We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2024. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have delivered consistently exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) recognizes the significant role that our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles that we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2023, 91% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Nanomaterials’ peer review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2024. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Q1

• Name: Dr. Luis Cunha
  Affiliation: Physics Center of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
  Interests: thin films; coatings; sputtering; pvd; metal oxynitrides; decorative; materials physics
• Name: Dr. Tibor Sopcak
  Affiliation: Division of Functional and Hybrid Systems, Institute of Materials Research of SAS, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
  Interests: electrospinning; microstructure; calcium phosphate cement; bioceramic coating; bone cements; calcium phosphate dibasic
• Name: Dr. Elżbieta Grza̧dka
  Affiliation: Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3 Sq., 20-031 Lublin, Poland
  Interests: macromolecules; polysaccharides; adsorption; colloidal stability; polymer–surfactant interactions; clay minerals; nano-oxides; suspensions; electric double layer; radioecology

Q2

• Name: Dr. Héctor Mario Poggi-Varaldo
  Affiliation: Environmental Biotechnology and Renewable Energies R&D Group, Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, P.O. Box 14-740, Mexico
  Interests: biorefineries of organic waste; bioenergies; biofuels; soil remediation; pollution control; abatement in the cattle sector; new metrics for determining environmental sustainability
• Name: Prof. Dr. Arkadiusz Moskal
  Affiliation: Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
  Interests: aerosol mechanics; aerosol filtration; transport and deposition of aerosol particles in the human breathing system; drug delivery using inhalations
• Name: Dr. Marta Lafuente
  Affiliation: Universidad de Zaragoza (UNIZAR), Campus San Francisco, 50014 Zaragoza, Spain
  Interests: SERS; gas sensing; nerve agents; ppm detection; plasmonics

Q3

• Name: Dr. Nicolas Boulanger
  Affiliation: Department of Physics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
  Interests: thin films; graphite oxide; supercapacitors; water treatment
• Name: Dr. Matthias Schreck
  Affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
  Interests: aerosol mechanics; aerosol filtration; transport and deposition of aerosol particles in the human breathing system; drug delivery using inhalations
• Name: Dr. Toshinori Shimanouchi
  Affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry and Materials, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
  Interests: separation science; surface science; subcritical water; biosensor; liposome; vesicle; amyloid; chemical process design

Five new journals covering a diverse range of subjects launched their inaugural issue in September 2024. Like other journals in MDPI’s portfolio, these journals are dedicated to sharing the latest research through open access, reflecting our commitment to making knowledge accessible to all.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board Members for their dedication to the launch and development of our new journals. Each journal will ensure its high-quality output via excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes so that the published articles achieve significant impact and broad visibility.

We invite you to explore and learn more about these new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Nejat Düzgüneş, University of the Pacific, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	biological therapy and stem-cell therapy; drug therapy; chemotherapy; radiation and other nonsurgical therapeutic strategies | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Magda Tsolaki, Greek Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease, Greece; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	ice as a mineral; atmospheric ice; sea ice; freshwater ice; ice sheets; ice caps and ice shelves | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Francisco Epelde, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Spain; University Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	hospital management; hospital facilities; hospital services; hospital risk management; health law | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Nicola Ferri, University of Padova, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	lipids in cells and whole organisms; lipid structure and function; lipid products and processes; dietary lipids and nutrition | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

As a leader in open access publishing, MDPI is eager to explore new collaboration opportunities, including the launch of new journals and the transfer of existing ones. At present, MDPI publishes over 400 journals, more than 160 of which have established partnerships with academic organizations. Additionally, we publish 19 association journals.

In order to enhance exchange and cooperation with scientific researchers and share the results of open science, MDPI invites experts and scholars from various fields to submit proposals for new journal collaboration opportunities. If your proposal is approved, you could take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, or Editorial Board Member of the journal. This position allows you to manage the manuscript review process alongside our editorial department, participate in calls for papers, strengthen your network with scholars in the field, expand scientific research cooperation, enhance your personal and academic influence internationally, and play a leading role in academia.

Once the new journal is online, MDPI will provide a variety of promotional channels to market the journal internationally.

MDPI will offer various promotional channels to enhance its visibility and promote it internationally.

How can you determine the theme of a new journal?

• Assess research hotspots/academic frontiers;
• Assess pioneers in the field/key research directions of universities;
• Determine whether MDPI has already established a journal in the field.

