

Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Entropy

4.4

Q1

Mathematical Physics

Journal of Clinical Medicine

4.4

Q1

General Medicine

Symmetry

4.3

Q1

General Mathematics

Cosmetics

4.2

Q1

Surgery

Foods

4.1

Q1

Health Professions (miscellaneous)

Journal of Fungi

4.1

Q1

Plant Science

ChemEngineering

4.0

Q1

General Engineering

Forests

4.0

Q1

Forestry

Journal of Intelligence

4.0

Q1

Education

Antibiotics

3.9

Q1

General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Cryptography

3.9

Q1

Applied Mathematics

Behavioral Sciences

3.8

Q1

Development

Buildings

3.8

Q1

Architecture

Metals

3.8

Q1

Metals and Alloys

Publications

3.5

Q1

Communication

Social Sciences

3.4

Q1

General Social Sciences

Mathematics

2.9

Q1

General Mathematics

Fractal and Fractional

2.8

Q1

Analysis

Animals

2.7

Q1

General Veterinary

Axioms

2.6

Q1

Algebra and Number Theory

Heritage

1.8

Q1

Conservation

Religions

1.0

Q1

Religious Studies

Philosophies

0.9

Q1

Philosophy

Source: 2021 CiteScores™ (Elsevier)

7 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology”

The following are the 2021 top 10 cited papers from the Section “Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944):

1. “Whither Magnetic Hyperthermia? A Tentative Roadmap”
Rubia-Rodríguez, I.; Santana-Otero, A.; Spassov, S.; Tombácz, E.; Johansson, C.; De La Presa, P.; Teran, F.J.; Morales, M.d.P.; Veintemillas-Verdaguer, S.; Thanh, N.T.K.; Besenhard, M.O.; Wilhelm, C.; Gazeau, F.; Harmer, Q.; Mayes, E.; Manshian, B.B.; Soenen, S.J.; Gu, Y.; Millán, Á.; Efthimiadou, E.K.; Gaudet, J.; Goodwill, P.; Mansfield, J.; Steinhoff, U.; Wells, J.; Wiekhorst, F.; Ortega, D.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 706. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040706
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/706 

2. “Charge Carrier Processes and Optical Properties in TiO2 and TiO2-Based Heterojunction Photocatalysts: A Review”
Lettieri, S.; Pavone, M.; Fioravanti, A.; Santamaria Amato, L.; Maddalena, P.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1645. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071645
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1645 

3. “Effect of UV Irradiation and TiO2-Photocatalysis on Airborne Bacteria and Viruses: An Overview”
Bono, N.; Ponti, F.; Punta, C.; Candiani, G.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1075. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051075
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1075 

4. “Polymer-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Protein Immobilization”
Mylkie, K.; Nowak, P.; Rybczynski, P.; Ziegler-Borowska, M.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020248
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/248 

5. “The Effects of Various Concentrations of NaOH on the Inter-Particle Gelation of a Fly Ash Geopolymer Aggregate”
Abdullah, A.; Hussin, K.; Abdullah, M.M.A.B.; Yahya, Z.; Sochacki, W.; Razak, R.A.; Błoch, K.; Fansuri, H.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1111. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051111
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1111 

6. “Utilization of Eco-Friendly Waste Generated Nanomaterials in Water-Based Drilling Fluids; State of the Art Review”
Ikram, R.; Mohamed Jan, B.; Sidek, A.; Kenanakis, G.
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4171. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154171
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4171 

7. “Formation, Structure and Magnetic Properties of MFe2O4@SiO2 (M = Co, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu) Nanocomposites”
Dippong, T.; Levei, E.A.; Cadar, O.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1139. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051139
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1139 

8. “Filtration Materials Modified with 2D Nanocomposites—A New Perspective for Point-of-Use Water Treatment”
Jakubczak, M.; Karwowska, E.; Rozmysłowska-Wojciechowska, A.; Petrus, M.; Woźniak, J.; Mitrzak, J.; Jastrzębska, A.M.
Materials 2021, 14(1), 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010182
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/1/182 

9. “A Highly Sensitive Room Temperature CO2 Gas Sensor Based on SnO2-rGO Hybrid Composite”
Lee, Z.Y.; Hawari, H.F.b.; Djaswadi, G.W.b.; Kamarudin, K.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 522. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030522
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/522 

10. “Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Alumina Composites with Addition of Structurally Modified 2D Ti3C2 (MXene) Phase”
Cygan, T.; Wozniak, J.; Petrus, M.; Lachowski, A.; Pawlak, W.; Adamczyk-Cieślak, B.; Jastrzębska, A.; Rozmysłowska-Wojciechowska, A.; Wojciechowski, T.; Ziemkowska, W.; Olszyna, A.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 829. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040829
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/829

7 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Advanced Composites”

The following are the 2021 top 10 cited papers from the Section “Advanced Composites of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944):

1. “A Review on AA 6061 Metal Matrix Composites Produced by Stir Casting”
by Kareem, A.; Qudeiri, J.A.; Abdudeen, A.; Ahammed, T.; Ziout, A.
Materials 2021, 14(1), 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010175
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/1/175

2. “Experimental and Theoretical Study of Radiation Shielding Features of CaO-K2O-Na2O-P2O5 Glass Systems”
by Sayyed, M.I.; Albarzan, B.; Almuqrin, A.H.; El-Khatib, A.M.; Kumar, A.; Tishkevich, D.I.; Trukhanov, A.V.; Elsafi, M.
Materials 2021, 14(14), 3772. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143772
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/14/3772 

3. “Application of Gene Expression Programming (GEP) for the Prediction of Compressive Strength of Geopolymer Concrete”
by Ali Khan, M.; Zafar, A.; Akbar, A.; Javed, M.F.; Mosavi, A.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051106
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1106 

4. “Imprinting Technology for Effective Sorbent Fabrication: Current State-of-Art and Future Prospects”
by Janczura, M.; Luliński, P.; Sobiech, M.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081850
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1850 

5. “Properties of Eco-Friendly Particleboards Bonded with Lignosulfonate-Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesives and pMDI as a Crosslinker”
by Bekhta, P.; Noshchenko, G.; Réh, R.; Kristak, L.; Sedliačik, J.; Antov, P.; Mirski, R.; Savov, V.
Materials 2021, 14(17), 4875. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14174875
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/17/4875 

6. “Synthesis of Eco-Friendly Biopolymer, Alginate-Chitosan Composite to Adsorb the Heavy Metals, Cd(II) and Pb(II) from Contaminated Effluents”
by Hamza, M.F.; Hamad, N.A.; Hamad, D.M.; Khalafalla, M.S.; Abdel-Rahman, A.A.-H.; Zeid, I.F.; Wei, Y.; Hessien, M.M.; Fouda, A.; Salem, W.M.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092189
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2189 

7. “Determination of Transverse Shear Stiffness of Sandwich Panels with a Corrugated Core by Numerical Homogenization”
by Garbowski, T.; Gajewski, T.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1976. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081976
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1976 

8. “Acoustic Properties of Innovative Concretes: A Review”
by Fediuk, R.; Amran, M.; Vatin, N.; Vasilev, Y.; Lesovik, V.; Ozbakkaloglu, T.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 398. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020398
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/398 

9. “Multi Ceramic Particles Inclusion in the Aluminium Matrix and Wear Characterization through Experimental and Response Surface-Artificial Neural Networks”
by Sharath, B.N.; Venkatesh, C.V.; Afzal, A.; Aslfattahi, N.; Aabid, A.; Baig, M.; Saleh, B.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112895
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2895 

10. “Influence of the Fly Ash Material Inoculants on the Tensile and Impact Characteristics of the Aluminum AA 5083/7.5SiC Composites”
by Nagaraja, S.; Nagegowda, K.U.; Kumar V, A.; Alamri, S.; Afzal, A.; Thakur, D.; Kaladgi, A.R.; Panchal, S.; Saleel C, A.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092452
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2452

2 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Porous Materials”

The following are the 2021 top 10 cited papers from the Section “Porous Materials” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944):

1. “Idealized 3D Auxetic Mechanical Metamaterial: An Analytical, Numerical, and Experimental Study”
Ghavidelnia, N.; Bodaghi, M.; Hedayati, R.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 993. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040993
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/993

2. “Polyurethane Foams for Domestic Sewage Treatment”
Dacewicz, E.; Grzybowska-Pietras, J.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 933. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040933
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/933

3. “Porous Alumina Films Fabricated by Reduced Temperature Sulfuric Acid Anodizing: Morphology, Composition and Volumetric Growth”
Poznyak, A.; Pligovka, A.; Laryn, T.; Salerno, M.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040767
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/767

4. “Adsorptive Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions Using Low-Cost Volcanic Rocks: Kinetics and Equilibrium Approaches”
Mekonnen, D.T.; Alemayehu, E.; Lennartz, B.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1312. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051312
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1312

5. “Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Activated Carbon Derived from Paddy for High-Performance Supercapacitors”
Yuan, Y.; Sun, Y.; Feng, Z.; Li, X.; Yi, R.; Sun, W.; Zhao, C.; Yang, L.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020318
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/318

6. “Covalent Organic Frameworks: New Materials Platform for Photocatalytic Degradation of Aqueous Pollutants”
Qian, Y.; Ma, D.
Materials 2021, 14(19), 5600. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195600
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/19/5600

7. “Effects of Physical and Chemical Modification of Sunflower Cake on Polyurethane Composite Foam Properties”
Strąkowska, A.; Członka, S.; Kairytė, A.; Strzelec, K.
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061414
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1414

8. “Vegetable Fillers and Rapeseed Oil-Based Polyol as Natural Raw Materials for the Production of Rigid Polyurethane Foams”
Leszczyńska, M.; Malewska, E.; Ryszkowska, J.; Kurańska, M.; Gloc, M.; Leszczyński, M.K.; Prociak, A.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1772. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071772
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1772

9. “Casein/Apricot Filler in the Production of Flame-Retardant Polyurethane Composites”
Członka, S.; Kairytė, A.; Miedzińska, K.; Strąkowska, A.
Materials 2021, 14(13), 3620. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133620
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/13/3620

10. “Dynamic Performance of Laminated High-Damping and High-Stiffness Composite Structure Composed of Metal Rubber and Silicone Rubber”
Zheng, X.; Ren, Z.; Shen, L.; Zhang, B.; Bai, H.
Materials 2021, 14(1), 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010187
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/1/187

1 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Carbon Materials”

The following are the 2021 top 10 cited papers from the Section “Carbon Materials” of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944):

1. “The Importance of Structural Factors for the Electrochemical Performance of Graphene/Carbon Nanotube/Melamine Powders towards the Catalytic Activity of Oxygen Reduction Reaction”
Kamedulski, P.; Lukaszewicz, J.P.; Witczak, L.; Szroeder, P.; Ziolkowski, P.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092448
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2448

2. “Bio-Based Plasticized PVA Based Polymer Blend Electrolytes for Energy Storage EDLC Devices: Ion Transport Parameters and Electrochemical Properties”
Aziz, S.B.; Nofal, M.M.; Kadir, M.F.Z.; Dannoun, E.M.A.; Brza, M.A.; Hadi, J.M.; Abdullah, R.M.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1994. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081994
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1994

