Announcements

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:

• Sensors;
• Biosensors;
• Chemosensors;
• Materials;
• JSAN;
• Micromachines;
• Instruments;
• Technologies;
• Chips;
• Robotics;
• Machines.

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/.

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:

• Coatings;
• Molecules;
• Energies;
• Materials;
• Biosensors;
• Batteries;
• Liquids;
• Crystals;
• Solids;
• Electrochem;
• Sensors;
• Metals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

• “Biochar and Energy Production: Valorizing Swine Manure through Coupling Co-Digestion and Pyrolysis”
  by Rubén González, Judith González, José G. Rosas, Richard Smith and Xiomar Gómez
  C 2020, 6(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/c6020043

Coatings:

• “Introduction to Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation—An Overview of the Process and Applications”
  by Frank Simchen, Maximilian Sieber, Alexander Kopp and Thomas Lampke
  Coatings 2020, 10(7), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10070628

• “First Insights into Photocatalytic Degradation of HDPE and LDPE Microplastics by a Mesoporous N–TiO2 Coating: Effect of Size and Shape of Microplastics”
  by Brenda Estefanía Llorente-García, Juan Manuel Hernández-López, Antonio Alberto Zaldívar-Cadena, Cristina Siligardi and Erika Iveth Cedillo-González
  Coatings 2020, 10(7), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10070658

Fibers:

• “U-Jacketing Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Reinforced Concrete T-Beams against Shear—Tests and Design”
  by Constantin E. Chalioris, Adamantis G. Zapris and Chris G. Karayannis
  Fibers 2020, 8(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8020013

• “Laser Sources Based on Rare-Earth Ion Doped Tellurite Glass Fibers and Microspheres”
  by Elena A. Anashkina
  Fibers 2020, 8(5), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8050030

Inorganics:

• “Magnetic Materials and Systems: Domain Structure Visualization and Other Characterization Techniques for Application in Materials Science and Biomedicine”
  by Roberto Nisticò, Federico Cesano and Francesca Garello
  Inorganics 2020, 8(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8010006

• “Magnetic Composite Submicron Carriers with Structure-Dependent MRI Contrast”
  by Anastasiia A. Kozlova, Sergey V. German, Vsevolod S. Atkin, Victor V. Zyev, Maxwell A. Astle, Daniil N. Bratashov, Yulia I. Svenskaya and Dmitry A. Gorin
  Inorganics 2020, 8(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8020011

• “A Partial Anion Disorder in SrVO₂H Induced by Biaxial Tensile Strain”
  by Morito Namba, Hiroshi Takatsu, Wataru Yoshimune, Aurélien Daniel, Shoichi Itoh, Takahito Terashima and Hiroshi Kageyama
  Inorganics 2020, 8(4), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8040026

Magnetochemistry:

• “Magnetic Nanoparticle Systems for Nanomedicine—A Materials Science Perspective”
  by Vlad Socoliuc, Davide Peddis, Viktor I. Petrenko, Mikhail V. Avdeev, Daniela Susan-Resiga, Tamas Szabó, Rodica Turcu, Etelka Tombácz and Ladislau Vékás
  Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6010002

• “Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: From Synthesis to Surface Functionalisation”
  by Lokesh Srinath Ganapathe, Mohd Ambri Mohamed, Rozan Mohamad Yunus and Dilla Duryha Berhanuddin
  Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(4), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6040068

• “Saturation of Specific Absorption Rate for Soft and Hard Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Polyol Process”
  by Cristian Iacovita, Gabriela Fabiola Stiufiuc, Roxana Dudric, Nicoleta Vedeanu, Romulus Tetean, Rares Ionut Stiufiuc and Constantin Mihai Lucaciu
  Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6020023

• “False Chirality, Absolute Enantioselection and CP Violation: Pierre Curie’s Legacy”
  by Laurence D. Barron
  Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6010005         

Materials:

• “A Broadband Tunable Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Based on Single-Layer Complementary Gammadion-Shaped Graphene”
  by Fu Chen, Yongzhi Cheng and Hui Luo
  Materials 2020, 13(4), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13040860

• “3-D Printed Protective Equipment during COVID-19 Pandemic”
  by Christian Wesemann, Stefano Pieralli, Tobias Fretwurs, Julian Nold, Katja Nelson, Rainer Schmelzeisen, Elmar Hellwig and Benedikt Christopher Spies
  Materials 2020, 13(8), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081997

• “On the Vibrations and Stability of Moving Viscoelastic Axially Functionally Graded Nanobeams”
  by Ali Shariati, Dong won Jun, Hamid Mohammad-Sedighi, Krzysztof Kamil Żur, Mostafa Habibi and Maryam Safa
  Materials 2020, 13(7), 1707; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071707

• “Brief History of Early Lithium Battery Development”
  by Mogalahalli V. Reddy, Alain Mauger, Christian M. Julien, Andrea Paolella and Karim Zaghib
  Materials, 2020, 13(8), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081884

• “Face Masks and Respirators in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Current Materials, Advances and Future Perspectives”
  by Kris O’Dowd, Keerthi M. Nair, Parnia Forouzandeh, Snehamol Mathew, Jamie Gran, Ruth Moran, John Bartlet, Jerry Bird and Suresh C. Pillai
  Materials 2020, 13(15), 3363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153363

• “Recent Trends in the Use of Pectin from Agro-Waste Residues as a Natural-Based Biopolymer for Food Packaging Applications”
  by Cristina Mellinas, Marina Ramos, Alfonso Jiménez and María Carmen Garrigós
  Materials 2020, 13(3), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030673

Membranes:

• “Membrane Technologies in Wastewater Treatment: A Review”
  by Elorm Obotey Ezugbe and Sudesh Rathilal
  Membranes 2020, 10(5), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10050089

