Announcements

The “Corrosion” Section of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) caters to the old as well as the new domains of corrosion mechanisms, monitoring, and mitigation. Corrosion costs every economy and society dearly; hence, its effective and durable mitigation is of paramount importance. Given the age-old and vexing nature of the problem, numerous approaches and measures have been deployed for corrosion mitigation. However, the serious economic implications of corrosion continue to ensure interest in finding novel measures. Corrosion and corrosion-assisted cracking often stand out as critical and non-trivial challenges in applications ranging from the selection of construction materials for nuclear waste containers, desalination plants, or durable electronic devices to the use of magnesium alloys as novel biodegradable temporary implants. It is true that circumventing corrosion in such critical applications is technologically challenging, socially fulfilling, and commercially attractive, but it is equally true that a durable solution calls for a disruptive approach, which in itself is a non-trivial challenge (given the age-old nature of the discipline). The emergence of a new material often triggers interest in its applicability for corrosion resistance. The most recent examples include ultrathin coatings of graphene and hexa-boron nitride. Corrosion, as well as the science and technology of its mitigation, therefore, is like an antique, being old but fascinating.

As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2024, listed below.

1. “Effects of Shot Peening and Electropolishing Treatment on the Properties of Additively and Conventionally Manufactured Ti6Al4V Alloy: A Review”
by Wojciech Okuniewski, Mariusz Walczak and Mirosław Szala
Materials 2024, 17(4), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040934
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/4/934

2. “Changes in Corrosion Behaviour of Zinc and Aluminium Coatings with Increasing Seawater Acidification”
by Cezary Senderowski, Wojciech Rejmer, Nataliia Vigilianska and Arkadiusz Jeznach
Materials 2024, 17(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030536
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/536

3. “Hydrothermal Corrosion of Latest Generation of FeCrAl Alloys for Nuclear Fuel Cladding”
by Bhavani Sasank Nagothi, Haozheng Qu, Wanming Zhang, Rajnikant V. Umretiya, Evan Dolley and Raul B. Rebak
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071633
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/7/1633

4. “Corrosion Behavior of As-Cast and Heat-Treated Al–Co Alloys in 3.5 wt% NaCl”
by Athanasios K. Sfikas, Angeliki G. Lekatou, Sevasti Emmanouilidou and Kyriaki Tsirka
Materials 2024, 17(3), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030655
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/655

5. “The Microstructural Evolution and Corrosion Behavior of Zn-Mg Alloys and Hybrids Processed Using High-Pressure Torsion”
by Ayoub Tanji, Hendra Hermawan and Carl J. Boehlert
Materials 2024, 17(1), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010270
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/1/270

6. “Corrosion of an Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V Alloy in Saline and Acidic Media”
by Hugo Mora-Sanchez, Miguel Collado-Vian, Marta Mohedano, Raúl Arrabal and Endzhe Matykina
Materials 2024, 17(3), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030712
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/712

7. “Effect of Temperature on Passive Film Characteristics of LPBF (Laser Powder-Bed Fusion) Processing on UNS-S31603”
by Reece Goldsberry, Deeparekha Narayanan, Raymundo Case, Bilal Mansoor and Homero Castaneda
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143420
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/14/3420

8. “Corrosion of Stainless Steel in Simulated Nuclear Reactor Primary Coolant—Experiments and Modeling”
by Martin Bojinov, Iva Betova, Vasil Karastoyanov and Georgi Avdeev
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051148
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1148

9. “Structural Parameters and Behavior in Simulated Body Fluid of High Entropy Alloy Thin Films”
by Doina Craciun, Edwin A. Laszlo, Julia C. Mirza-Rosca, Gabriela Dorcioman, Victor Geanta, Ionelia Voiculescu, Gabriel Craciun, Liviu Badea and Valentin Craciun
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051162
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1162

10. “The Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion and Protection of Pipelines: A Detailed Review”
by Xueqing Lv, Can Wang, Jia Liu, Wolfgang Sand, Ini-Ibehe Nabuk Etim, Yimeng Zhang, Ailing Xu,
Jizhou Duan and Ruiyong Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(20), 4996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17204996
Available online:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/20/4996

The “Metals and Alloys” Section in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) aims to provide an international peer-reviewed medium for 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.

As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2024, listed below.