3. “Luminescent Carbon Dots Synthesized by the Laser Ablation of Graphite in Polyethylenimine and Ethylenediamine”
Kaczmarek, A.; Hoffman, J.; Morgiel, J.; Mościcki, T.; Stobiński, L.; Szymański, Z.; Małolepszy, A.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040729
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/729

4. “Case Study of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Doping by Carbon Nanotubes”
Kaspar, P.; Sobola, D.; Částková, K.; Dallaev, R.; Šťastná, E.; Sedlák, P.; Knápek, A.; Trčka, T.; Holcman, V.
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061428
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1428 

5. “Effect of Fine Size-Fractionated Sunflower Husk Biochar on Water Retention Properties of Arable Sandy Soil”
Gluba, Ł.; Rafalska-Przysucha, A.; Szewczak, K.; Łukowski, M.; Szlązak, R.; Vitková, J.; Kobyłecki, R.; Bis, Z.; Wichliński, M.; Zarzycki, R.; Kacprzak, A.; Usowicz, B.
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1335. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061335
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1335

6. “Impact of Sinorhizobium meliloti Exopolysaccharide on Adsorption and Aggregation in the Copper(II) Ions/Supporting Electrolyte/Kaolinite System”
Szewczuk-Karpisz, K.; Tomczyk, A.; Komaniecka, I.; Choma, A.; Adamczuk, A.; Sofińska-Chmiel, W.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1950. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081950
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1950

7. “Synthesis of Sodium Cobalt Fluoride/Reduced Graphene Oxide (NaCoF3/rGO) Nanocomposites and Investigation of Their Electrochemical Properties as Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries”
Oh, J.; Jang, J.; Lim, E.; Jo, C.; Chun, J.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 547. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030547
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/547

8. “Tribological Performance of Graphite Nanoplatelets Reinforced Al and Al/Al2O3 Self-Lubricating Composites”
Omrani, E.; Moghadam, A.D.; Kasar, A.K.; Rohatgi, P.; Menezes, P.L.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1183. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051183
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1183

9. “Straw-Based Activated Carbon: Optimization of the Preparation Procedure and Performance of Volatile Organic Compounds Adsorption”
Li, Z.; Li, Y.; Zhu, J.
Materials 2021, 14(12), 3284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123284
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/12/3284

10. “Recent Advances in Design and Fabrication of Nanocomposites for Electromagnetic Wave Shielding and Absorbing”
Huang, Y.; Chen, M.; Xie, A.; Wang, Y.; Xu, X.
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4148. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154148
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4148

1 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Construction and Building Materials”

1. “Rheological and the Fresh State Properties of Alkali-Activated Mortars by Blast Furnace Slag”
Marvila, M.T.; Azevedo, A.R.G.d.; Matos, P.R.d.; Monteiro, S.N.; Vieira, C.M.F.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 2069. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14082069
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/2069

2. “Prediction of Compressive Strength of Fly Ash Based Concrete Using Individual and Ensemble Algorithm”
Ahmad, A.; Farooq, F.; Niewiadomski, P.; Ostrowski, K.; Akbar, A.; Aslam, F.; Alyousef, R.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 794. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040794
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/794

3. “Fly Ash-Based Eco-Efficient Concretes: A Comprehensive Review of the Short-Term Properties”
Amran, M.; Fediuk, R.; Murali, G.; Avudaiappan, S.; Ozbakkaloglu, T.; Vatin, N.; Karelina, M.; Klyuev, S.; Gholampour, A.
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4264. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154264
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4264

4. “Pyrolytic Conversion of Plastic Waste to Value-Added Products and Fuels: A Review”
Papari, S.; Bamdad, H.; Berruti, F.
Materials 2021, 14(10), 2586. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102586
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/10/2586

5. “Application of Novel Machine Learning Techniques for Predicting the Surface Chloride Concentration in Concrete Containing Waste Material”
Ahmad, A.; Farooq, F.; Ostrowski, K.A.; Śliwa-Wieczorek, K.; Czarnecki, S.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092297
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2297

6. “Rheology of Cement Pastes with Siliceous Fly Ash and the CSH Nano-Admixture”
Szostak, B.; Golewski, G.L.
Materials 2021, 14(13), 3640. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133640
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/13/3640

7. “Current Applications of Recycled Aggregates from Construction and Demolition: A Review”
Reis, G.S.d.; Quattrone, M.; Ambrós, W.M.; Grigore Cazacliu, B.; Hoffmann Sampaio, C.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1700. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071700
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1700

8. “Clay Ceramic Waste as Pozzolan Constituent in Cement for Structural Concrete”
Barreto, E.d.S.; Stafanato, K.V.; Marvila, M.T.; de Azevedo, A.R.G.; Ali, M.; Pereira, R.M.L.; Monteiro, S.N.
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2917. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112917
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/11/2917

9. “Palm Oil Fuel Ash-Based Eco-Efficient Concrete: A Critical Review of the Short-Term Properties”
Amran, M.; Murali, G.; Fediuk, R.; Vatin, N.; Vasilev, Y.; Abdelgader, H.
Materials 2021, 14(2), 332. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020332
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/332

10. “Uniaxial Tensile Behavior, Flexural Properties, Empirical Calculation and Microstructure of Multi-Scale Fiber Reinforced Cement-Based Material at Elevated Temperature”
Li, L.; Khan, M.; Bai, C.; Shi, K.
Materials 2021, 14(8), 1827. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081827
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1827

 

 

1 June 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Materials Chemistry”

1. “The Bad and the Good—Microorganisms in Cultural Heritage Environments—An Update on Biodeterioration and Biotreatment Approaches”
Pyzik, A.; Ciuchcinski, K.; Dziurzynski, M.; Dziewit, L.
Materials 2021, 14(1), 177. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010177
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/1/177

2. “Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Polymeric Membranes for Water Purification—A Review”
Spoială, A.; Ilie, C.-I.; Ficai, D.; Ficai, A.; Andronescu, E.
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2091. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092091
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2091

3. “Synthetic, Mesomorphic, and DFT Investigations of New Nematogenic Polar Naphthyl Benzoate Ester Derivatives”
Al-Zahrani, S.A.; Ahmed, H.A.; El-atawy, M.A.; Abu Al-Ola, K.A.; Omar, A.Z.
Materials 2021, 14(10), 2587. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102587
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/10/2587

4. “Ion-Imprinted Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption of Radionuclides”
Kusumkar, V.V.; Galamboš, M.; Viglašová, E.; Daňo, M.; Šmelková, J.
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1083. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051083
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1083

5. “Polysaccharide-Based Aerogel Production for Biomedical Applications: A Comparative Review”
Guastaferro, M.; Reverchon, E.; Baldino, L.
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071631
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/7/1631

6. “Polyelectrolyte Multilayers: An Overview on Fabrication, Properties, and Biomedical and Environmental Applications”
Petrila, L.-M.; Bucatariu, F.; Mihai, M.; Teodosiu, C.
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4152. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154152
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4152

7. “Alkali Activation of Metallurgical Slags: Reactivity, Chemical Behavior, and Environmental Assessment”
Lancellotti, I.; Piccolo, F.; Traven, K.; Češnovar, M.; Ducman, V.; Leonelli, C.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 639. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030639
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/639

8. “Processability and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polylactide/Polyhydroxybutyrate (PLA/PHB) Bioblends”
Olejnik, O.; Masek, A.; Zawadziłło, J.
Materials 2021, 14(4), 898. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040898
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/898

9. “Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review”
Beghetto, V.; Sole, R.; Buranello, C.; Al-Abkal, M.; Facchin, M.
Materials 2021, 14(17), 4782. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14174782
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/17/4782

10. “Potential for and Distribution of Enzymatic Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Environmental Microorganisms”
Hou, L.; Majumder, E.L.-W.
Materials 2021, 14(3), 503. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030503
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/3/503

23 May 2022
Materials | Three Articles Marked as “Hot Papers” in the Web of Science


It is our honor to congratulate the authors of the three articles below, which have been marked as “Hot Papers” according to the Web of Science data (the hot papers were published in the past two years and received enough citations in January/February 2022 to place them in the top 0.1% of papers in the academic field of Materials Science).

1. “Properties of Eco-Friendly Particleboards Bonded with Lignosulfonate-Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesives and pMDI as a Crosslinker”
by Bekhta, P.; Noshchenko, G.; Réh, R.; Kristak, L.; Sedliačik, J.; Antov, P.; Mirski, R.; Savov, V.
Materials 2021, 14(17), 4875; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14174875

2. “Tresca Stress Simulation of Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty during Normal Walking Activity”
by Ammarullah, M.I.; Afif, I.Y.; Maula, M.I.; Winarni, T.I.; Tauviqirrahman, M.; Akbar, I.; Basri, H.; van der Heide, E.; Jamari, J.
Materials 2021, 14(24), 7554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247554

3. “Benefits of Residual Aluminum Oxide for Sand Blasting Titanium Dental Implants: Osseointegration and Bactericidal Effects”
by Gil, J.; Pérez, R.; Herrero-Climent, M.; Rizo-Gorrita, M.; Torres-Lagares, D.; Gutierrez, J.L.
Materials 2022, 15(1), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010178

We would like to congratulate the authors for producing such high-quality papers in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). You are all welcome to read and share the articles.

Materials Editorial Office

29 April 2022
Materials | Special Issue Development Program

We are pleased to announce a new project of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944)—Special Issue Development Program.

The program aims to provide early-career scientists with the opportunity to develop a Special Issue and experience the academic editor's role under the mentorship of an experienced scientist.

What you will receive from a Special Issue Development Program:

  • A Guest Editor certificate;
  • A platform to collect papers on a certain topic;
  • Guidance from experienced scientists from Materials;
  • More editorial experience and the opportunity to enrich your resume.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or submit the proposal at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/materials. We will then discuss our potential collaboration and how the process works in detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Development Program, Materials continues to welcome Special Issue proposals based on hot research topics.

29 April 2022
Materials 2022 Travel Award—Winners Announced

The Materials 2022 Travel Award closed for applications at the end of 2021. The applications were processed by the Evaluation Committee, lead by the Editor-in-Chief of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). We are pleased to announce the winners:

Dr. Danila Merino

Postdoctoral researcher in the Smart Materials Group at the Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy

Ms. Elena Blundo

Ph.D. student at the Optical Spectroscopy of Nanostructured Materials Laboratory, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy‎

The winners will each be awarded CHF 800 and a certificate. On behalf of the Evaluation Committee, we would like to congratulate the winners on their accomplishments.

