Announcements

We are honored to recognize the 2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers—scholars whose exemplary commitment to rigorous and constructive peer review is vital in upholding the highest standards of academic publishing.

Selected from a distinguished pool of 215,000 reviewers from 65 countries and regions worldwide, these honorees stand out for their exceptional expertise, diligence, and dedication to advancing research through timely and thoughtful reviews. Their constructive and impartial feedback ensures the publication of high-quality, impactful research, while their timely reviews facilitate swift revisions and faster publication of innovative work.

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. With gratitude and respect, we celebrate these 1000 scholars who made that foundation stronger in 2024. We respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

Prof. Dr. Aniello Riccio is one of the corresponding authors of the Newsletter Article entitled “Non-Conventional Wing Structure Design with Lattice Infilled through Design for Additive Manufacturing” published in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944). 

Prof. Aniello Riccio graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, in 1996 and obtained his PhD in 1999 from the Second University of Naples (SUN). In 2000, his doctoral thesis on the structural behavior of damaged composites was awarded the “Pratt & Whitney-EREA Award”, reserved for the best European doctoral theses. 

Between 2000 and 2010, he worked as a researcher at CIRA (Italian Aerospace Research Center), where he participated as project manager in several European research projects, military projects, national projects, and ASI-ESA projects, serving as task leader in some cases. His research, which defines his scientific profile, focuses on the development of numerical models and experimental approaches to study the behavior of multifunctional smart materials and additive manufacturing of composite and metallic structures in the presence of damage. These activities have been conducted in collaboration with universities, research centers, and European industries. 

Since 2003, as a member of the Structures and Materials Group of GARTEUR (Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe), Prof. Riccio has promoted several research topics within the organization. He served as chairman from 2008 to 2011, receiving official recognition for his work in 2012 (GARTEUR Certificate). 

From 2010 to 2014, Prof. Riccio was a university researcher at the Department of Engineering at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (formerly the Second University of Naples). He became an associate professor in 2014 and a full professor in 2018. He teaches courses in Aeronautical Construction, Aerospace Structures and Construction, and Composite Aerospace Structures.

Since 2020, he has been an associate researcher at the National Research Council (CNR), at the IPCB Institute (Institute for Composite Polymers and Biomaterials) of the Italian National Research Council.

Prof. Riccio serves as a referee, associate editor, and guest editor for numerous prestigious international journals on structures and materials. He is also regularly involved in European and national committees for the evaluation of research projects. 

From 1999 to the present, Prof. Riccio has authored numerous publications in leading international journals and proceedings of international and national conferences. For a detailed list of his main publications, please refer to the SCOPUS database (Author ID: 57891175700). 

Based on the positive evaluations by the reviewers and academic editors for Prof. Dr. Aniello Riccio’s group article, we have selected their article as the Newsletter Article for further promotion. 

“Non-Conventional Wing Structure Design with Lattice Infilled through Design for Additive Manufacturing”
by Numan Khan, Valerio Acanfora and Aniello Riccio
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1470; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071470 

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Aniello Riccio: 

1. Congratulations on your published paper. Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
   Thanks! Our paper investigates the feasibility of replacing conventional spar–rib wing structures with lattice-infilled designs enabled by additive manufacturing. By combining nTop implicit modeling with ANSYS simulations, we evaluated five different lattice configurations. The results demonstrated that the Kelvin lattice offers the best balance of stiffness, weight reduction, and stress distribution. This work highlights lattice infill as a promising alternative for lightweight aerospace wing structures. 

2. What are the key takeaways you hope readers will gain from your paper?
   We hope readers will appreciate that lattice-infilled designs, when optimized using advanced computational tools, can achieve significant weight savings—up to approximately 9.5%—without compromising structural integrity. Furthermore, we hope the paper clarifies that the choice of lattice unit cell has a strong influence on stress distribution and wing-tip deflection, making design-driven lattice selection crucial for optimal performance. 

3. Was there a specific experience or event in your research career that led you to focus on your current field of research?
   Yes. During my experience as a lecturer in aerospace structures and through subsequent collaborations on aerospace structural design with aircraft manufacturing companies, I became increasingly aware of the limitations imposed by conventional manufacturing technologies on implementing innovative geometries. Working with additive manufacturing, I recognized its potential to overcome these constraints and to rethink traditional aerospace structures by leveraging unprecedented design freedom. 

4. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations encountered in your current research?
   A major challenge was managing the complexity of lattice generation and optimization, which traditional CAD tools cannot efficiently handle. The breakthrough came with the adoption of implicit modeling using nTop, combined with automated, Python-based iterative optimization. This approach enabled us to systematically evaluate multiple lattice topologies and directly link design parameters to finite element performance. 

5. Does technological progress provide new opportunities for the topic you are researching? Does it bring any potential risks? How do you think these factors will affect future research trends on this topic?
   Technological advances in additive manufacturing and generative design, including the integration of AI, clearly open new opportunities for lightweight aerospace structures. However, challenges remain, such as controlling process variability, meeting certification requirements, ensuring the robustness of AI approaches, and the necessity for complex experimental tests for validation of numerical results. Future research will likely focus on integrating multi-material printing, real-time process monitoring, and establishing robust certification pathways to ensure the safe adoption of these technologies in the aerospace industry. 

6. How do you evaluate research trends in this field, and what advice would you give to other young researchers?
   The field is rapidly evolving toward design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), with growing emphasis on lattice and metamaterial-based structures. My advice to young researchers is to build a strong foundation in structural mechanics, develop expertise in computational optimization and additive manufacturing technologies, and maintain an open mindset toward interdisciplinary collaboration. 

7. What appealed to you about the Materials journal that made you want to submit your paper? In your opinion, what can authors expect when they submit to Materials?
   We chose Materials because of its strong reputation for publishing high-quality research at the intersection of advanced materials and engineering applications, its broad multidisciplinary readership, and its efficient publication process. Authors can expect fair peer-review, constructive feedback, and timely publication. 

8. What is your experience publishing with Materials?
   Our experience was very positive. The review process was rigorous yet constructive, the editorial handling professional, and the publication timeline efficient. This enabled us to refine our work and reach a wider audience quickly. 

9. How do you think the open access way of publishing impacts authors?
   Open access significantly enhances the visibility and accessibility of research, ensuring that both academic peers and industry professionals can benefit without barriers. For authors, it increases citations, fosters collaboration, and accelerates the translation of research into practical applications.

Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is delighted to announce the winner of the Best PhD Thesis Award, which honors outstanding doctoral research in the field of materials science. This award recognizes early-career researchers whose PhD work demonstrates exceptional scientific quality, innovation, and potential impact.

This year’s award has been granted to the following paper:

“Fundamentals of Nano-Optics in Hyperbolic van der Waals Materials”
by Dr. Gonzalo Alvarez-Perez (Italian Institute of Technology, Italy)

As the awardee, Dr. Alvarez-Perez will receive CHF 800, an electronic certificate, and a voucher to waive the article processing charge (APC), valid for one year.

With an impressive number of high-quality submissions, the selection process was highly competitive. The Materials Editorial Office and Award Evaluation Committee would like to thank all applicants for their excellent contributions, which covered a wide variety of research topics.

On behalf of the Editorial Office, we would like to congratulate Dr. Gonzalo Alvarez-Perez and wish him continued success in his research career.

Materials Editorial Office

Nobel Prizes are the world’s most prestigious recognition of scientific breakthroughs, honoring discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge and reshape entire fields. They bring into the public eye researchers whose work might otherwise remain known only within specialized circles.

For many, winning a Nobel Prize is a surreal experience. Laureates often describe a mix of joy, humility, reflection, and gratitude for the teams and collaborators whose contributions made the achievement possible. Behind every Nobel-winning idea lies years of careful, incremental work—a process that often goes unseen.

When Prof. Steven Weinberg won the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 1979, his wife Louise, a legal scholar, reminded him to keep doing the ordinary hard work of science, joking: “Now you have to write some unimportant papers.” True to form, Weinberg continued to push the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe, showing that curiosity and dedication extend far beyond the moment of recognition (Hofmann 2025: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/17/6/840).

Discover the science behind the world’s most transformative ideas

Over the years, dozens of Nobel laureates have published their work with MDPI, entrusting our open access journals to disseminate their findings to a global audience. As of 2024, more than 40 laureates have contributed over 115 articles across 35 journals, ranging from pioneering research on microRNAs and mRNA therapeutics, to fundamental insights in theoretical physics, and advances in structural biology.

We regularly spotlight how Nobel Prize–winning research intersects with the contributions of our authors. This not only celebrates the achievements of the laureates, but also underscores the role of open access in ensuring that transformative science reaches the widest possible audience.