• “Development of Hydrophilic PVDF Membrane Using Vapour Induced Phase Separation Method for Produced Water Treatment”
  by Muhammad Roil Bilad, Normi Izati Mat Nawi, Min Chean Ho, Norazanita Shamsuddin, Thanitporn Narkkun, Kajornsak Faungnawakij and Asim Laeeq Khan
  Membranes 2020, 10(6), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10060121

Molecules:

• “Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology”
  by Aleksandra Zielińska, Filipa Carreiró, Ana M. Oliveira, Andreia Neves, Bárbara Pires, D. Nagasamy Venkatesh, Alessandra Durazzo, Massimo Lucarini, Piotr Eder, Amélia M. Silva et al.
  Molecules 2020, 25(16), 3731; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163731

• “Nanomaterials for Wound Dressings: An Up-to-Date Overview”
  by Alexandra Elena Stoica, Cristina Chircov and Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
  Molecules 2020, 25(11), 2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112699

• “PROTACs and Building Blocks: The 2D Chemical Space in Very Early Drug Discovery”
  by Giuseppe Ermondi, Diego Garcia-Jimenez and Giulia Caron
  Molecules 2021, 26(3), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030672

• “LncMirNet: Predicting LncRNA–miRNA Interaction Based on Deep Learning of Ribonucleic Acid Sequences”
  by Sen Yang, Yan Wang, Yu Lin, Dan Shao, Kai He and Lan Huang
  Molecules 2020, 25(19), 4372; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25194372

• “Merging Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Methods in Drug Discovery: An Overview of Combined Virtual Screening Approaches”
  by Javier Vázquez, Manel López, Enric Gibert, Enric Herrero and F. Javier Luque
  Molecules 2020, 25(20), 4723; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204723

• “The Protective Role of Butyrate against Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases”
  by Serena Coppola, Carmen Avagliano, Antonio Calignano and Roberto Berni Canani
  Molecules 2021, 26(3), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030682

• “Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry”
  by Michael K. Appenteng, Ritter Krueger, Mitch C. Johnson, Harrison Ingold, Richard Bell, Andrew L. Thomas and C. Michael Greenlief
  Molecules 2021, 26(5), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051384

• “Amygdalin: Toxicity, Anticancer Activity and Analytical Procedures for Its Determination in Plant Seeds”
  by Ewa Jaszczak-Wilke, Żaneta Polkowska, Marek Koprowski, Krzysztof Owsianik, Alyson E. Mitchell and Piotr Bałczewski
  Molecules 2021, 26(8), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082253

Nanomaterials:

• “Perfect Dual-Band Absorber Based on Plasmonic Effect with the Cross-Hair/Nanorod Combination”
  by Yuan-Fong Chou Chau, Chung-Ting Chou Chao, Hung Ji Huang, Muhammad Raziq Rahimi Kooh, N. T. R. N. Kumara, Chee Ming Lim and Hai-Pang Chiang
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030493

• “Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Prospects and Applications in Medicine”
  by Daniel Ziental, Beata Czarczynska-Goslinska, Dariusz T. Mlynarczyk, Arleta Glowacka-Sobotta, Beata Stanisz, Tomasz Goslinski and Lukasz Sobotta
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(2), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10020387

• “High Quality Factor, High Sensitivity Metamaterial Graphene—Perfect Absorber Based on Critical Coupling Theory and Impedance Matching”
  by Chunlian Cen, Zeqiang Chen, Danyang Xu, Liying Jiang, Xifang Chen, Zao Yi, Pinghui Wu, Gongfa Li and Yougen Yi
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10010095

• “An Overview of Micro- and Nanoemulsions as Vehicles for Essential Oils: Formulation, Preparation and Stability”
  by Lucia Pavoni, Diego Romano Perinelli, Giulia Bonacucina, Marco Cespi and Giovanni Filippo Palmieri
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10010135

• “Making Nd³⁺ a Sensitive Luminescent Thermometer for Physiological Temperatures—An Account of Pitfalls in Boltzmann Thermometry”
  by Markus Suta, Željka Antić, Vesna Ðorđević, Sanja Kuzman, Miroslav D. Dramićanin  and Andries Meijerink
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030543

• “Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents: An Overview”
  by Elena Sánchez-López, Daniela Gomes, Gerard Esteruelas, Lorena Bonilla, Ana Laura Lopez-Machado, Ruth Galindo, Amanda Cano, Marta Espina, Miren Ettcheto, Antoni Camins et al.
  Nanomaterials 2020, 10(2), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10020292

Polymers:

• “Core–Shell Eudragit S100 Nanofibers Prepared via Triaxial Electrospinning to Provide a Colon-Targeted Extended Drug Release”
  by Yanfei Ding, Cheng Dou, Shuyue Chang, Zhengming Xie, Deng-Guang Yu, Yanan Liu and Jun Shao
  Polymers 2020, 12(9), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092034

• “The Inhibition Property and Mechanism of a Novel Low Molecular Weight Zwitterionic Copolymer for Improving Wellbore Stability”
  by Weichao Du, Michal Slaný, Xiangyun Wang, Gang Chen and Jie Zhang
  Polymers 2020, 12(3), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030708

• “Solid Polymer Electrolytes with Flexible Framework of SiO₂ Nanofibers for Highly Safe Solid Lithium Batteries”
  by Jin Cui, Zehao Zhou, Mengyang Jia, Xin Chen, Chuan Shi, Ning Zhao and Xiangxin Guo
  Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1324; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061324

• “Conducting Polymers in the Design of Biosensors and Biofuel Cells”
  by Simonas Ramanavicius and Arunas Ramanavicius
  Polymers 2021, 13(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010049

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.

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.

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/.