29 April 2022
Materials | Top 10 Cited Papers in 2020

1. “Brief History of Early Lithium-Battery Development”
Reddy, M.V.; Mauger, A.; Julien, C.M.; Paolella, A.; Zaghib, K.
Materials 2020, 13(8), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081884
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/8/1884

2. “Using Deep Learning to Detect Defects in Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Survey and Current Challenges”
Yang, J.; Li, S.; Wang, Z.; Dong, H.; Wang, J.; Tang, S.
Materials 2020, 13(24), 5755; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13245755
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/24/5755

3. “Face Masks and Respirators in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Current Materials, Advances and Future Perspectives”
O’Dowd, K.; Nair, K.M.; Forouzandeh, P.; Mathew, S.; Grant, J.; Moran, R.; Bartlett, J.; Bird, J.; Pillai, S.C.
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153363
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/15/3363

4. “Dendrimers as Pharmaceutical Excipients: Synthesis, Properties, Toxicity and Biomedical Applications”
Santos, A.; Veiga, F.; Figueiras, A.
Materials 2020, 13(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13010065
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/1/65

5. “On the Vibrations and Stability of Moving Viscoelastic Axially Functionally Graded Nanobeams”
Shariati, A.; Jung, D.w.; Mohammad-Sedighi, H.; Żur, K.K.; Habibi, M.; Safa, M.
Materials 2020, 13(7), 1707; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071707
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/7/1707

6. “Recent Trends in the Use of Pectin from Agro-Waste Residues as a Natural-Based Biopolymer for Food Packaging Applications”
Mellinas, C.; Ramos, M.; Jiménez, A.; Garrigós, M.C.
Materials 2020, 13(3), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030673
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/3/673

7. “The Interfacial Adhesion Performance and Mechanism of a Modified Asphalt–Steel Slag Aggregate”
Liu, W.; Li, H.; Zhu, H.; Xu, P.
Materials 2020, 13(5), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051180
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/5/1180

8. “Progress and Status of Hydrometallurgical and Direct Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries and Beyond”
Larouche, F.; Tedjar, F.; Amouzegar, K.; Houlachi, G.; Bouchard, P.; Demopoulos, G.P.; Zaghib, K.
Materials 2020, 13(3), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030801
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/3/801

9. “Methods of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Preparation”
Slepička, P.; Slepičková Kasálková, N.; Siegel, J.; Kolská, Z.; Švorčík, V.
Materials 2020, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13010001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/1/1

10. “Based on Single-Layer Complementary Gammadion-Shaped Graphene”
Chen, F.; Cheng, Y.; Luo, H.
Materials 2020, 13(4), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13040860
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/4/860

21 March 2022
The 4th International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials (ICM 2022), 19–21 October 2022, Barcelona, Spain—Open for Registration


We are very proud to announce that the 4th International Conference on Materials (https://icm2022.sciforum.net/), organized by MDPI’s open access journal Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has opened for registration. This conference will be held in the beautiful city of Barcelona from 19 to 21 October 2022. The first three editions of the conference were in an electronic format, and each was a great success. This has encouraged the Organizing Committee to take this tradition to the next level by organizing the fourth edition of this conference to be held in Barcelona, where all stakeholders working on various aspects of materials science and material engineering can come together. The aim is to make this event a forum for discussion, knowledge exchange and fruitful interactions among participants in this exponentially growing field.

Stakeholders from academia and industry as well as from governments and research institutes are welcome to join this event and share their findings on various topics related to materials, such as:

  • Materials characterization;
  • Nanotechnology in material sciences and engineering;
  • Materials processing and manufacturing;
  • Soft and biomaterials;
  • Fibers and membranes;
  • Optical, electrical and magnetic materials.

We are very enthusiastic about this fourth Materials conference, and are relying on you to make it a successful event. We look forward to meeting you in Barcelona.

Prof. Dr. Maryam Tabrizian and Prof. Dr. Filippo Berto
ICM 2022 Chairs

21 January 2022
Meet Us at the 9th International Symposium on Sensor Science (I3S 2022), 20–22 June 2022, Warsaw, Poland


Conference name:
9th International Symposium on Sensor Science (I3S 2022)

Conference website: https://i3s2022warsaw.sciforum.net/

Date: 20–22 June 2022

Place: Warsaw, Poland

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 9th International Symposium on Sensor Science, to be held in Warsaw, Poland, from 20 to 22 June 2022.

Sensor technology has been shown to be suitable for applications in many important fields, including industrial applications, security medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. This international conference, supported by the Photonics Society of PolandWarsaw University of Technology, as well as MDPI’s Sensors (ISSN: 1424-8220), will bring together scientists from different areas to discuss important recent developments in sensor technology. It will represent a great opportunity for an in-person meeting of an interdisciplinary community aiming to discuss important breakthroughs in sensor technology and its related fields.

The main topics of the conference include:

  • Chemical sensors;
  • Biosensors;
  • Physical sensors;
  • Optical/photonic sensors;
  • Sensor applications;
  • Specialty optical fibers for sensing;
  • Materials, microfluidics, configurations and strategies for sensing;
  • Distributed sensing in optical fibers;
  • Amorphous materials for sensor applications.

We look forward to your participation in this exciting event.

Dr. Piotr Lesiak, Prof. Tomasz Woliński and Prof. Leszek Jaroszewicz
I3S 2022 Conference Chairs

twitter logo Follow the conversation on Twitter with #I3S2022

27 December 2021
Materials | Recruiting Editorial Board Members for the New Section “Polymeric Materials”


The Editors-in-Chief of the newly established Section “Polymeric Materials” in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) are as follows:

  • Name: Dr. Shouke Yan
    Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
    Research Interests: multiscale structure of polymeric materials; orientation-induced polymer crystallization; surface-induced polymer crystallization; confined polymer crystallization; polymer blend 
  • Name: Prof. Dr. Xu-Ming Xie
    Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    Research Interests: polymer hydrogels; polymer blends; nanomaterials and nanocomposites; plastics recycling and value-added reuse

Section Information

Polymeric materials, owing to their versatile properties, have found numerous applications in various areas of our daily life, such as packaging (plastics), industry (in fabrication of spaceships, airplanes, bridges, high-performance cars, boats, sports equipment, 3D printing, etc.), civil engineering (polymer concrete), energy (polymer solar cells), and pharmaceutical industries. They cover many fields, e.g., soft matter, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, engineering, etc. The Section “Polymeric Materials” of Materials aims to rapidly publish contributions on all aspects of polymeric materials, including preparation, characterization, processing, property, and application of plastics, as well as fibers, rubbers, and their related composites. Its main scope includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects:

  • Synthesis, characterization of polymers;
  • Modification and self-assembly of polymers;
  • Application of polymers;
  • Modeling, processing, and engineering of polymers;
  • Recycling of polymers;
  • Green and sustainable chemistry in polymers. 

For more details, please check the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/sections/polymeric_materials.

Additionally, the Section “Polymeric Materials” is now recruiting Editorial Board Members. 

The main responsibilities of Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

  • Pre-screening and making decisions on new submissions related to your research interests;
  • Setting up at least one Special Issue during your term on a topic related to your research interests (or supervising Special Issues related to your research field);
  • Providing input or feedback regarding journal policies;
  • Helping to promote the journal among your peers or at conferences;
  • Attending Board Meetings to suggest journal development strategies;
  • Reviewing manuscripts. 

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available in PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central.

This position is open to experts in polymeric materials. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Lili Li ([email protected]).

1 December 2021
Meet Us Virtually at the 2nd Corrosion and Materials Degradation Web Conference, 5–7 July 2022


The members of Corrosion and Materials Degradation (ISSN: 2624-5558) are pleased to announce this call for participation in the 2nd Corrosion and Materials Degradation Web Conference. Scientists and engineers currently working on corrosion research are encouraged to join this event and share their findings with colleagues from all over the world.

The conference will cover the following general and related themes (note that this list is not exhaustive):

  1. Electrochemical corrosion mechanism at the interface (localized, crevice, advanced characterization techniques, EAC, nanoscale);
  2. Corrosion of steel in concrete;
  3. Computational modelling, design and prediction of corrosion;
  4. Surface treatments and coatings for corrosion protection;
  5. Corrosion in new materials (HEA, CCA, TWIP/TRIP, AM, PM);
  6. Corrosion in the energy sector (renewable and nuclear);
  7. Corrosion in biomedical implants;
  8. Atmospheric corrosion;
  9. Microbiologically influenced corrosion;
  10. Corrosion of magnesium alloys;
  11. Corrosion inhibition.

Only abstracts will be accepted for the 2nd Corrosion and Materials Degradation Web Conference. All abstracts that are accepted will be available to view online in open access form on Sciforum.net. Selected authors will have the option to include a video presentation to be displayed with their abstract online. Participants who are selected to make an oral contribution will need to contribute a full manuscript to the section “Selected Papers from Corrosion and Materials Degradation Conference” in Corrosion and Materials Degradation, free of charge.

Important Dates:

Abstract submission: 1 March 2022;
Acceptance notification: 28 March 2022;
Early bird registration: 18 April 2022;
Covering author registration: 1 June 2022.

The Scientific Committee looks forward to receiving contributions in response to this call and would be glad to provide any further information to interested parties. Any questions may be addressed to the conference secretariat ([email protected]).

We thank you in advance for attending this conference, and we look forward to a stimulating exchange.

To find out more about the conference, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/CMDWC2022.

22 November 2021
722 MDPI Editorial Board Members Receiving "2021 Highly Cited Researchers" Distinction

It is our great honor to congratulate the Editorial Board Members and Editors in MDPI's journals who have been distinguished as 2021 Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate, according to Web of Science data. We herewith express our gratitude for the immense impact the named researchers continue to make on scientific progress and on our journals' development.

Clarivate's annual list of Highly Cited ResearchersTM identifies the most highly cited scientists for the past decade. Their impactful papers are among the top 1 per cent in the citation distribution of one or more of 22 fields analyzed in the "Essential Science Indicators", distinguishing them as hugely influential among their peers.