On this page, we invite you to explore selected works by Nobel laureates within the MDPI portfolio, and to join us in celebrating the global impact of their ideas.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 will be announced on October 6 at 11:30 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physiology or Medicine Roundtable
6 October 2025, 03:30 pm (CEST)
Free to register for this webinar here!

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 will be announced on October 7 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physics Roundtable
7 October 2025, 02:30 pm (CEST)
Free to register for this webinar here!

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 will be announced on October 8 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

World Architecture Day, observed annually on the first Monday of October, is a global initiative that highlights the critical role of architecture in addressing societal challenges while promoting sustainable and equitable development of built environments. Established by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985, this day has become a vital platform for advancing architectural innovation and raising public awareness about the transformative power of design.

Aligned with the 2025 theme, “Design for Strength”, and Goal 11 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Cities and Communities), MDPI emphasizes the need for resilient, adaptive, and inclusive architectural solutions. In an era of rapid urbanization and climate uncertainty, architects and researchers are pioneering groundbreaking approaches—from disaster-resistant structures to carbon-neutral materials—that fundamentally redefine how we build and inhabit spaces.

Join us in celebrating World Architecture Day and supporting initiatives that empower architects to create a more sustainable and resilient future. Together, we can shape built environments that not only withstand the tests of time and transformation but also foster equity, well-being, and harmony between humanity and nature.

Invited Speakers:

Prof. Dr. Derek Clements-Croome, University of Reading, UK	Dr. Paris Fokaides, Frederick University, Cyprus	Dr. Ehsan Harirchian, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany	Prof. Dr. Umberto Berardi, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy

Free to register for this webinar here!

We are honored to interview Dr. Paris Fokaides from Frederick University, Cyprus, on his research journey and insight.

Name: Dr. Paris Fokaides Affiliation: School of Engineering, Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus “Academic work on ‘design for strength’ must integrate performance simulations, life cycle thinking, and smart readiness assessments to ensure designs are not only safe and durable, but also sustainable and responsive.” Please read the full interview here.

“Comparison of Pulse-Echo Tomography and Through-Transmission Ultrasonic Test for UPV Characterization of Building Materials”
by Emilia Vasanelli, Davide Di Gennaro, Matteo Sticchi, Gianni Blasi and Luigi Capozzoli
Infrastructures 2025, 10(7), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10070162

“An Ontology-Aided Generative Computational Design Process for Ecological Building Envelopes: Development of a Conceptual Framework for the Early Design Stage”
by Michael Hensel, Jakub Tyc, Albin Ahmeti and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel
Land 2025, 14(4), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040840

“AI-Driven Innovations in Building Energy Management Systems: A Review of Potential Applications and Energy Savings”
by Dalia Mohammed Talat Ebrahim Ali, Violeta Motuzienė and Rasa Džiugaitė-Tumėnienė
Energies 2024, 17(17), 4277; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174277

“Application of Long-Period Fiber Grating Sensors in Structural Health Monitoring: A Review”
by Ying Zhuo, Pengfei Ma, Pu Jiao and Xinzhe Yuan
CivilEng 2024, 5(3), 559–575; https://doi.org/10.3390/civileng5030030

“Recycling Potential of Construction Materials: A Comparative Approach”
by Matan Mayer
Constr. Mater. 2024, 4(1), 238–250; https://doi.org/10.3390/constrmater4010013

“A New Method for Defining the Optimal Separation Gap Distance and the Acceptable Structural Pounding Risk on Multistory RC Structures”
by Maria G. Flenga and Maria J. Favvata
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14031165

“A Simple and Effective Method to Evaluate Seismic Maximum Floor Velocities for Steel-Framed Structures with Supplementary Dampers”
by Alexia Kosmidou, Foteini Konstandakopoulou, Nikos Pnevmatikos, Panagiotis G. Asteris and George Hatzigeorgiou
Appl. Mech. 2023, 4(4), 1114–1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmech4040057

“Effects of Chemicals Exposure on the Durability of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporated with Silica Fumes and Nano-Sized Silica at Varying Curing Temperatures”
by Sagar Paruthi, Ibadur Rahman, Asif Husain, Mohd Abul Hasan and Afzal Husain Khan
Materials 2023, 16(18), 6332; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186332