You can browse MDPI’s existing journals at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

Advantages of collaborating with MDPI:

• MDPI is a global leader in open-access publishing with extensive academic resources.
• MDPI offers a professional publishing team that provides comprehensive support throughout the publishing process.
• MDPI’s diverse promotional platforms and channels help journals quickly increase their international visibility and influence.

We invite you to submit new journal proposal here, and contribute to academic development! In addition, if your institution (university, institute, college, national key laboratory, society, etc.) intends to establish a journal, you can also submit a draft to MDPI on its behalf.

MDPI journals frequently grant travel awards to empower junior researchers to showcase their latest research at academic conferences, thereby amplifying their impact within their research fields.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 103 recipients of MDPI's 2023 Travel Awards from different countries and territories for their exceptional presentations. These outstanding individuals were selected by the journal editors based on the strength of their research proposals and the anticipated impact of their presentations at academic conferences. We commend their exceptional contributions and wish them continued success in their academic endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about the list of awardees, please visit the following pages:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Public Health and Healthcare;
• Others.

About MDPI Awards:

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 explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are granted to promising young scholars whose PhD theses are deemed exceptional within their respective research fields. These awards aim to encourage young scholars to continue their outstanding accomplishments and further contribute to their field.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

About MDPI Awards:

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 explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

In order to further enhance the international influence of the Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Nanomaterials is inviting interested and eligible early career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases;
Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Chemistry, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Chemical Engineering);
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 13.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024);
Impact Factor: 4.4 (2023);
Citecore: 8.5 (2023).

A total of 100 Early Career Editorial Board Members will be recruited. Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application Eligibility:

• Completion of a doctorate/Ph.D. degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Evidence of significant research achievements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology;
• Willingness to dedicate time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Researchers who are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experience with presenting at academic conferences or involvement in professional organizations).

The benefits of becoming an Early Career Editorial Board Member include the following:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member is provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized on journal media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal regularly acknowledges those who participate in the peer-review process on the journal website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Providing input on any new journal development initiatives;
• Inviting submissions from local and overseas world-leading scientists in their respective research fields.

Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to [email protected] with the subject line reading “Nanomaterials Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institution + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 31 December 2024.

Selection Process and Announcement:
The selection process will include an initial screening of application materials→selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members→email notification→issuing a certificate of appointment.

The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline and the results will be announced on the journal website.

Nanomaterials Editorial Office

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Inger Odnevall’s paper “Reactive Oxygen Species Formed by Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Physiological Media—A Review of Reactions of Importance to Nanotoxicity and Proposal for Categorization” has been chosen as one of six articles of exceptional quality published in the journal Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) in 2022 and has won the Nanomaterials 2024 Best Paper Award. As the award winner, Prof. Dr. Odnevall will receive CHF 300, a certificate, and a voucher granting a full waiver on the article processing charge (valid for one year).

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Inger Odnevall:

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
   I am a professor of corrosion science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Karolinska Institutet via AIMES, the Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences. For more than 30 years, I have been performing highly interdisciplinary research related to studies on the interaction between metallic surfaces and chemical conditions of relevance for both the environment and human health. My research is conducted in close collaboration with national and international industry and industrial organizations, stakeholders, government entities, and academic partners.
2. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of your winning paper?
   The ultimate aim of the review paper is to provide an extensive overview of the prevailing mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation related to the presence of metal and metal oxide NPs in biological settings and how to identify and elucidate connections and interrelations between different mechanisms and types of ROS species.
3. What does your current research cover and why did you choose this research field?
   Research is, for example, ongoing to provide a mechanistic understanding of surface processes and characteristics of metallic materials used as high-touch surfaces, food contact materials, and biomaterials in contact with various biomolecules and bacteria. We are active in this research field since it is highly interdisciplinary and intriguing, and significant gaps in knowledge remain.
4. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Nanomaterials?
   Their publications reach a broad audience with content relevant to interdisciplinary research activities in the field of nanomaterials.
5. How was your experience submitting to Nanomaterials
   The submission process to Nanomaterials was straightforward, with communication and feedback being prompt and efficient.
6. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?
   Strong teamwork, a positive attitude, and open communication create a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels included and contributes to shared goals.
7. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts authors?
   Open access enables researchers to share scientific findings with a wider audience, thereby increasing visibility, opportunities for new collaborations and networking, and the potential for higher citation rates.
8. As the winner of this award, is there anything you want to express or anyone you wish to thank the most?
   I am deeply grateful for this award and would like to sincerely thank my co-authors for their significant contributions to the review paper: Dr. Amanda Kessler, Dr. Jonas Hedberg, and Assoc. Prof. Eva Blomberg.