Abate, Antonio
Abatzoglou, John T.
Abbaszadeh, Mostafa
Acharya, U. Rajendra
Acharya, Viral V.
Agarwal, Ravi P.
Ahn, Myung-Ju
Airoldi, Laura
Ali, Imran
Allakhverdiev, Suleyman I.
Aluko, Rotimi E.
Anasori, Babak
Andersson, Dan I.
Andes, David
Anker, Stefan D.
Apergis, Nicholas
Ariga, Katsuhiko
Arqub, Omar Abu
Aschner, Michael
Assaraf, Yehuda G.
Astruc, Didier
Atala, Anthony
Atanasov, Atanas G.
Atangana, Abdon
Bahram, Mohammad
Bakris, George L.
Balandin, Alexander A.
Baleanu, Dumitru
Balsamo, Gianpaolo
Bando, Yoshio
Banks, William A.
Bansal-Travers, Maansi
Barba, Francisco J.
Barros, Lillian
Basit, Abdul W.
Baskonus, Haci Mehmet
Bassetti, Matteo
Battino, Maurizio
Bell, Jordana T.
Bellomo, Nicola
Benediktsson, Jon Atli
Benelli, Giovanni
Benjakul, Soottawat
Bhatnagar, Amit
Biddle, Stuart J. H.
Biondi, Antonio
Biondi-Zoccai, Giuseppe
Bjarnsholt, Thomas
Blaabjerg, Frede
Blaschke, Thomas
Blay, Jean-Yves
Blumwald, Eduardo
Blunt, John W.
Boffetta, Paolo
Bogers, Marcel
Bonomo, Robert A.
Bowman, David M.J.S.
Boyer, Cyrille
Brestic, Marian
Brevik, Eric C.
Buhalis, Dimitrios
Burdick, Jason A.
Byrd, John C.
Cabeza, Luisa F.
Cai, Xingjuan
Cai, Jianchao
Calhoun, Vince D.
Calin, George
Cao, Jinde
Cao, Guozhong
Carvalho, Andre F.
Castellanos-Gomez, Andres
Cerqueira, Miguel Ângelo Parente Ribeiro
Chang, Jo-Shu
Chang, Chih-Hao
Chastin, Sebastien
Chau, Kwok-wing
Chemat, Farid
Chen, Xiaobo
Chen, YangQuan
Chen, Jianmin
Chen, Chaoji
Chen, Min
Chen, Qi
Chen, Jun
Chen, Xi
Chen, Peng
Chen, Yulin
Chen, Bo
Chen, Chen
Chen, Zhi-Gang
Chen, Wei-Hsin
Chen, Gang
Chen, Yongsheng
Chen, Xiang
Chen, Yimin
Chen, Runsheng
Chen, Lidong
Chen, Shaowei
Chen, Qian
Chen, Yu
Chen, Shuangming
Chiclana, Francisco
Cho, Sun Young
Choi, Wonyong
Chowdhary, Anuradha
Choyke, Peter L.
Cichocki, Andrzej
Corella, Dolores
Corma, Avelino
Cortes, Javier
Cortes, Jorge
Costanza, Robert
Crommie, Michael F.
Cui, Yi
Cui, Haiying
Cui, Qinghua
Cummings, Kenneth Michael
Dai, Shifeng
Dai, Sheng
Daiber, Andreas
Davis, Steven J.
Dawson, Ted M.
de la Fuente-Nunez, Cesar
Decker, Eric Andrew
Dekel, Avishai
Demaria, Marco
Deng, Yong
Deng, Xiangzheng
DePinho, Ronald A.
Desneux, Nicolas
Dimopoulos, Meletios-Athanasios
Ding, Aijun
Dionysiou, Dionysios D.
Dokmeci, Mehmet Remzi
Dolgui, Alexandre
Dong, Fan
Dou, Shi Xue
Dou, Letian
Du, Qian
Du, Bo
Dube, Shanta Rishi
Dufresne, Alain
Dummer, Reinhard
Dupont, Didier
Edwards, David
Elaissari, Abdelhamid
Elhoseny, Mohamed
Ellahi, Rahmat
Ellis, Erle C.
ElMasry, Gamal
Esteller, Manel
Estévez, Mario
Fabbro, Doriano
Facchetti, Antonio
Fan, Zhanxi
Fang, Chuanglin
Fasano, Alessio
Fečkan, Michal
Felser, Claudia
Feng, Liangzhu
Fensholt, Rasmus
Ferdinandy, Péter
Fernandez-Lafuente, Roberto
Ferreira, Isabel C. F. R.
Filippi, Massimo
Fisher, Helen
Fortino, Giancarlo
Fosso Wamba, Samuel
Franceschi, Claudio
Fujita, Hamido
Fujita, Masayuki
Gai, Francesco
Gaisford, Simon
Galanakis, Charis M.
Galluzzi, Lorenzo
Galvano, Fabio
Gan, Ren-You
Gan, Lihua
Gandomi, Amir H.
Gao, Bin
Gao, Feng
Gao, Minrui
Gao, Huijun
Gao, Wei
Gao, Huile
Garbe, Claus
Garcia, Hermenegildo
Gasbarrini, Antonio
Gasco, Laura
Gautret, Philippe
Geng, Yong
Gerdts, Gunnar
Geschwind, Daniel H.
Ghadimi, Noradin
Ghaffari, Roozbeh
Ghamisi, Pedram
Giampieri, Francesca
Glick, Bernard R.
Gnant, Michael
Goel, Ajay
Gogotsi, Yury
Goldewijk, Kees Klein
Gong, Jinlong
Gong, Yongji
Govindan, Kannan
Granato, Daniel
Grancini, Giulia
Green, Douglas R.
Grosso, Giuseppe
Gu, Ke
Guan, Cao
Guastella, Adam J.
Guerrero, Josep M.
Gui, Guan
Guizani, Mohsen
Guo, Zaiping
Gupta, Rangan
Gutzmer, Ralf
Haase, Dagmar
Habibi-Yangjeh, Aziz
Hagemann, Stefan
Hagger, Martin
Hamblin, Michael R.
Hammoudeh, Shawkat
Han, Heesup
Hanes, Justin
Harrison, Roy M.
Hartung, Hans-Peter
Hasanuzzaman, Mirza
He, Jr-Hau
He, Hongwen
He, Jiaqing
He, Debiao
Henseler, Jörg
Herrera, Francisco
Herrera-Viedma, Enrique
Hetz, Claudio
Ho Kim, Jung
Holmes, Elaine
Hossain, Ekram
Hsueh, Po-Ren
Hu, Xiaosong
Hu, Wenbin
Huang, Jianping
Huang, Hongwei
Huang, Yu
Huang, Jianying
Huang, Peng
Huang, Baibiao
Huang, Shaoming
Hubacek, Klaus

Iqbal, Hafiz M. N.
Ismail, Ahmad Fauzi
Izzo, Angelo A.
Jacobson, Kenneth A.
Jain, Atul
Jankovic, Joseph
Jelezko, Fedor
Ji, Xiaobo
Ji, Guangbin
Jiang, Hai-Long
Jiang, Lei
Jiang, Junjun
Jiang, Qing
Jiang, Shibo
Jin, Shi
Jones, Peter A.
Kalantar-zadeh, Kourosh
Kaner, Richard B.
Kannan, Kurunthachalam
Kappos, Ludwig
Karagiannidis, George K.
Karimi, Hamid Reza
Karimi-Maleh, Hassan
Karp, Peter D.
Kataoka, Kazunori
Katritch, Vsevolod
Kawi, Sibudjing
Keesstra, Saskia
Kepp, Oliver
Keyzers, Robert A.
Khademhosseini, Ali
Khan, Nafees A.
Kiessling, Fabian
Kim, Ki-Hyun
Kim, Haegyeom
Kim, Jeonghun
Kim, Jong Seung
Kirkwood, John M.
Kisi, Ozgur
Kivshar, Yuri
Klenk, Hans-Peter
Ko, Wen-Chien
Konopleva, Marina Y.
Kontoyiannis, Dimitrios P.
Koonin, Eugene V.
Kou, Gang
Krausmann, Fridolin
Krebs, Frederik C.
Kroemer, Guido
Kuca, Kamil
Kudo, Masatoshi
Kuhn, Jens H.
Kumar, Devendra
Kumar, Alan Prem
Kumar, Sudhir
Kumar Sangaiah, Arun
Kurths, Juergen
Kuznetsov, Nikolay V.
Kuzyakov, Yakov
Kwan, Mei-Po
Kyrpides, Nikos C.
La Vecchia, Carlo
Lai, Yuekun
Lam, James
Lammers, Twan
Lamuela-Raventos, Rosa M.
Lancellotti, Patrizio
Landi, Francesco
Laurent, Sophie
Lavie, Carl J.
Laxminarayan, Ramanan
Lee, Sang Soo
Lee, Jin-Wook
Lee, Pooi See
Lehmann, Johannes
Lei, Yaguo
Lei, Ting
Leng, Lijian
Leung, Dennis Y. C.
Leung, Victor C. M.
Levine, Ross
Li, Wei
Li, Jie
Li, Jinghong
Li, Jun
Li, Heng
Li, Gang
Li, Yat
Li, Peng
Li, Hailong
Li, Changpin
Li, Yan
Li, Yurui
Li, Xiaodi
Li, Hong
Li, Shutao
Li, Hongyi
Li, Zhijun
Li, Peiyue
Lin, Yuehe
Lin, Hongjun
Lin, Lin
Lip, Gregory Y. H.
Liu, Jian
Liu, Meng
Liu, Hong
Liu, Tao
Liu, Lei
Liu, Jianxing
Liu, Wei
Liu, Gang
Liu, Yang
Liu, Peide
Lockhart, Shawn R.
Long, Hualou
Löscher, Wolfgang
Lu, Jun
Lu, Jianquan
Lu, Nanshu
Lucey, Brian
Lund, Henrik
Luo, Jun
Luo, Yi
Luo, Jingshan
Luo, Yangchao
Lupton, Deborah
Luque, Rafael
Lv, Wei
Lvov, Yuri M.
Lyons, Timothy W.
Ma, Tianyi
Ma, Jun
Ma, Jiayi
Ma, Wen-Xiu
Ma, Yanming
Maggioni, Aldo Pietro
Mahmood, Nasir
Mahmoudi, Morteza
Mai, Liqiang
Mallavarapu, Megharaj
Mandala, Mario
Mardani, Abbas
Marengo, Jose
Maria Rossolini, Gian
Martinoia, Enrico
Mathiesen, Brian Vad
Mathivanan, Suresh
Mattick, John S.
Matyjaszewski, Krzysztof
McCabe, Matthew E.
McCauley, Darren
McClements, David Julian
Melcher, Karsten
Melenhorst, Jan Joseph
Melero, Ignacio
Mezzetti, Bruno
Mirjalili, Seyedali
Mishchenko, Artem
Mittler, Ron
Moreau, Philippe
Motohashi, Hozumi
Mousavi Khaneghah, Amin
Mu, Shichun
Mueller, Lukas A.
Mueller-Roeber, Bernd
Muenzel, Thomas
Muhammad, Khan
Munger, J. William
Nauen, Ralf
Naushad, Mu.
Negri, Eva
Nemeroff, Charles B.
Newman, David J.
Niaura, Raymond S.
Nie, Feiping
Nieto, Juan J.
Novara, Agata
Nunkoo, Robin
Ogino, Shuji
Olabi, Abdul-Ghani
Ong, Hwai Chyuan
O'Regan, Donal
Orsini, Nicola
Ouyang, Minggao
Ozcan, Aydogan
Pacher, Pal
Pan, Xiaoqing
Pan, Likun
Pan, Quan-Ke
Pang, Huan
Pavela, Roman
Pedrycz, Witold
Pei, Yanzhong
Peng, Shushi
Peng, Qing
Peng, Mugen
Perc, Matjaz
Perez-Alvarez, Jose Angel
Perlin, David S.
Piquero, Alex R.
Polasky, Stephen
Pommier, Yves
Poor, H. Vincent
Postolache, Mihai
Potenza, Marc N.
Poulter, Benjamin
Preat, Veronique
Prinsep, Michele R.
Pu, Hong-Bin
Putnik, Predrag
Qiu, Jieshan
Qu, Xiaogang
Quiles, José L.
Rabczuk, Timon
Ramakrishna, Seeram
Ramkissoon, Haywantee
Ran, Jingrun
Recio, Isidra
Reiter, Russel J.
Remuzzi, Giuseppe
Ren, Jinsong
Ren, Jun
Riahi, Keywan
Richardson, Paul G.
Rignot, Eric
Rimm, David
Rinn, John L.
Robert, Caroline
Rodriguez, Rosa M.
Rojo, Teofilo
Ros, Emilio
Rosen, Marc A.
Roubaud, David
Russo, Alessandro
Russo, Gian Luigi