1. “Hydrogen Impact: A Review on Diffusibility, Embrittlement Mechanisms, and Characterization”
by Qidong Li, Hesamedin Ghadiani, Vahid Jalilvand, Tahrim Alam, Zoheir Farhat and Md. Aminul Islam
Materials 2024, 17(4), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040965
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/4/965

2. “Cryogenic Treatment of Martensitic Steels: Microstructural Fundamentals and Implications for Mechanical Properties and Wear and Corrosion Performance”
by Peter Jurči and Ivo Dlouhý
Materials 2024, 17(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030548
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/548

3. “Effect of Secondary Phase on Electroless Ni Plating Behaviour of Super Duplex Stainless Steel SAF2507 for Advanced Li-Ion Battery Case”
by Byung-Hyun Shin, Seongjun Kim, Jinyong Park, Jung-Woo Ok, Doo-In Kim, Dohyung Kim and Jang-Hee Yoon
Materials 2024, 17(6), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061441
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/6/1441

4. “Intercritically Annealed Medium-Manganese Steel: Insights into Microstructural and Microtextural Evolution, Strain Distribution, and Grain Boundary Characteristics”
by Sudipta Mohapatra, Kyeong-Cheol Baek and Min-Suk Oh
Materials 2024, 17(11), 2757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112757
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/11/2757

5. “Microstructure and Erosion Wear of In Situ TiC-Reinforced Co-Cr-W-C (Stellite 6) Laser-Cladded Coatings”
by Jacek Górka, Tomasz Poloczek, Damian Janicki, Aleksandra Lont, Sławomir Topór, Marcin Żuk and Agnieszka Rzeźnikiewicz
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3101; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133101
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/13/3101

6. “Influence of Porosity on Fatigue Behaviour of 18Ni300 Steel SLM CT Specimens at Various Angles”
by Pablo M. Cerezo, Jose A. Aguilera, Antonio Garcia-Gonzalez and Pablo Lopez-Crespo
Materials 2024, 17(2), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17020432
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/2/432

7. “Ultrathin Carbon Textures Produced on Machined Surfaces in an Integrated Finishing Process Using Microabrasive Films”
by Katarzyna Tandecka, Wojciech Kacalak, Michał Wieczorowski, Krzysztof Rokosz, Patrick Chapon and Thomas G. Mathia
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143456
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/14/3456

8. “The Effect of Interlayer Delay on the Heat Accumulation, Microstructures, and Properties in Laser Hot Wire Directed Energy Deposition of Ti-6Al-4V Single-Wall”
by Rajib Halder, Petrus C. Pistorius, Scott Blazanin, Rigved P. Sardey, Maria J. Quintana, Edward A. Pierson, Amit K. Verma, Peter C. Collins and Anthony D. Rollett
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133307
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/13/3307

9. “Shot Peening Effect on Sliding Wear in 0.9% NaCl of Additively Manufactured 17-4PH Steel”
by Mariusz Walczak, Aleksander Świetlicki, Mirosław Szala, Marcin Turek and Dariusz Chocyk
Materials 2024, 17(6), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061383
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/6/1383

10. “Recent Progress in Creep-Resistant Aluminum Alloys for Diesel Engine Applications: A Review”
by Raul Irving Arriaga-Benitez and Mihriban Pekguleryuz
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3076; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133076
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/13/3076

Conference: The First National Conference on Surface and Interface Science of the Chinese Chemical Society
Date: 9–12 May 2025
Location: Chengdu, China

MDPI will attend the First National Conference on Surface and Interface Science of the Chinese Chemical Society as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Chengdu, China, from 9 to 12 May 2025. This conference will comprise 22 sub-forums on topics such as surface interface construction, surface interface characterization, surface interface theory, device surface interfaces, energy surface interfaces, and catalytic surface interfaces. It will also include the “International Forum on Surface Molecules”, the “Forum for Women Scientists on Surface Interfaces”, and the “Ph.D. Forum on Surface Interfaces”. During the conference, the “Workshop on Surface Interface Science” will take place, inviting renowned experts and scholars to give lectures on three cutting-edge topics in surface interface science.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Coatings;
• Colloids and Interfaces;
• Lubricants;
• Molecules;
• Surfaces;
• Applied Nano;
• Construction Materials;
• Materials;
• Sensors.

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 our booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/NCSI1/a6362.html.

Conference: The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS)
Date: 26–30 May 2025
Location: Strasbourg, France

MDPI will attend the 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Strasbourg, France, from 26 to 30 May 2025.

The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) is organized by the European Materials Research Society and Foundation Jean-Marie Lehn.

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

Topics include the following:

• Materials for photonics and electronics;
• Nanocomposites and hybrid materials;
• Materials for sustainable energy;
• Advanced characterization and computational design;
• Ecological and biomaterials.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Applied Nano;
• C;
• Crystals;
• CMD;
• Coatings;
• Construction Materials;
• Fibers;
• Molecules;
• Nanomanufacturing;
• Symmetry.

