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Processes
Special Issues
Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials
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Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 1782

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Apoorva Chaturvedi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: design and synthesis of novel low-dimensional functional materials; microwave plasma synthesis; fabrication of different morphologies of diamonds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled "Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials", will highlight cutting-edge research focused on the development and characterization of novel functional materials with diverse applications. We invite submissions that address innovative synthetic routes, preparation techniques, and comprehensive analyses of chemical properties that enhance material functionality. Manuscripts exploring structure–property relationships, mechanistic insights, and performance optimization strategies are particularly welcome. 

Priority will be given to original research that demonstrates significant advances in materials design principles and/or sustainable synthesis methods or reveals new chemical phenomena governing material behavior. Studies investigating multi-functional materials, stimuli-responsive systems, and materials with potential industrial relevance will be particularly encouraged. Papers should clearly articulate both fundamental the scientific contributions and practical implications of the developed materials.

We seek rigorous experimental studies complemented by appropriate theoretical foundations, with a preference for submissions that bridge traditionally separate disciplines in materials science, chemistry, and related fields.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Dr. Apoorva Chaturvedi
Guest Editor

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. Processes 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

  • functional materials
  • synthetic routes
  • structure–property relationships
  • multi-functional materials
  • stimuli-responsive systems

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3921 KB  
Article
A Modified Approach for the Synthesis of Magnesium- and Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Carbon Capture: Probing the Physicochemical Properties
by Glory Ngwanamagokong Makuwa and Major Melusi Mabuza
Processes 2026, 14(6), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14060967 - 18 Mar 2026
Abstract
The urgent need to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel-based electricity generation has driven research into advanced materials for post-combustion carbon capture. This paper presents a modified solvothermal technique to synthesize zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) based MOF-74 suitable for [...] Read more.
The urgent need to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel-based electricity generation has driven research into advanced materials for post-combustion carbon capture. This paper presents a modified solvothermal technique to synthesize zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) based MOF-74 suitable for CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants. The materials were synthesized through a solvothermal method using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the primary solvent, and subsequently characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Both MOFs contained oxygen-containing functional groups and were thermally stable up to 430 °C and 600 °C respectively, making them ideal for carbon capture. The low-pressure N2-BET surface areas were 55 m2/g and 24.73 m2/g. In conclusion, the Zn material had a mesoporous structure, making it more favorable for carbon capture. It was found that prolonged synthesis time weakened the MOF structure. Future work should experimentally evaluate CO2 capture from coal-derived flue gas using Zn/Mg-MOF-74 materials, investigating adsorption behavior and kinetics through isotherm and kinetic models, while also assessing the effect of varying Zn: Mg ratios under optimized synthesis conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials)
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13 pages, 4926 KB  
Article
Novel Ultrafast Synthesis of Perovskites via Commercial Laser Engraving
by Pedro Piza-Ruiz, Griselda Mendoza-Gómez, Maria Luisa Camacho-Rios, Guillermo Manuel Herrera-Perez, Luis Carlos Rodriguez Pacheco, Kevin Isaac Contreras-Vargas, Daniel Lardizábal-Gutiérrez, Antonio Ramírez-DelaCruz and Caleb Carreno-Gallardo
Processes 2026, 14(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14020327 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 370
Abstract
We present a rapid, energy-efficient, and ecofriendly route for the synthesis of alkaline earth titanate perovskites—CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3—using an affordable, commercially available CO2 laser engraver, commonly found in makerspaces and small-scale workshops. The method involves [...] Read more.
We present a rapid, energy-efficient, and ecofriendly route for the synthesis of alkaline earth titanate perovskites—CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3—using an affordable, commercially available CO2 laser engraver, commonly found in makerspaces and small-scale workshops. The method involves direct laser irradiation of compacted pellets composed of low-cost, abundant, and non-toxic precursors: TiO2 and alkaline earth carbonates (CaCO3, SrCO3, BaCO3). CaTiO3 and BaTiO3 were synthesized with phase purities exceeding 97%, eliminating the need for conventional high-temperature furnaces or prolonged thermal treatments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of orthorhombic CaTiO3 (Pbnm), cubic SrTiO3 (Pm3−m), and tetragonal BaTiO3 (P4mm). Raman spectroscopy independently corroborated the perovskite structures, revealing vibrational fingerprints consistent with the expected crystal symmetries and Ti–O bonding environments. All samples contained only small amounts of unreacted anatase TiO2, while BaTiO3 exhibited a partially amorphous fraction, attributed to the sluggish crystallization kinetics of the Ba–Ti system and the rapid quenching inherent to laser processing. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed nanoparticles with average sizes of 50–150 nm, indicative of localized melting followed by ultrafast solidification. This solvent-free, low-energy, and highly accessible approach, enabled by widely available desktop laser systems, demonstrates exceptional simplicity, scalability, and sustainability. It offers a compelling alternative to conventional ceramic processing, with broad potential for the fabrication of functional oxides in applications ranging from electronics to photocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials)
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15 pages, 921 KB  
Article
Structural, Thermophysical, and Magnetic Properties of the γ′-Fe4N System: Density Functional Theory and Experimental Study
by Guillermo A. Muñoz Medina, Azucena M. Mudarra Navarro, Crispulo E. Deluque Toro and Arles V. Gil Rebaza
Processes 2025, 13(8), 2402; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13082402 - 28 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 856
Abstract
The γ′-Fe4N system has a high technological relevance due to its multiple applications in the field of surface treatment against wear and corrosion of iron in steel parts, as well as in the manufacturing of high-density magnetic recording devices, [...] Read more.
The γ′-Fe4N system has a high technological relevance due to its multiple applications in the field of surface treatment against wear and corrosion of iron in steel parts, as well as in the manufacturing of high-density magnetic recording devices, and so on. In the present work, we present a wide research of the structural, elastic, magnetic, vibrational, and thermophysical properties by means of the phonon analysis. For these purposes, we have compared theoretical and experimental results. The theoretical data were obtained by employing ab initio electronic structure calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT), and different experimental measurements, such as X-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements, and calorimetric techniques, were used to characterize the γ′-Fe4N system. The resulting comparison showed an excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental data reported. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation, Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Functional Materials)
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