More information about journal awards can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/awards.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Changzhou Yuan’s paper “Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis of N-Doped, Multicolor Carbon Dots toward Fluorescent Inks, Fluorescence Sensors, and Logic Gate Operations” has been chosen as one of six articles of exceptional quality published in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) in 2022, and that he has won the Nanomaterials 2024 Best Paper Award. As the award winner, Dr. Yuan will receive CHF 200, a certificate, and a voucher granting a full waiver on the article processing charge for his next article (valid for one year).

The following is an interview with Dr. Changzhou Yuan:

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
   I received a Ph.D. from Nanjing University in aeronautics and astronautics in 2009. Currently, I am a Taishan Scholar at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, and I have been recognized as a highly Cited Researcher (in Materials Science/Cross-Field) by Clarivate Analysis (2016–2020, 2020) and a Most Cited Chinese Researcher (in Materials Science) by Elsevier (2016–2023). My current research focuses on the designed synthesis of micro-/nanomaterials for electrochemical energy-related, electrocatalytic and luminescent applications. I have published about 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, being cited >16,000 times and having an h-index of 71.

2. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of the winning paper?
   In this contribution, we prepare nitrogen-doped (N-doped) multicolored carbon dots (M-CDs) including green, chartreuse, and pink emissive CDs by the ultrasonic treatment of kiwifruit juice with different additive reagents including ethanol, ethylenediamine, and acetone. The as-prepared N-doped CDs exhibit excellent chemical and optical stability. It is these appealing properties and superiorities that make the resulting M-CDs smart platforms for fluorescence inks, as well as sequential fluorescence probes for the determination of Fe³⁺ and PO₄^3-/AA. Furthermore, the fluorescent nano-probes are successfully utilized for the construction of molecular logic gates and imaging Fe³⁺ and PO₄^3-/AA. More significantly, the ultrasonic-assisted synthesis concept introduced here can be extended to other biomasses for advanced heteroatom-doped CDs towards fluorescent inks/sensors, logic gates and beyond.

3. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
   With regard to fluorescent CDs, the simple and scalable synthesis of near-infrared fluorescent CDs and high-speed separation and purification technology for high-purity CDs will be of great interest to the research community in the coming years.

4. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?  
   As is well known to all, laboratory life is sometimes accompanied by boredom, monotony, and failure. Even so, I believe that “Have faith for a better tomorrow” is the key to a happy laboratory. Do not be discouraged, and stay strong. I believe that tomorrow will be better. I believe, “I do”!

5. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts the authors?
   To be frank, I cannot quite remember what is meant when I hear the term “open access”. That said, currently, more and more leading scholarly journals are publishing in an “open access” format. Such an appealing avenue makes accessing the research results of authors more convenient and timely. Peers and readers can download them for free. It widens the influence of the authors’ research results. Open access, I believe, will be a trend all over the world as it benefits not only authors themselves but also the public at large.

6. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?
   It is my great honor to receive such an invaluable award. On this special occasion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the unreserved contributions of all my group members. Every step forward taken by me is due to their selfless effort and devotion.

More information about journal awards can be found by clicking on the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/awards.

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising early career scientists, acknowledge their contributions, and foster collaboration within the scientific community. We are proud to announce the recipients for 2023, who were carefully selected by the journals’ esteemed Award Evaluation Committee.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 79 winners of MDPI’s 2023 Young Investigator Awards for their excellent contributions in their research field. We look forward to seeing these rising stars continue to contribute to the advancement of science.

MDPI will continue to support and recognize the academic community. To explore details about the awardees by field, please visit the individual pages listed below:

Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional contributions and dedication to advancing scientific research.

About MDPI Awards:
To support the academic community, particularly young researchers, and to 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 to elevate the profiles of talented individuals who have made outstanding achievements and are making significant contributions to advancements in their respective fields.

To find out more about MDPI awards, please click here.

We are pleased to announce that nine new scholars have recently been appointed Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for the journal Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991).