“Innovative and Sustainable Composite Material for the Seismic and Energetic Upgrade of Historic Masonry Buildings”
by Dora Pugliese, Valerio Alecci, Rosa Romano, Gianfranco Stipo, Mario De Stefano and Antonio Nanni
Fibers 2023, 11(9), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11090076

“Evaluation of the Performance and Durability of Self-Cleaning Treatments Based on TiO2 Nanoparticles Applied to Cement-Based Renders and Boards”
by Alberto Fregni, Luca Venturi and Elisa Franzoni
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13060990

“Predicting Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Using Advanced Machine Learning Algorithms”
by Fateme Dinmohammadi, Yuxuan Han and Mahmood Shafiee
Energies 2023, 16(9), 3748; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093748

“Key Building Design and Construction Lessons from the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes”
by Iftekhar Ahmed
Architecture 2023, 3(1), 104–106; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3010007

“Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition” Guest Editors: Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, Dr. Sandra Carrasco, Dr. Ranit Chatterjee and Dr. Thomas Cooper-Johnson Submission deadline: 31 December 2025	“BioCognitive Architectural Design” Guest Editors: Dr. Michal Gath-Morad and Prof. Dr. Koen Steemers Submission deadline: 31 December 2025
“Incorporating Advanced New or Recycled Materials in Reinforced Concrete Structures” Guest Editors: Dr. Ayman El-Zohairy, Dr. Antonio Caggiano and Prof. Dr. Baoguo Han Submission deadline: 20 February 2026	“Mineral and Metal Materials in Civil Engineering” Guest Editors: Dr. Dušan Arsić and Dr. Ružica R. Nikolić Submission deadline: 31 March 2026

We are pleased to announce that three new scholars have been appointed as Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for Materials (ISSN: 1996-144), effective August 2025. We wish our new members success in both their research and their efforts to develop the journal.

Name: Dr. Junjie Wang
Affiliation: Tsinghua University, China
Interests: sustainable building materials with low CO₂ emissions and low energy costs (such as recycled cement, geopolymer concrete, and recycled aggregate concrete); highly durable and high-performance concrete in marine environments; non-destructive testing methods for concrete structures

Publications in Materials:
1. “Carbon Sequestration by Preparing Recycled Cement, Recycled Aggregates, and Recycled Concrete from Construction and Demolition (C&D) Wastes”
by Jing Luo, Rong Huang, Junjie Wang and Yi Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(20), 5020; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17205020

Special Issue in Materials:
“Sustainable Cementitious Materials for Civil and Transportation Engineering—2nd Edition”
Guest Editor: Junjie Wang
Submission deadline: 30 November 2025

Name: Prof. Dr. Wojciech Simka
Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology, Poland
Interests: coating; material characterization; materials; nanomaterials; microstructure advanced materials; corrosion; plasma electrolytic oxidation; titanium; dental implants

Publications in Materials:
1. “Zirconia Dental Implant Designs and Surface Modifications: A Narrative Review”
by Michał Ciszyński, Bartosz Chwaliszewski, Wojciech Simka, Marzena Dominiak, Tomasz Gedrange and Jakub Hadzik
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174202

2. “Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Test of INTEGRA Dental Implant System”
by Rafał Zieliński, Sebastian Lipa, Martyna Piechaczek, Jerzy Sowiński, Agata Kołkowska and Wojciech Simka
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051213

Name: Prof. Dr. Peng Wang
Affiliation: Zhejiang University, China
Interests: design and synthesis of organic/nanomaterials with unique optoelectronic properties; fabrication and device physics of optoelectronic devices; interfacial excited states and carrier dynamics; atomic/molecular scale microstructures

We are currently still recruiting Editorial Board Members and Guest Editors. Please contact the Editorial Office if you are interested in these positions.

Materials Editorial Office

The Beijing Graphene Forum 2025 (BGF2025), organized by the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, and Zhongguancun Science City and hosted by the Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing Graphene Institute Co., Ltd., and Zhongyuan Graphene Laboratory, will be held in Beijing, China, from 24 to 27 October 2025, at Nirvana Resort Beijing. It aims to promote the further integration of advanced technologies into the graphene industry and enhance academic exchange and collaboration in the field of graphene materials.