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 #28 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2025-spring-meeting.

The 2025 National Youth Tribology Academic Conference of China will be held from 25 to 28 April 2025 in Foshan, China. The conference is being organized by Chinese Tribology Institution and co-hosted by Ji Hua Laboratory, Guangdong University of Technology, Foshan University and the State Key Laboratory of High-end Heavy-load Robots.

This conference will explore the application of cutting-edge tribology technology through the keynote report, invitation report, oral report, and exhibition form and strengthen the in-depth exchange and cooperation of young tribology scholars across the country. Academicians, scholars, and industry experts are welcome to attend the conference.

Topics:

• Friction and Wear for Materials;
• Lubrication and Tribo-chemistry;
• Coating and Surface/Interface Tribology;
• Micro- and Nano-tribology and Surface and Interface Tribology;
• Bio-tribology and Lubrication;
• Industrial Tribology;
• Marine Tribology and Tribology Design;
• Friction Nanogenerators and Smart Sensors;
• Greater Bay Area Tribology Forum.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Lubricants;
• Surfaces;
• Machines;
• Materials;
• JMMP.

If you plan to attend this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please click the following link: https://meeting.cmes.org/?bust=1741337036324&sid=1305&mid=326&v=100#!c/show/a/index/.

The Outstanding Reviewer Award is given annually to recognize those who generously contribute their time to reviewing papers while displaying thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness.

We are thrilled to announce the following interview with one of the winners of the Materials 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Dr. Srećko Stopić. In the field of academic publishing, reviewers play a pivotal role as the “gatekeepers” of scholarly quality. They meticulously examine each submitted academic paper with their expertise and rigorous approach, ensuring that its value and research quality meet the highest standards.

The following is a short interview with Dr. Srećko Stopić:

1. Could you give a brief introduction of yourself to our readers? What’s your current research area?
I was born on 3 April 1965, in Užice, Serbia, and received my doctorate in 1997 at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy in Belgrade. I received the Humboldt Scholarship in Bonn in 2001, and since then I have been working at the Institute for Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany, as a leader of various research projects and teaching in the subject of the unit operations in non-ferrous metallurgy. My current research areas are process metallurgy, metallurgy of rare-earth elements, recycling, and nanotechnology.

2. What factors make you want to be a reviewer for Materials?
I am a reviewer for various projects and doctoral dissertations, and I am particularly motivated to do reviews for Materials and other MDPI journals.

3. What are your tips on how to prepare a qualified review report?
Each report should have an analysis of the text and experiments, as well as provide conclusions and suggestions that contribute to the improvement of the text and the performed investigation.

4. Based on your extensive reviewing experience, what common problems do authors face?
The biggest problem is fitting all the results into one report and explaining the influence of various parameters, as well as detailing what is innovative about the process.

5. Materials is an open access journal. Is the peer-review process of Materials different from that of subscription journals?
The work at Materials is driven by the teamwork of extremely motivated collaborators, who are very efficient, which is a big difference compared to other magazines.

6. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
The synthesis of new materials and the use of hydrogen in various processes with the most modern methods of material characterization will increasingly be the subject of new research in the coming years.

7. Has being a reviewer affected your preparation for a recent manuscript?
Being a Materials reviewer has a big impact on the preparation of all my papers. There is an inextricable connection between my role as reviewer, author, and Guest Editor of Special Issues at Materials. In each of my roles, I try to give my best and meet the strict requirements of this exceptional magazine. The award that was given to me is additional motivation to contribute to the success of this magazine, to further progress, and to be at the forefront of the MDPI magazine.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!

The Outstanding Reviewer Award is presented annually to recognize individuals who generously dedicate their time to reviewing papers while demonstrating thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness.

We are thrilled to share the following interview with one of the winners of the Materials 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Dr. Przemysław Podulka. In the field of academic publishing, reviewers play a pivotal role as the “gatekeepers” of scholarly quality. Through their expertise and rigorous approach, they meticulously examine each submitted academic paper, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of research and academic quality.

Below is a short interview with Dr. Przemysław Podulka:

1. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? What is your current research area?
My area of expertise is surface metrology, considering the accuracy of surface topography measurements, including studies of roughness, which is a crucial key to improving the machined material properties. The researcher provided an analysis of the functional performances of the surface and indicated a strong relation to its topography. Currently, many surface measuring instruments are fast but burdened with errors caused while measurement occurs, which must be evaluated in detail and supported by many sophisticated studies by the researcher. The correlation of many functional properties of the surface was established by him in detail using a comprehensive analysis of accuracy in topography measurement data collection.

