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Theory and Modeling of Nanostructured Materials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Theory and Simulation of Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2026) | Viewed by 1247

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Technische Fakultät, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
2. Diamond Light Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
Interests: nanomaterials; diffraction; scattering; atomistic simulations; disorder; layered materials; catalysis; environmental remediation science

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Interests: nanomaterials; clay and clay minerals; crystallography; geology; planetary science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced theoretical and modelling approaches have proven essential for the detailed and systematic investigation of the chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials, as well as for understanding their formation kinetics and the environmental factors influencing their crystallization. Theoretical methods provide fundamental insights into the governing principles and mechanisms at play. Modelling approaches, on the other hand, enable the simulation and prediction of material behavior under various conditions. As computational capabilities continue to advance and increasingly align with experimental observations, modelling has become a cornerstone in guiding synthesis strategies, optimising material performance for real-world applications, and exploring extreme conditions affecting their formation. Theoretical studies have become indispensable for navigating the vast design space enabled by emerging chemical synthesis techniques and for uncovering the fundamental mechanisms that govern macroscopic properties. A wide range of theoretical and modelling approaches—from ab initio to continuum-solid models—are employed to explore the nanoscale domain. In parallel, novel theoretical frameworks and AI-driven methodologies are continually expanding the scope and precision of materials prediction.

This Special Issue will showcase the latest research on the theoretical modelling and simulation of low-dimensional systems, including quantum dots, single crystals, multicomponent or polycrystalline and layered nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanorods. We welcome contributions on predictive modelling, theory-driven design, and multiscale simulations addressing the mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties of nanostructured materials, as well as studies of their dynamic processes, including nucleation, growth, and phase transformations. We particularly encourage submissions focused on complex nanostructures, including clay minerals, hard-carbon, core@shell, high-entropy alloy, and polycrystalline nanomaterials. We invite researchers to contribute original studies that advance the theoretical understanding and predictive capabilities in the field of nanomaterials.

Dr. Alberto Leonardi
Prof. Dr. David Bish
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanostructured materials
  • nanocrystals
  • layered materials
  • nanotubes
  • quantum dots
  • Finite-Element Modelling (FEM)
  • Monte Carlo (MC)
  • Molecular Dynamics (MD) & Molecular Mechanics (MM)
  • Ab-initio & Density Functional Theory (DFT)

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2235 KB  
Article
A Coupled Refined Model of Atomistic and Continuum Parameters of Diatomic Covalent Bonds
by Oleksandr Hondliakh, Sergiy Antonyuk, Marc Weirich and Simon Paas
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(6), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16060347 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 465
Abstract
This study addresses the challenge of consistently transferring atomistic parameters of the C–C bond into phenomenological material characteristics within the framework of continuum mechanics. Particular attention is given to determining the effective transverse diameter of the covalent C–C bond in carbon nanostructures. The [...] Read more.
This study addresses the challenge of consistently transferring atomistic parameters of the C–C bond into phenomenological material characteristics within the framework of continuum mechanics. Particular attention is given to determining the effective transverse diameter of the covalent C–C bond in carbon nanostructures. The dependence of this diameter on Poisson’s ratio ν is examined, and the influence of the interatomic stiffness constants kr,kθandkτ is systematically analyzed. Classical representative-volume models of the C–C bond based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam hypothesis violate thermodynamic stability conditions and lead to nonphysical Poisson’s ratio values exceeding 0.5, due to the neglect of shear deformation effects. To overcome this limitation, an approach based on Timoshenko beam theory is proposed, accounting for both bending and shear deformations. This approach enables estimation of energetically equivalent states between the phenomenological representative volume and the corresponding atomistic C–C bond model. As a result, a sixth-order algebraic equation is derived linking the effective bond diameter, the Poisson’s ratio, and the molecular mechanics force constants. Analysis of this equation reveals a narrow range of effective bond diameters and Poisson’s ratios for which thermodynamic stability conditions are satisfied. Within this range, physically consistent macroscopic material parameters can be directly expressed in terms of atomistic force constants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Modeling of Nanostructured Materials)
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11 pages, 1995 KB  
Article
Design of Lattice-Matched InAs1−xSbx/Al1−yInySb Type-I Quantum Wells with Tunable Near-To Mid-Infrared Emission (2–5 μm): A Strain-Optimized Approach for Optoelectronic Applications
by Gerardo Villa-Martínez and Julio Gregorio Mendoza-Álvarez
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020147 - 22 Jan 2026
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Abstract
We propose a strain-optimized design strategy for lattice-matched InAs1−xSbx/Al1−yInySb Type-I quantum wells (QWs) that emit across the near-to mid-infrared spectrum (2–5 µm). By combining elastic strain energy minimization with band offset calculations, we [...] Read more.
We propose a strain-optimized design strategy for lattice-matched InAs1−xSbx/Al1−yInySb Type-I quantum wells (QWs) that emit across the near-to mid-infrared spectrum (2–5 µm). By combining elastic strain energy minimization with band offset calculations, we identify Type-I alignment for Sb contents (x ≤ 0.40) and In contents (0.10 < y ≤ 1). At the same time, Type-II dominates at higher Sb compositions (x ≥ 0.50). Using the transfer matrix method under the effective mass approximation, we demonstrate precise emission tuning via QW thickness (LW) and compositional control, achieving a wavelength coverage of 2–5 µm with <5% strain-induced energy deviation. Our results provide a roadmap for high-efficiency infrared optoelectronic devices, addressing applications in sensing and communications technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Modeling of Nanostructured Materials)
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