BGF2025 seeks to showcase the most innovative projects, cutting-edge research, transformative ideas, and breakthrough products in the field of graphene materials. Its objective is to foster innovation-led development in the graphene industry by linking innovation, industrial, and capital chains, thereby accelerating the implementation of frontier graphene technologies into industrial applications. BGF2025 invites leading scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investment professionals to engage in in-depth discussions on emerging technologies, share insights on market and industry trends, and collaboratively explore future development strategies for the global graphene industry.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at this conference:

• Molecules;
• Materials;
• Analytica;
• Solids;
• Surfaces;
• Liquids.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to reach out online and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth (#11) and answering any questions you may have. For more information about this event, please click on the following link: https://en.beijinggrapheneforum.com/.

As Peer Review Week is coming to an end and important topics have been discussed, we, as Publishers of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), wanted to conclude with a few thoughts on the main topic of this week: “Rethinking Peer Review in the AI Era”. In this way, we wanted to join the global discussion as well.

There is a community who has a skeptical relationship with AI. Discussions about the negative sides of its usage are rising. AI may reduce emphasis on innovation and rigor in academic writing; mass-generated papers could become highly homogenized, lacking individual style; authors face new challenges in protecting their intellectual property; the collection and analysis of vast amounts of researcher data raise serious concerns about privacy and data security; and the use of AI may exacerbate academic misconduct.

It is clear that there are challenges in scientific journal editing and publishing in the AI era. The quality of AI-generated content varies significantly, with fraudulent papers and reports wasting substantial publishing resources and time, thereby hindering the publication and dissemination of truly valuable research. Legal risks remain difficult to mitigate: Issues concerning the ownership and protection of copyright for AI-generated content not only challenge the adaptability and innovation of legal systems but also require collaborative efforts among legal, technological, and societal sectors to explore more reasonable, fair, and feasible solutions. Overreliance on AI may lead to excessive dependence on external technology providers, limiting the potential for in-house technological development within publishing organizations.

On the other hand, there is a space where we can use AI as a tool and as help to facilitate innovation in publishing industry. If AI is used as a carefully designed program for a specific company’s purpose, then AI assists in the initial review of manuscripts, detecting academic misconduct and ensuring integrity, including plagiarism and image manipulation detection; recommends or verifies suitable peer reviewers, helps with detection of any bias; supports editing and proofreading; optimizes titles and polishes abstracts; helps journals develop thematic guidelines; analyzes research trends and advancements within fields, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis; generates intelligent summaries; and provides translation services.

In the editorial and publishing process, it is essential to clearly define which stages are suitable for the application of generative AI and establish corresponding guidelines to ensure appropriate use and positive development. Efficient and accurate detection algorithms should be developed to monitor AI-generated content in real time or periodically. A robust public feedback mechanism should be established to encourage societal oversight of published content.

The publishing industry and the tech community should deepen cross-sector collaboration, engaging in in-depth discussions on the boundaries, rules, and value orientation of AI applications in academia, striving to achieve broad consensus. Journal publishing institutions must take concrete responsibility for content review and management, implementing clear labeling standards for AI-generated material.

We endorse the use of AI tools by authors and reviewers to assist research activities under compliance with the following guidelines:

• Authors must disclose the purpose, names, and specific functions of AI tools used at the time of submission;
• Generating core academic content—including but not limited to hypotheses, conclusions, and image data—using AI is strictly prohibited;
• Reviewers are not permitted to input manuscript content into unauthorized platforms and must not use AI to generate peer review reports;
• Any use of AI must not violate confidentiality, originality, or data protection regulations.

Non-compliance will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript or suspension of review privileges.

Editorial Office of Materials,
Publishers

We are pleased to announce that Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) has been accepted into the ICI Journals Master List, receiving an Index Copernicus Value (ICV) 2024 of 178.50. The ICV index, valid for one year, aims to reflect the journal’s level of development and its impact on the world of science.

The ICI Journals Master List is an international indexing database of scientific journals that has been evaluating submitted periodicals for almost 20 years. Being indexed in the database is dependent upon the condition of passing a positive multidimensional evaluation based on over 100 criteria. The evaluation process is free of charge and available for every journal registered in the ICI World of Journals database.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our editors. This achievement would not have been possible without the numerous significant publications of our authors and the contributions of our dedicated reviewers. We wish to thank you all for your support and hope to receive more contributions from you in the future.

In addition to the ICI Journals Master List, Materials is also indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Ei Compendex, CaPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, Astrophysics Data System, and other databases.

For more information about the journal’s statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/Materials/stats.

Materials Editorial Office