2. What factors motivate you to be a reviewer for Materials?
Reviewing is also a possibility to find the most recent studies around the topic of the reviewer's expertise. Since there are many papers published around each specific area of study, complete reading of all of them is difficult. Therefore, often reviewing manuscripts allows for recognizing submissions from beginning to end.

3. What are your tips on how to prepare a qualified review report?
Each submission must be treated separately considering the specific area of study. However, there are some key requirements from each of the submissions, which are verified when reviewing. Further, from my perspective, I also request for the manuscript to be readable and understandable for both regular and expert readers. Therefore, the scientific paper must be familiar to casual or more sophisticated readers.

4. Based on your rich reviewing experience, could you please share the common problems that authors face?
Usually, the authors do not properly motivate their research work. In practice, each of the proposals must be supported by a lack in the current state of knowledge. This dearth must be defined by a critical review of the literature and previous solutions.

5. Materials is an open access journal. Is its peer review process different from that of subscription journals?
Compared to other publishing platforms, some differences can be drawn. Some differences are also required from the publishers themselves. However, the review itself is similar, the number of comments depends directly on the quality of the manuscript submitted. Usually, a journal with Impact Factors (IF) requires detailed feedback and must receive a proper response to evaluate the manuscript suitably and rate the paper according to its quality. Even if the decision is on the editor's side, the reviewer is responsible for an accurate assessment of the manuscript's peer review.

6. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Except for the general digitalization which is currently designated, Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, including some machine learning, and automation applications, can be in one of the greatest future potentials.

7. Has being a reviewer affected how you prepare your manuscripts?
Being a reviewer is crucial in increasing the experience for each of the researchers. When reading many papers word by word it is easier to understand the quality required from each of the journals. Each review is also teaching from a scientific point of view. Defining some doubts about the proposals presented can be also stimulating for discussing the current solutions of the underlying mechanisms in smaller dimensions.

The Outstanding Reviewer Award is presented annually to recognize individuals who generously dedicate their time to reviewing papers while demonstrating thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness.

We are thrilled to share the following interview with one of the winners of the Materials 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Dr. Athanasios Sfikas. In the field of academic publishing, reviewers play a pivotal role as the “gatekeepers” of scholarly quality. Through their expertise and rigorous approach, they meticulously examine each submitted academic paper, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of research and academic quality.

Below is a short interview with Dr. Athanasios Sfikas:

1. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? What is your current research area?
My name is Athanasios Sfikas, and I am a materials engineer specializing in metallurgy. My Ph.D. project focused on developing and studying the microstructure and properties of novel Al-Co alloys. During my postdoctoral research, I shifted my focus to the promising field of high entropy alloys. Currently, I work in industry but remain actively involved in research, writing, and reviewing papers in my free time. My focus is on aluminum alloys, metal matrix composites, high entropy alloys, and materials degradation.

2. What factors motivate you to be a reviewer for Materials?
Materials is a well-established journal in the field of materials science. I enjoy reviewing papers submitted to Materials because it gives me the opportunity to assess high-quality works. The journal features a wide variety of papers, covering both novel, promising materials and well-established ones.

3. Based on your rich reviewing experience, could you please share the common problems that authors face?
Many authors struggle to clearly and consistently explain the novelty of their work. Common issues include a brief experimental procedure section lacking a step-by-step analysis of materials fabrication and characterization. The results section should provide a deep analysis of the figures, formulation of mechanisms, and comparison to existing literature. Unfortunately, in several works, results consist of only brief comments on the figures without further analysis. Several research works also suffer from poor-quality figures and low-quality microscopy images.

4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
The research community in the field of metallic materials will continue to focus on high-entropy alloys, additive manufacturing, and the continuous improvement of well-established alloys. Novel materials characterization and testing techniques will enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms at smaller dimensions.

The Outstanding Reviewer Award is presented annually to recognize individuals who generously dedicate their time to reviewing papers while demonstrating thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness.

We are thrilled to share the following interview with one of the winners of the Materials 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Prof. Dr. Radosław Jasiński. In the field of academic publishing, reviewers play a pivotal role as the “gatekeepers” of scholarly quality. Through their expertise and rigorous approach, they meticulously examine each submitted academic paper, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of research and academic quality.