Saad, Fred
Saad, Walid
Sadorsky, Perry
Sander, Chris
Santamouris, Mattheos
Santoro, Gabriele
Saraiva, Jorge A.
Sarchiapone, Marco
Scalbert, Augustin
Schloter, Michael
Schneider, Gisbert
Schubert, Ulrich S.
Schulz, Rainer
Schwab, Matthias
Schweizer, Frank
Scolyer, Richard A.
Scorrano, Luca
Scott, David
Scott, Stuart A.
Scott, Daniel
Serra-Majem, Lluis
Sethi, Gautam
Shabala, Sergey
Shaheen, Sabry M.
Shao, Zongping
Sharma, Gaurav
Shen, Guozhen
Shen, Hao
Sheremet, Mikhail A.
Shi, Peng
Shi, Yumeng
Shoenfeld, Yehuda
Siano, Pierluigi
Sillanpaa, Mika
Simões, Manuel
Simpson, Richard J.
Singh, Bhupinder Pal
Singh, Vijay P.
Smagghe, Guy
Song, Yu
Song, Houbing
Sood, Anil K.
Srivastava, Hari M.
Stadler, Marc
Stadler, Peter F.
Stanley, H. Eugene
Stoumpos, Constantinos C.
Strano, Michael S.
Stunnenberg, Hendrik G.
Su, [email protected]
Su, Chun-Yi
Subramanian, S. V.
Sun, Zhipei
Sun, Fengchun
Sun, Hongqi
Sunderland, Elsie M.
Suzuki, Nobuhiro
Svenning, Jens-Christian
Szabo, Csaba
Szallasi, Arpad
Szolnoki, Attila
Tacke, Frank
Tan, Weihong
Tan, Chaoliang
Tang, Hua
Tang, Chuyang
Tang, Chuan-He
Tanzi, Rudolph E.
Teichmann, Sarah
Telenti, Amalio
Thakur, Vijay Kumar
Thiele, Holger
Tian, Jie
Tohge, Takayuki
Tran, Lam-Son Phan
Truhlar, Donald G.
Tsao, Rong
Tsuda, Kenichi
Tukker, Arnold
Tung, Chen-Ho
Turskis, Zenonas
Urquhart, Andrew
Valko, Marian
Van Breusegem, Frank
Van de Wiele, Tom
van der Werf, Guido
van Wesemael, Bas
Vangronsveld, Jaco
Varma, Rajender S.
Varsani, Arvind
Varshney, Rajeev K.
Vasilakis, Nikos
Vasilakos, Athanasios V.
Vasquez, Juan C.
Vatanen, Tommi
Ventura, Marco
Vermote, Eric
Veronese, Nicola
Verpoorte, Robert
Vethaak, A. Dick
Vieta, Eduard
Vincent, Jean-Louis
Wagner, Wolfgang
Walton, Vaughn M.
Wan, Jiafu
Wan, Shaohua
Wang, Qi
Wang, Joseph
Wang, Meng
Wang, Tao
Wang, Yuan
Wang, Xin
Wang, Chao
Wang, Yong
Wang, Jun
Wang, Erkang
Wang, Sibo
Wang, Jian
Wang, Ning
Wang, John
Wang, Qin
Wang, Shaojian
Wang, Guoxiu
Wang, Huanting
Wang, Chunsheng
Wang, Gongming
Wang, Zhong Lin
Wang, Lianzhou
Wang, Shaobin
Wang, Yang
Wang, Zifa
Wei, Zhixiang
Wei, Leyi
Weissleder, Ralph
Wen, Guanghui
Wiens, John J.
Wigneron, Jean-Pierre
Willerslev, Eske
Wishart, David S.
Witlox, Frank
Wu, Jun
Wu, Tom
Wu, Hao Bin
Wu, Hui
Wu, Haijun
Wu, Zhongbiao
Wu, Zhong-Shuai
Wu, Zheng-Guang
Xia, Meimei
Xia, Xinhui
Xiang, Quanjun
Xiao, Jianbo
Xiao, Jie
Xie, Jian-Hua
Xin, Sen
Xing, Baoshan
Xiong, Rui
Xu, Bin
Xu, Li Da
Xu, Yi-Jun
Xu, Hui
Xu, Zeshui
Yamauchi, Yusuke
Yan, Huaicheng
Yan, Kai
Yang, Chenguang
Yang, Xiao-Jun
Yang, Bing
Yang, Yun-Gui
Yang, Jie
Yang, Jian
Yang, Xinsong
Yang, Shihe
Yang, Yi
Yang, Yang
Yao, Jen-Chih
Yao, Yonggang
Yazyev, Oleg
Yin, Yulong
Yin, Zongyou
Yin, Shen
Yin, Ya-xia
Yin, Shou-Wei
Ying, Guang-Guo
Young, Allan H.
Yu, Shu-Hong
Yu, Jun
Yu, Guihua
Yu, Wenwu
Yu, Guocan
Yu, Minghao
Zarco-Tejada, Pablo J.
Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras
Zeadally, Sherali
Zhai, Tianyou
Zhang, Wei
Zhang, Binlin
Zhang, Shujun
Zhang, Guoping
Zhang, Zengqiang
Zhang, Yu Shrike
Zhang, Qichun
Zhang, Xian-Ming
Zhang, Guowen
Zhang, Min
Zhang, Yue-Jun
Zhang, Shaoqing
Zhang, Fan
Zhang, Weili
Zhang, Xiaodong
Zhang, Zhien
Zhang, Tierui
Zhang, Hongjie
Zhang, Dengsong
Zhang, Liangpei
Zhang, Dan
Zhang, Yu-Dong
Zhang, Fusuo
Zhao, Yi
Zhao, Guochun
Zhao, Li-Dong
Zheng, Hao
Zheng, Gengfeng
Zhong, Cheng
Zhou, Weiqi
Zhou, Qi
Zhou, Jizhong
Zhu, Hongwei
Zhu, Chengzhou
Zhu, Junfa
Zhu, Zhe
Zhu, Quanxin
Zhuang, Xiaodong
Zhuang, Xiaoying
Zou, Quan

The full list of 2021 Highly Cited Researchers  can be accessed at the following webpage in the Web of ScienceTM https://recognition.webofscience.com/awards/highly-cited/2021/.

--- Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) is a Clarivate product.

16 November 2021
Topical Advisory Panel Established to Support Editorial Board

Academic editors play a crucial role in leading our journals and ensuring that each article undergoes a robust and timely peer-review. With the launch of Topics this year and addition of Topic Editors to our family of academic editors, we decided it would be a good time to restructure our academic boards, thus providing more clarity and support for each role. MDPI is pleased to announce the launch of a new position—Topical Advisory Panel Member, that will replace the previous position of Topics Board Member. The Topical Advisory Panel will be comprised of early career researchers eager to gain experience in editorial work.

The main responsibility of the new members of the Topical Advisory Panel is to regularly provide support to Guest Editors, Topic Editors, and Section Board Members. The responsibilities of the Topical Advisory Panel are available here: https://www.mdpi.com/editors.

Each year, the members’ performances are evaluated, and outstanding members are promoted to the Editorial Board by the Editor-in-Chief.

To qualify as a Topical Advisory Panel Member, applicants must:

  • Have expertise and experience in the field related to the journal;
  • Have received a Ph.D. in the last 10 years, approximately;
  • Have at least 6-8 published papers in the last 5 years as first author or corresponding author;
  • Currently hold an independent research position in academia or a government institute.

If you are interested in this role, please contact the editorial office by email.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

25 October 2021
Open Access Week 2021 | It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity, 25–31 October

Founded in 1996, MDPI was one of the first fully Open Access publisher. Over 25 years MDPI has grown to become the largest Open Access publisher globally, publishing over 160,000 articles across more than 350 journals in 2020. At the core, MDPI was founded in response to a pressing need of fast publication and inclusion. The scholar was set at the centre of the publication process for the first time. Acting as a service provider, rather than a product provider, MDPI exists to help scientists achive their objective to disseminate research results. At MDPI, we believe scientists deserve a better service from the publishing world.

The International Open Access Week (Open Access Week), founded by the SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) Alliance and student partners in 2008, has been successfully running for 13 years. As an advocate and pioneer of open access publishing, MDPI actively responds to the call of International Open Access Week. This year’s theme of “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity” highlights the Recommendation’s call for equitable participation from all authors and readers.

For the last 25 years, MDPI has been committed to disseminating open research. Here is a video showing MDPI’s Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for More than 25 Years.

International Open Access Week is an important opportunity to catalyze new conversations, create connections across and between communities that can facilitate this co-design, and advance progress in the building of more equitable foundations for opening knowledge—discussions and actions that need to be continued, year in and year out. MDPI has always aimed to provide professional and efficient publishing services to scholars around the world.

Our mission is to make scientific research accessible to everyone; this year, we interview and hold discussions with open science ambassadors on how to build an equal and inclusive environment for open science. Academic editors help us collaborate with more institutions to advocate for open access ideas.

Read our anniversary blog post: "Sharing 'Collective Human Knowledge': The Benefits of Open Access Publication"

Besides this, our scientific community is a key driver of our success and MDPI’s remarkable growth. Despite the pandemic, we have prepared online conferences and workshops to gather scholars from different communities.

The Basel Sustainable Publishing online forum provides an equal opportunity for stakeholders and researchers from multi-cultural environments to exchange ideas and eliminate barriers to participation.

Conference date: 25 October 2021, online
Conference website: https://bspf2021.sciforum.net/
Main topics: MDPI discusses the current dilemma of open access science from various perspectives such as governments, libraries, and publishers, and related measures on how to change the status quo of discrimination from a global perspective.

We aim to support equality, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility in scholarly communications. We collaborate with universities and key laboratories and have scholarly communications with researchers, teachers, and students on open access workshops.

  • 25 October 2021
    Energies journal and Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 28 October 2021
    Machines journal and State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University
  • 29 October 2021
    Processes journal and Beijing Institute of Technology
  • 29 October 2021
    Coatings journal and Wuhan University of Technology

MDPI is committed to providing open access and high-quality publishing services for scholars and promoting rapid dissemination of academic achievements. We hope to promote the practices and policies of open access publishing and diversify the dissemination of academic achievements.