Below is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Radosław Jasiński:

1. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? What is your current research area?
I am a researcher (Full Professor) at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, Head of the Laboratory of Civil Engineering Faculty. I am a graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, specializing in bridges. My scientific interests include masonry structures, reinforced concrete structures, diagnosis of structures (NDT, MDT), and numerical modeling of structures. I publish in journals of various publishers (MDPI, Elsevier, Polish Academy of Science). I have published over 350 publications, handbooks (17), patents (2), papers in technical journals, and at national and international conferences. At the same time, I have reviewed work in the fields of civil engineering and materials engineering in various journals (MDPI, Elsevier, Hindavi, ASCEE) for almost 50 journals (>400 reviews since 2018). In line with my area of interest, I am currently conducting experimental and theoretical research on masonry stiffening walls, with particular emphasis on the redistribution of internal forces. I am analyzing the cooperation of stiffening walls through connections of walls of different structures. I am also conducting research on the broadly understood safety of lintels made of AAC in terms of deflections and support on the wall. Recently, I have also dealt with the issue of fiber concrete resistant to dynamic impacts with kevlar fibers.

2. What factors motivate you to be a reviewer for Materials?
The Materials journal has a recognized reputation among scientists, not only in Poland. Reviewing papers greatly broadens the horizon in terms of research areas and current trends. The best papers published in Materials can, in addition to purely scientific knowledge, also benefit from the workshops of other scientists from renowned scientific centers in the world.

3. What are your tips for preparing a high-quality review report?
Of course, when reviewing each paper, I am guided by the main achievements of the paper and the contribution to the development of a specific discipline: civil engineering, and materials engineering. I try to follow the publisher’s guidelines regarding the principles of conducting reviews, but in addition, I pay attention to the way the publication is prepared. I pay attention to the details in the research program, the description of the research, and the analysis. Wherever possible I provide instructions to the authors. I do not leave my comments without comment. Rather, I try to help the authors improve the manuscript so that it meets all the conditions of scientific work.

4. Based on your rich reviewing experience, could you please share the common problems that authors face?
As I mentioned earlier, most often the authors focus their attention on the research and analyses performed. Often, after analyzing the state of knowledge, the aim and scope of the work, the contribution of the research to the development of the discipline, and the most important achievements are lost. The part describing the research often contains a fairly detailed description instead of more readable tables or block diagrams. When researching structures, static diagrams of research stands and procedures for loading the structure are often ignored. The sections devoted to FEM modeling are not complete. The authors omit descriptions of material models, initial-boundary conditions, and load sequences in nonlinear models. They focus their attention on the results in the form of maps or graphs. I think that the authors should focus their attention on better formulation of conclusions in the summaries of the publication. The summaries are often too laconic and do not present the entire content of the publication and the directions of further work.

5. Materials is an open access journal. Is the peer review process of Materials different from that of subscription journals?
In this respect, the Materials journal does not differ significantly from other journals of renowned publishers. The time allocated for a review is much shorter than in other publishers, but I consider this to be very positive. A significant disadvantage that I would like to draw attention to is the shortening of the review time. Such situations occur when the editor already has two reviews and occasionally the invitation to perform the review is withdrawn. This may discourage potential reviewers.

6. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
I think I will not be original, but potentially the most interesting topics will concern the use of artificial intelligence and broadly understood decarbonization in the production of binders (geopolymers) and aggregates (recycled aggregates) and the use of materials for reuse. It cannot be ruled out that artificial intelligence tools will be used more often in research, especially in the analysis of “big data” of studies, image analysis, and validation of theoretical models. Topics related to construction safety and the introduction of new technological solutions will constantly appear.

7. Has being a reviewer affected how you prepare your manuscripts?
Undoubtedly yes. As I mentioned earlier, reviews help to broaden research horizons, especially in current trends, and facilitate the query of current literature. We are not able to absorb all publications on a given topic, but reviewing works allows us to separate important information from irrelevant and focus on current problems.

MDPI will be attending the 2025 International Conference on Electronics Packaging and iMAPs All Asia Conference (ICEP-IAAC 2025) in Nagano, Japan, which will take place from 15 to 19 April 2025. ICEP is Japan’s largest international conference on electronic packaging, attracting more than 360 attendees and hosting roughly 35 technical sessions. The conference comprises technical sessions covering a wide range of topics including advanced packaging, design, modeling and reliability, emerging technologies, high-speed, wireless components, interconnections, materials and processes, optoelectronics, power electronics integration, and thermal management. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Electronics;
• Applied Sciences;
• Chips;
• Hardware;
• Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Analyses;
• Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications;
• Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks;
• Materials;
• Micromachines;
• Technologies. 

If you are planning to attend the above 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 this conference, please visit the following website: https://www.jiep.or.jp/icep/.