22 October 2021
Materials | Top 10 Downloaded Articles in 2020

1. “Multifunctional Polymer Composites Produced by Melt-Blown Technique to Use in Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices”

Agnieszka Brochocka et al.
Materials 2020, 13(3), 712; 10.3390/ma13030712
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/3/712

2. “Brief History of Early Lithium-Battery Development”

Mogalahalli V. Reddy et al.
Materials 2020, 13(8), 1884; 10.3390/ma13081884
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/8/1884

3. “Progress and Status of Hydrometallurgical and Direct Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries and Beyond”

François Larouche et al.
Materials 2020, 13(3), 801; 10.3390/ma13030801
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/3/801

4. “Face Masks and Respirators in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Current Materials, Advances and Future Perspectives”

Kris O’Dowd et al.
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3363; 10.3390/ma13153363
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/15/3363

5. “Using Deep Learning to Detect Defects in Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Survey and Current Challenges”

Jing Yang et al.
Materials 2020, 13(24), 5755; 10.3390/ma13245755
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/24/5755

6. “Review of Application and Innovation of Geotextiles in Geotechnical Engineering”

Hao Wu et al.
Materials 2020, 13(7), 1774; 10.3390/ma13071774
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/7/1774

7. “Effect of Fibre Material and Fibre Roughness on the Pullout Behaviour of Metallic Micro Fibres Embedded in UHPC”

Niels Wiemer et al.
Materials 2020, 13(14), 3128; 10.3390/ma13143128
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/14/3128

8. “Melt-Spun Fibers for Textile Applications”

Rudolf Hufenus et al.
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4298; 10.3390/ma13194298
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/19/4298

9. “Devulcanization Technologies for Recycling of Tire-Derived Rubber: A Review”

Erich Markl and Maximilian Lackner
Materials 2020, 13(5), 1246; 10.3390/ma13051246
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/5/1246

10. “The Critical Raw Materials in Cutting Tools for Machining Applications: A Review”

Antonella Rizzo et al.
Materials 2020, 13(6), 1377; 10.3390/ma13061377
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/6/1377

22 October 2021
Materials | Top 10 Downloaded Articles in 2019

1. “Hydrogen Storage for Mobility: A Review”

Etienne Rivard et al.
Materials 2019, 12(12), 1973; 10.3390/ma12121973
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/12/1973

2. “Johnson Cook Material and Failure Model Parameters Estimation of AISI-1045 Medium Carbon Steel for Metal Forming Applications”

Mohanraj Murugesan and Dong Won Jung
Materials 2019, 12(4), 609; 10.3390/ma12040609
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/4/609

3. “Deformation of Single Crystals, Polycrystalline Materials, and Thin Films: A Review”

Guijun Yang and Soo-Jin Park
Materials 2019, 12(12), 2003; 10.3390/ma12122003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/12/2003

4. “Traditional’ Sol-Gel Chemistry as a Powerful Tool for the Preparation of Supported Metal and Metal Oxide Catalysts”

Serena Esposito
Materials 2019, 12(4), 668; 10.3390/ma12040668
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/4/668

5. “Methanol Synthesis from CO2: A Review of the Latest Developments in Heterogeneous Catalysis”

R. Guil-López et al.
Materials 2019, 12(23), 3902; 10.3390/ma12233902
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/23/3902

6. “Materials for the Spine: Anatomy, Problems, and Solutions”

Brody A. Frost et al.
Materials 2019, 12(2), 253; 10.3390/ma12020253
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/2/253

7. “10-MDP Based Dental Adhesives: Adhesive Interface Characterization and Adhesive Stability—A Systematic Review”

Eunice Carrilho et al.
Materials 2019, 12(5), 790; 10.3390/ma12050790
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/5/790

8. “Methods of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Preparation”

Petr Slepička et al.
Materials 2020, 13(1), 1; 10.3390/ma13010001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/1/1

9. “Effect of Temperature on Material Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Tendons: Experiments and Model Assessment”

Fei Zhou et al.
Materials 2019, 12(7), 1025; 10.3390/ma12071025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/7/1025

10. “Butanol Synthesis Routes for Biofuel Production: Trends and Perspectives”

Beata Kolesinska et al.
Materials 2019, 12(3), 350; 10.3390/ma12030350
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/3/350

24 September 2021
Meet Us at the 21st Chinese Zeolite Conference (21 CZC) in Qingdao, China, 27–30 September 2021


MDPI will be attending the 21st Chinese Zeolite Conference (21 CZC), hosted by the Chinese Zeolite Association and China University of Petroleum, which will be held from 27 to 30 September 2021 in Qingdao, China. The conference will be held at the International Conference Center of China Railway Qingdao World Expo City. More than 1500 delegates are expected to attend.

The theme of this conference is “Porous Materials and Future Energy”. The conference aims to show the latest progress in the field of zeolite and porous material in China and discuss the responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges in zeolite and related porous functional material chemistry in the new era of energy reform and sustainable development. We also aim to further promote the development and achievements of zeolite science and technology.

The main topics of the conference include: the synthesis, modification, and characterization of porous zeolite materials; host-guest chemistry and functional materials; adsorption, separation, and diffusion performances; porous material catalysis and chemical processes; theoretical calculations and simulations of porous material properties, structures, and applications.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are also attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth (#B20). Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/21czc/.

23 September 2021
2020 MDPI Top Reviewer Award—Winners Announced


Rigorous peer-review is the cornerstone of high-quality academic publishing. Over 369,916 scholars served as reviewers for MDPI journals in 2020. We are extremely appreciative of all those who made a contribution to the editorial process in this capacity. At the beginning of every year, journal editorial offices publish a list of all reviewers’ names to express our gratitude. In addition, this year, the MDPI Top Reviewer Award was announced, to recognize the very best reviewers for their expertise and dedication, and their high-quality, and timely review reports. We are pleased to announce the following winners of the 2020 MDPI Top Reviewer Award:

  • Adriana Burlea-Schiopoiu;
  • Alban Kuriqi;
  • Álvaro González-Vila;
  • Alessandro Alaimo;
  • Alexey Beskopylny;
  • Alexander Yu Churyumov;
  • Alberto Fernández-Isabel;
  • Andrea Mastinu;
  • Antonios N. Papadopoulos;
  • Anton Rassõlkin;
  • Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino;
  • Arkadiusz Matwijczuk;
  • Artur Słomka;
  • Baojie He;
  • Bartłomiej Potaniec;
  • Bojan Đurin;
  • Camilo Arturo Rodriguez Diaz;
  • Carmelo Maria Musarella;
  • Chiachung Chen;
  • Chiman Kwan;
  • Cristian Busu;
  • Danil Pimenov;
  • Dan-Cristian Dabija;
  • Delfín Ortega-Sánchez;
  • Demetrio Antonio Zema;
  • Denis Butusov;
  • Elena Lucchi;
  • Gaurab Dutta;
  • Livia Anastasiu;
  • M. R. Safaei.

For more information about how to become a reviewer of MDPI journals, please see: www.mdpi.com/reviewers.

22 September 2021
MDPI Joins SDG Publishers Compact

UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. In 2020 the SDG Publishers Compact was launched, aimed to inspire publishers and accelerate progress to achieve the 17 goals by 2030. Members of the programme are committed to support the publication of materials that will promote and inspire actions towards SDGs.

MDPI is an eager advocate of SDGs and has already been supporting the programme by creating Special Issues and publishing a series of books on SDGs prior to joining the Compact in 2021. MDPI's Sustainability Foundation initiated the World Sustainability Awards in 2016. We fully support UN's goals to promote sustainable actions that make the world a better place for all and, as part of its commitment, we will focus our actions on SDG10: Reduced Inequalities whilst promoting all 17 SDGs. For more details, please visit the programme’s website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-publishers-compact/.

Joining this initiative was a unanimous decision. MDPI has in its core values the dissemination of science for all, breaking the wall between research access and under-represented members of the scientific community and the general population. To support this initiative further and continue to support under-represented scientists, MDPI will take a series of actions that will be announced once ready.

The first action MDPI takes is to nominate Dr. Liliane Auwerter as the coordinator of the programme. Dr. Auwerter studied Environmental Process Technology (UTFPR, Brazil), obtained her MSc degree in Water and Environmental Engineering (University of Surrey, UK) and in 2020 completed her PhD in self-healing low-friction materials for water transport (Imperial College London, UK), always focusing on diverse scientific projects that would potentially bring sustainability to industrial processes. As a student in Brazil, she engaged in volunteering activities focused on environmental education and took part in the Millennial Development Goals meetings held at the university.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Liliane Auwerter
Scientific Officer
[email protected]

14 September 2021
Materials 4th Webinar | Functional Nanomaterials for Fuel Cell Electrochemistry, 21 September 2021


Fuel cells represent a unique electrochemical energy technology for a sustainable future. To render the technology viable in practical applications, a critical first step is to develop effective catalysts at both the cathode and anode, to reduce the energy barriers of the electron–transfer reactions involved, and ultimately enhance the current density and power output. Within this context, the understanding of the catalyst structures and the unraveling of the electron–transfer mechanisms play an indispensable role in advancing fuel cell electrocatalysis. This entails a multidisciplinary effort, from materials chemistry in the design and engineering of electrode catalysts to spectroscopic assessments of the electron–transfer kinetics, and to theoretical investigations of the catalytic active sites and reaction energetics.

It is therefore a great pleasure and honor to welcome three world-leading experts to join us at the webinar, who have made seminal contributions in the area of functional nanomaterials and fuel cell electrocatalysis. They will showcase recent progress in their laboratories in tackling the varied hurdles of fuel cell electrocatalysis and highlight significant issues for future research.

Date: 21/09/2021 Tuesday (US time) | 22/09/2021 Wednesday (CEST)

Time: 5:00pm PDT | 2:00am CEST | 8:00pm EDT

Webinar ID: 828 6890 4633

Webinar Website: https://materials-4.sciforum.net/

Register for free here:

text

Program

The webinar will last a maximum of 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Speaker/Presentation

Time in CEST/CET

Prof. Dr. Shaowei Chen

Chair Introduction

2:00-2:05 am

Prof. Héctor D. Abruña

“Novel Materials and Operando Methods for Fuel Cell Technologies”

2:05-2:35 am

Q&A Session

2:35-2:45 am

Prof. Shouheng Sun

“Intermetallic Nanoparticles: Their Synthesis and Enhanced Electrocatalysis”

2:45-3:15 am

Q&A Session

3:15-3:25 am

Prof. Vojislav Stamenkovic

“Fuel Cells: Present and Future”

3:25-3:55 am

Q&A Session

3:55-4:05 am

Prof. Dr. Shaowei Chen

Closing of Webinar

4:05-4:10 am

Chair

Prof. Dr. Shaowei Chen

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz

Prof. Dr. Shaowei Chen finished his undergraduate studies in China in 1991, with a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China, and then went to Cornell University, receiving his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Following a postdoctoral post at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he started his independent career at Southern Illinois University in 1998. In summer 2004, he moved to the University of California in Santa Cruz. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry and the Faculty Director of the UCSC COSMOS program. Prof Dr. Shaowei Chen’s research is focused on functional nanomaterials and their applications in electrochemical energy technologies and antimicrobials. Thus far, he has published 376 articles, with an h-index of 79.

Speakers

Prof. Héctor D. Abruña

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University (USA)

Prof. Hector D. Abruña, Émile M. Chamot Professor of Chemistry, is the director of the Center for Alkaline Based Energy Solutions (CABES) and the Energy Materials Center at Cornell (emc2).  He completed his graduate studies with Royce W. Murray and Thomas  J. Meyer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980 and was a postdoctoral research associate with Allen J. Bard at the University of Texas in Austin from 1980 to 1981. After a brief stay at the University of Puerto Rico, he joined Cornell in 1983.  He was Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology from 2004 to 2008.

Prof. Abruña has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Presidential Young Investigator Award, A. P. Sloan Fellowship, J. S. Guggenheim Fellowship, and J. W. Fulbright Senior Fellow. He is the recipient of the Electrochemistry Award for the American Chemical Society (2008), and the C. N. Reilley Award in Electrochemistry, 2007. He was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2007, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007, and Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry in 2008.  He received the D. C. Grahame Award from the Electrochemical Society in 2009, the Faraday Medal from the Royal Society in 2011, the Brian Conway Prize from the International Society of Electrochemistry in 2013, and he was named Fellow of Electrochemical Society in 2013. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Gold Medal of the International Society of Electrochemistry. He was elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (2018) and was awarded the A. J. Bard Award of the Electrochemical Society (2019), the Frumkin Medal of the International Society of Electrochemistry (2019), and the American Chemical Society Award in Analytical Chemistry (2021). Prof. Abruña is the co-author of over 525 publications (h-index = 93) and has given over 650 invited lectures worldwide. He considers his 56 Ph.D. students and 75 post-doctoral associates his most important professional achievement.

Prof. Shouheng Sun

Department of Chemistry, Brown University (USA)

Prof. Shouheng Sun received his B.Sc. from Sichuan University (China), M.Sc. from Nanjing University (China), and Ph.D. from Brown University (USA). He joined the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center (Yorktown Heights, New York, USA), first as a postdoctoral fellow (1996–1998), and then as a research staff member (1998–2004). In 2005, he returned to Brown University as a tenured Associate Professor and was promoted to Full Professor in 2007. He is now the Vernon K. Krieble Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Engineering. He serves as an Associate Editor of the Royal Society of Chemistry Journals Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. His main research interests are in chemical synthesis and self-assembly of nanoparticles for catalytic, magnetic, and biomedical applications (h-index 131).

Prof. Vojislav Stamenkovic

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine (USA)

Prof. Vojislav Stamenkovic is a Professor at the University California, Irvine, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry, and Staff Scientist, Technical Leader and Principal Investigator at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. He earned his Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from the University of Belgrade in 2001, after spending three years as a visiting scientist at the University of California at Berkeley. From 2002 to 2005, he was a postdoctoral and staff scientist within the Materials Sciences Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and from 2006, he was a staff scientist in the Materials Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory, where he has conducted multidisciplinary research related to materials for electrochemical systems.   

Prof. Stamenkovic is an expert in the design and synthesis of functional materials for electrochemical applications, primarily in the fields of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. His research interests include materials for energy conversion and storage, electrocatalysis, and spectroelectrochemistry, as well as functional biomaterials.

In 2004, Prof. Stamenkovic received a Recognition Award from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the implementation of fundamental science into nanoscale applications. In 2012, he was awarded the Distinguished Performance Award from the University of Chicago, and in 2014, he received a prestigious US DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to catalysts R&D.  

He has published over 130 articles and book chapters, for which he has received over 17,000 citations with an h-index of 55. He has authored over 200 presentations and has been an invited plenary and keynote speaker more than 100 times at major conferences, symposia, and seminars. His work has been published in high impact journals, such as Science, Nature Materials, and Angewandte Chemie, and is often featured in the headlines of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory.

For any questions about the webinar, please send an email to [email protected].

3 August 2021
Announcement on Japanese Consumption Tax (JCT)

This serves to announce to our valued authors based in Japan that value-added tax, or consumption tax will now be imposed on article processing fees and other service fees for all papers submitted, or resubmitted (assigned new paper IDs), effective from 15 August 2021. The change is in accordance with the Japanese "Act for Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act and Other Acts" (Act No. 9 of 2015), which includes a revision of consumption taxation on cross-border supplies of services such as digital content distribution.

For additional information from the National Tax Agency please see here ("Cross-border supplies of electronic services").

Contact: Setsuko Nishihara, MDPI Tokyo

21 July 2021
Materials Receives Updated Impact Factor of 3.623

We are pleased to inform you that, with the support of our authors, editors, and reviewers, Materials received an increased Journal Impact Factor of 3.623 and a 5-Year Impact Factor of 3.920. This was released in the recent Journal Citation Reports®. And Materials has been approved for coverage within three new categories of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR): “Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering”, “Physics, Applied”, and “Physics, Condensed Matter”.

Materials has achieved three consecutive years of growth in its Impact Factor. We are grateful to all the scholars who have witnessed the journal’s growth with us.

In the rank ordered by Journal Impact Factor, Materials now ranks 17/80 Q1 in “Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering”, 79/162 Q2 in “Chemistry, Physical,” 152/335 Q2 in “Materials Science, Multidisciplinary”, 51/160 Q2 in “Physics, Applied”, and 27/69 Q2 in “Physics, Condensed Matter”.

Thank you for your continuous support of Materials!

5 July 2021
Meet Us at the 2nd International Conference for Global Chinese Academia on Energy and Built Environment, Chengdu, China, 16–19 July 2021


MDPI will be attending the 2nd International Conference for Global Chinese Academia on Energy and Built Environment (CEBE 2021) in Chengdu, China, on 16–19 July 2021. The conference aims at establishing a worldwide platform for promoting global cooperation and innovative communications for ethnic Chinese around the globe, sharing cutting-edge achievements in the utilization of clean energy, the enhancement of energy efficiency via the built environment, and the improvement in environmental quality.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: http://www.cebe2021.com.

2 July 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for the “Energy Materials” Section of Materials


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that is published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available in PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central. The 2020 IF for Materials was 3.623.

The main responsibilities of the Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

1) Supervising the quality of the papers in this Section (when we have new submissions in the Section);

2) Acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;

3) Providing conference/society cooperation recommendations.

This position is open to experts in all aspects of energy materials. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Freya Dong ([email protected]).

30 June 2021
2020 Impact Factors - Released

The 2020 citation metrics have been officially released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR)!

We are pleased to announce that 85 MDPI journals are included, of which:

  • 10 journals received their first impact factor
  • 96% of journals increased their impact factor from 2019
  • 32 journals (38%) ranked among the top 25% of journals, in at least one category
Journal Impact Factor Rank Category
Cancers 6.639 Q1 • Oncology
Cells 6.600 Q2 • Cell Biology
Pharmaceutics 6.321 Q1 • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Antioxidants 6.313 Q1 • Food Science & Technology 
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Chemistry, Medicinal
Biomedicines 6.081 Q1 • Medicine, Research & Experimental
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy 
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 5.924 Q1 • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Q2 • Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pharmaceuticals 5.863 Q1 • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
• Chemistry, Medicinal
Journal of Fungi 5.816 Q1 • Mycology
• Microbiology
Nutrients 5.719 Q1 • Nutrition & Dietetics
Biosensors 5.519 Q1 • Chemistry, Analytical
• Instruments & Instrumentation
Q2 • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Marine Drugs 5.118 Q1 • Chemistry, Medicinal
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Biology 5.079 Q1 • Biology
Nanomaterials 5.076 Q1 • Physics, Applied
Q2 • Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
• Materials Science, Multidisciplinary 
• Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Viruses 5.048 Q2 • Virology
Journal of Personalized Medicine 4.945 Q1 • Medicine, General & Internal
• Health Care Sciences & Services
Metabolites 4.932 Q2 • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biomolecules 4.879 Q2 • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Remote Sensing 4.848 Q1 • Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Q2 • Remote Sensing
• Imaging Science & Photographic Technology 
• Environmental Sciences
Gels * 4.702 Q1 • Polymer Science
Antibiotics 4.639 Q2 • Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Toxins 4.546 Q1 • Toxicology
• Food Science & Technology
Vaccines 4.422 Q2 • Immunology
• Medicine, Research & Experimental
Molecules 4.412 Q2 • Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Foods 4.350 Q2 • Food Science & Technology
Polymers 4.329 Q1 • Polymer Science
Journal of Clinical Medicine 4.242 Q1 • Medicine, General & Internal
Toxics 4.146 Q2 • Toxicology
• Environmental Sciences
Catalysts 4.146 Q2 • Chemistry, Physical
Microorganisms 4.128 Q2 • Microbiology
Membranes 4.106 Q1 • Polymer Science
Q2 • Engineering, Chemical
• Materials Science, Multidisciplinary 
• Chemistry, Physical
Genes 4.096 Q2 • Genetics & Heredity
Fermentation * 3.975 Q2 • Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease * 3.948 Q2 • Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Plants 3.935 Q1 • Plant Sciences
Life 3.817 Q2 • Biology
Diagnostics 3.706 Q2 • Medicine, General & Internal
Current Oncology 3.677 Q3 • Oncology
Materials 3.623 Q1 • Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Q2 • Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
• Chemistry, Physical 
• Physics, Applied 
• Physics, Condensed Matter
Sensors 3.576 Q1 • Instruments & Instrumentation
Q2 • Chemistry, Analytical
• Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Pathogens 3.492 Q2 • Microbiology
Agronomy 3.417 Q1 • Agronomy
• Plant Sciences
Chemosensors 3.398 Q2 • Instruments & Instrumentation
• Chemistry, Analytical
Q3 • Electrochemistry
Land 3.398 Q2 • Environmental Studies
Brain Sciences 3.394 Q3 • Neurosciences
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 3.390 Q1 • Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (SSCI)
Q2 • Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (SCIE)
• Environmental Sciences (SCIE)
Tomography 3.358 Q2 • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Fractal and Fractional * 3.313 Q1 • Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Sustainability 3.251 Q2 • Environmental Sciences (SCIE)
• Environmental Studies (SSCI)
Q3 • Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SCIE)
• Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SSCI)
Water 3.103 Q2 • Water Resources
• Environmental Sciences
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research 3.049 Q3 • Business
Energies 3.004 Q3 • Energy & Fuels
Agriculture 2.925 Q1 • Agronomy
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2.899 Q2 • Geography, Physical
• Computer Science, Information Systems
Q3 • Remote Sensing
Micromachines 2.891 Q2 • Instruments & Instrumentation
• Physics, Applied
Q3 • Chemistry, Analytical
• Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Coatings 2.881 Q2 • Materials Science, Coatings & Films
• Physics, Applied
Q3 • Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Children 2.863 Q2 • Pediatrics
Processes 2.847 Q3 • Engineering, Chemical
Separations 2.777 Q3 • Chemistry, Analytical
Insects 2.769 Q1 • Entomology
Animals 2.752 Q1 • Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
• Veterinary Sciences
Symmetry 2.713 Q2 • Multidisciplinary Sciences
Atmosphere 2.686 Q3 • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
• Environmental Sciences
Applied Sciences 2.679 Q2 • Engineering, Multidisciplinary
• Physics, Applied
Q3 • Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
• Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Photonics 2.676 Q2 • Optics
Buildings * 2.648 Q2 • Construction & Building Technology
• Engineering, Civil
Healthcare 2.645 Q2 • Health Policy & Services (SSCI)
Q3 • Health Care Sciences & Services (SCIE)
Minerals 2.644 Q2 • Mining & Mineral Processing
• Mineralogy
• Geochemistry & Geophysics
Forests 2.634 Q1 • Forestry
Crystals 2.589 Q2 • Crystallography
Q3 • Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Entropy 2.524 Q2 • Physics, Multidisciplinary
Diversity 2.465 Q2 • Biodiversity Conservation
Q3 • Ecology
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2.458 Q2 • Oceanography
• Engineering, Marine 
• Engineering, Ocean
Medicina 2.430 Q2 • Medicine, General & Internal
Machines * 2.428 Q2 • Engineering, Mechanical
Q3 • Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Electronics 2.397 Q3 • Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
• Computer Science, Information Systems 
• Physics, Applied
Fishes * 2.385 Q2 • Fisheries
• Marine & Freshwater Biology
Metals 2.351 Q2 • Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Q3 • Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Horticulturae * 2.331 Q1 • Horticulture
Veterinary Sciences * 2.304 Q1 • Veterinary Sciences
Universe 2.278 Q3 • Physics, Particles & Fields
• Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mathematics 2.258 Q1 • Mathematics
Magnetochemistry 2.193 Q3 • Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
• Chemistry, Physical 
• Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Current Issues in Molecular Biology 2.081 Q4 • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Actuators 1.994 Q3 • Instruments & Instrumentation
• Engineering, Mechanical
Aerospace * 1.659 Q2 • Engineering, Aerospace

* Journals given their first Impact Factor in 2021

Source: 2020 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ® (Clarivate, 2021)

29 June 2021
Materials | Five New Sections Established

In order to specifically develop different research areas and attract more high-quality papers, we are pleased to announce the addition of the following five new Sections to Materials, which are intended to cover all of the disciplines of the field of materials science:

  • “Advanced and Functional Ceramics and Glasses” (Section Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Francesco Baino);
  • “Metals and Alloys” (Section Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dr. Yong-Cheng Lin);
  • “Soft Matter” (Section Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Sommer);
  • “Polymeric Materials” (Section Editors-in-Chief: Prof. Dr. Shouke Yan and Prof. Dr. Xu-Ming Xie);
  • “Quantum Materials” (Section Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dr. Heesun Yang).

Introduction of Section Editors-in-Chief:

Name: Dr. Francesco Baino

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Advanced and Functional Ceramics and Glasses”

Affiliation: Institute of Materials Physics and Engineering, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy

Research Interest: bioactive glasses; bioceramics; composites; tissue engineering; multifunctional biomaterials; biomedical scaffolds; additive manufacturing; advanced ceramics

Name: Prof. Dr. Yong-Cheng Lin

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Metals and Alloys”

Affiliation: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Research Interest: alloys; intelligent manufacturing processing; heat treatment; microstructure; deformation mechanisms; properties

Name: Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Sommer

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Soft Matter”

Affiliation: Leibniz-Institut fur Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Institute Theory of Polymers, Dresden, Germany

Research Interest: theoretical polymer and biopolymer physics; computer simulations in soft matter; statistical physics; polymers at interfaces; polymer networks; polymer solutions; polymer crystallization; polymers and nanoparticles

Name: Prof. Dr. Shouke Yan

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Polymeric Materials”

Affiliation: 1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; 2. School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China

Research Interest: multiscale structure of polymeric materials; orientation-induced polymer crystallization; surface-induced polymer crystallization; confined polymer crystallization; polymer blends

Name: Prof. Dr. Xu-Ming Xie

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Polymeric Materials”

Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Research Interest: polymer hydrogels; polymer blends; nanomaterials and nanocomposites; plastics recycling and value-added reuse

Name: Prof. Dr. Heesun Yang

Editor-in-Chief in Section: “Quantum Materials”

Affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Korea

Research Interest: quantum dots; materials chemistry; photoluminescence; electroluminescence; light-emitting diode

 We warmly welcome these five scholars in the role of Section Editors-in-Chief, and we look forward to them leading Materials to achieve more milestones.

23 June 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for the “Manufacturing Processes and Systems” Section in Materials


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available on PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central. 2019 IF for Materials was 3.057.

The main responsibilities of Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

1) Supervising the quality of the papers in this Section (when we have new submissions in the Section);

2) Acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;

3) Providing conference/society cooperation recommendations.

This position is open to experts in Manufacturing Processes and Systems. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Riley Ren ([email protected]).

18 June 2021
Materials | 2021 International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials (ICM-CN 2021)—Open for Submission


It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the 2021 International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials (ICM-CN 2021). The conference is organized by the MDPI open access journal Materials (Impact Factor 3.057) and co-organized by the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). It will be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, from the 21st to 24th November 2021.

This conference will provide leading scientists working in this field with a platform to share their latest research and engage in exciting discussions.

The main topics of the conference include but are not limited to:

  • Electronic material;
  • Biomaterials;
  • Smart materials;
  • Energy materials;
  • Advanced composites;
  • Rare-earth materials;
  • Optics and photonics;
  • Advanced nanomaterials and nanotechnology;
  • Structure materials and their application;
  • Porous materials;
  • Polymeric materials;
  • Quantum materials.

After the conference, all accepted conference papers will be published in the proceedings of this conference within a dedicated issue of the MDPI journal Materials Proceedings. In addition, all participants will be encouraged to submit an extended full manuscript to one dedicated Special Issue in Materials with a 500 CHF discount on the Article Processing Charge (APC).

We hope that you will join this symposium to exchange ideas, communicate fruitful collaborations, and make this conference a success.

For more information, please visit the conference official website: https://2021icm-cn.sciforum.net/.

18 June 2021
Materials Has Received an Increased CiteScore of 4.2


It is our great pleasure to announce that Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) has received an increased CiteScore (2020 Scopus data) of 4.2 for the year 2020, which equals the rank of 135/411 (Q2) in “Physics and Astronomy: Condensed Matter Physics”, and the rank of 159/455 (Q2) in “Materials Science: General Materials Science”.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to the journal and enabled this next big step!

25 May 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for Section “Porous Materials” of Materials


Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available in PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central. The 2019 IF for Materials was 3.057.

The main responsibilities of the Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

1) Supervising the quality of the papers in this Section (when we have new submissions in the Section);

2) Acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;

3) Providing any conferences/society cooperation recommendation.

This position is open to experts in all aspects of porous materials. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Andy Zhan ([email protected]).

18 May 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for a New Section “Soft Matter” in Materials


Our journal Materials has opened a new Section “Soft Matter” and is now recruiting new Editorial Board Members for this Section.

The main responsibilities of the Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

1) Promoting this new Section on your social media or among your acquaintances;

2) Supervising the quality of the papers in this Section (when we have new submissions in the Section);

3) Acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;

4) Providing any conferences/society cooperation recommendation.

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available in PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central. The 2019 IF for Materials was 3.057.

This position is open to experts in Metallic Materials. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Holly Han ([email protected]).

11 May 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for a New Section “Metals and Alloys” in Materials


Materials has opened a new Section “Metals and Alloys” and is now recruiting new Editorial Board Members for this Section.

The main responsibilities of the Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

1) Promoting this new Section on your social media or among your acquaintances;

2) Supervising the quality of the papers in this Section (when we have new submissions in the Section);

3) Acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;

4) Providing any conferences/society cooperation recommendation.

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published semi-monthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers (articles), and communications that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, the properties, and the functions of all kinds of materials. It is abstracted and indexed by SCIE, Scopus, and other databases. Citations are available in PubMed, and full texts are archived in PubMed Central. The 2019 IF for Materials was 3.057.

This position is open to experts in Metallic Materials. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Materials Editorial Office ([email protected]) or Anson Geng ([email protected]).

28 April 2021
Book BuilderCompile a Customized E-Book from Your Favorite MDPI Open Access Content

MDPI Books recently released Book Builder, a new online tool to conveniently arrange, design and produce an eBook from any content published in MDPI journals. Book Builder offers two functions: on the one hand (1) Selections, available to every registered user of MDPI; on the other hand (2) Special Issue Reprints, which can be used exclusively by Guest Editors of Special Issues.

Selections

In just a matter of a few clicks, all users are now able to assemble books from MDPI articles and receive instantaneous feedback in the form of a fully produced and compiled book (PDF), which can be downloaded or ordered as print copy. Selections can include any paper published with MDPI, picking and combining content from different journals and special issues.

This way, the user may for example choose to compile an ebook focusing around a particular topic, or assemble articles from a group of others.

 

We invite you to make yourself familiar with the new tool! The Book Builder can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/books/book_builder.

Special Issue Reprints

The Book Builder allows Guest Editors of MDPI journals to create a reprint from a successfully completed Special Issue or Topical Collection in book format. If you are a Guest Editor for an MDPI journal, you can use the new tool  to create an PDF document which includes all articles published in the Special Issue as well as a book cover and table of contents.

For Special Issues containing a minimum of 5 articles, the Guest Editor can request its publication on the MDPI Book platform. Published reprints are assigned an ISBN and DOI.

In addition to the PDF copy of the Reprint Book, as a token of our gratitude, MDPI offers every Guest Editor one (1) complimentary print copy (via print-on-demand). All contributors benefit from a discount on orders of any additional print copies, to share with colleagues or libraries or others.

 



Why choose MDPI Books?

In line with our organization's values, MDPI Books publishes all content in open access, promoting the exchange of ideas and knowledge in a globalized world. MDPI Books encompasses all the benefits of open access—high availability and visibility, as well as wide and rapid dissemination. MDPI Books are distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License, meaning as an author you retain the copyright for your work. In addition, with MDPI Books you can complement the digital version of your work with a high-quality printed counterpart.

If you are interested in editing a book volume or series, or have a monograph manuscript to be considered for publication, please submit your proposal online and look at our Information for Authors.

Contact: Laura Wagner, MDPI Books Manager (email)

15 April 2021
MDPI Celebrates Company Milestone With 25th Anniversary Page
"We exist to help scientists achieve their own objectives"


In June of this year, MDPI will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its foundation. To mark this significant milestone, we have created a 25th Anniversary page on our website that evokes the development of our company over the past quarter-century.

MDPI has been a pioneer of Open Access publishing ever since the concept was first created.

In a wide-ranging interview, our CEO Delia Mihaila reflects on the company’s 25th anniversary and its contribution to the world of scientific publishing.

Delia considers how MDPI has evolved since starting life in 1996 as a visionary ‘project’ run out of an apartment in Basel, Switzerland, by Dr. Shu-Kun Lin. A chemist who was passionate about the long-term preservation of rare chemical sample, Dr. Lin was determined to help scholars publish their findings as quickly as possible and make their research results available to as wide a readership as possible worldwide. That determination remains unchanged 25 years later.

Today, MDPI is an international organization with over 4,000 employees based on three continents and in ten countries, and ranks among the world's top four academic publishers.

MDPI's mission is to accelerate access to new scientific research, delivering insight faster for researchers worldwide. Read more here about the company's remarkable success story and what the Open Access publishing model can offer the global scientific community.

10 March 2021
Journal Selector: Helping to Find the Right MDPI Journal for Your Article


At MDPI, we strive to make your online publication process seamless and efficient. To achieve this, our team is continuously developing tools and features to make the user experience useful and convenient.

As the number of academic papers continues to grow, so does the need to analyze and work with them on a large scale. This prompted us to design a new feature aimed at helping researchers find journals that are relevant to their publication by matching their abstract topic. In this regard, we designed a similarity model that automatically identifies the most suitable academic journals for your paper.

We are pleased to introduce Journal Selector, a new feature that measures similarity in academic contexts. By simply entering the title and/or abstract into our Journal Selector, the author will see a list of the most related scientific journals published by MDPI. This method helps authors select the correct journals for their papers, highlighting the time of publication and citability.

The methodology is known as representation learning, where words are represented as vectors in hyperspace. Representation helps us differentiate between different concepts within articles, and in turn, helps us identify similarities between them.

We used an advanced machine learning model to better capture the semantic meanings of words. This helps the algorithm make better predictions by leveraging scientific text representation. In turn, this ensures high precision, helping authors decide which journal they should submit their paper to.

The goal is to support authors to publish their work in the most suitable journal for their research, as fast as possible, accelerating their career progress.

Contact: Andrea Perlato, Head of Data Analytics, MDPI (email)

4 March 2021
Recruiting Editorial Board Members for a New Section “Advanced and Functional Ceramics” in Journal Materials

Our journal Materials is planning to add a new section “Advanced and Functional Ceramics” and now recruiting new Editorial Board Members for this section (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/sections/Advanced_Functional_Ceramics).

The main responsibilities of the Section Editorial Board Members are as follows:

  1. promoting this new section at your social media or among your acquaintances;
  2. supervising the quality of the papers in this section later (when we have new submissions in the section);
  3. acting as a/recommending a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on a topic related to your research interests;
  4. providing any conferences/society cooperation recommend