Further details about the Editorial Board can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/editors.

We wish our new members every success in both their research and the development of the journal.

Nanomaterials Editorial Office

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Nanomaterials 2024 Best Paper Award. All papers published in 2022 in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) were considered for the award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, citations, and downloads, six winners were selected, as listed below.

Articles:
“Effects of Solvent and Electrospinning Parameters on the Morphology and Piezoelectric Properties of PVDF Nanofibrous Membrane”
by Jia-Yi Yin, Carlo Boaretti, Alessandra Lorenzetti, Alessandro Martucci, Martina Roso and Michele Modesti
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(6), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12060962

“Nanoparticles Surface Chemistry Influence on Protein Corona Composition and Inflammatory Responses”
by Laura E. González-García, Melanie N. MacGregor, Rahul M. Visalakshan, Artur Lazarian, Alex A. Cavallaro, Svenja Morsbach, Agnieszka Mierczynska-Vasilev, Volker Mailänder, Katharina Landfester and Krasimir Vasilev
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(4), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12040682

“Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis of N-Doped, Multicolor Carbon Dots toward Fluorescent Inks, Fluorescence Sensors, and Logic Gate Operations”
by Jiali Xu, Kai Cui, Tianyu Gong, Jinyang Zhang, Zhirou Zhai, Linrui Hou, Fakhr uz Zaman and Changzhou Yuan
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030312

Reviews:
“Nanoplastics and Human Health: Hazard Identification and Biointerface”
by Hanpeng Lai, Xing Liu and Man Qu
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12081298

“Reactive Oxygen Species Formed by Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Physiological Media—A Review of Reactions of Importance to Nanotoxicity and Proposal for Categorization”
by Amanda Kessler, Jonas Hedberg, Eva Blomberg and Inger Odnevall
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(11), 1922; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12111922

“A Comprehensive Review of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C₃N₄)–Metal Oxide-Based Nanocomposites: Potential for Photocatalysis and Sensing”
by Amirhossein Alaghmandfard and Khashayar Ghandi
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(2), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano1202029

The Prize:

• Three research articles and three reviews have been selected;
• The first prize (one research and one review article): CHF 500 each;
• The second prize (one research and one review article): CHF 300 each;
• The third prize (one research and one review article): CHF 200 each;
• A voucher to cover applicable paper article processing fees (valid for one year);
• Each winner will also receive a certificate.

Please join us in congratulating the winners of the Nanomaterials 2024 Best Paper Award. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our authors for their continued support of Nanomaterials.

We are pleased to announce that six new scholars have recently been appointed Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of Section “Nanocomposite Materials” for the journal Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991).

Further details about the Editorial Board can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/editors.

We wish our new members every success in both their research and the development of the journal.

Additionally, Nanomaterials is recruiting prestigious scholars worldwide to join our Editorial Board. To apply for this position, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Nanomaterials Editorial Office with the following two files attached:

• A full academic CV;
• A short cover letter that details your interest in and enthusiasm for the position.

Nanomaterials Editorial Office

1. “Laser-Induced Graphene Microsupercapacitors: Structure, Quality, and Performance”
by Andres Velasco, Yu Kyoung Ryu, Assia Hamada, Alicia de Andrés, Fernando Calle and Javier Martinez
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 788, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050788
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/788

2. “A Green Synthesis Route to Derive Carbon Quantum Dots for Bioimaging Cancer Cells”
by Karthiga Anpalagan, Jimsheena Valiyakath Karakkat, Raz Jelinek, Nila Nandha Kadamannil, Tian Zhang, Ivan Cole, Kulmira Nurgali, Hong Yin and Daniel T. H. Lai
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2103, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142103
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/14/2103

3. “A Review on Montmorillonite-Based Nanoantimicrobials: State of the Art”
by Syed Imdadul Hossain, Ekaterina A. Kukushkina, Margherita Izzi, Maria Chiara Sportelli, Rosaria Anna Picca, Nicoletta Ditaranto and Nicola Cioffi
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 848, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050848
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/848

4. “A Breakthrough in Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment: The Incredible Potential of g-C₃N₄/Titanate Perovskite-Based Nanocomposites”
by Rashmiranjan Patra, Pranjyan Dash, Pradeep Kumar Panda and Po-Chih Yang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(15), 2173, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152173
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/15/2173

5. “Signatures of Electric Field and Layer Separation Effects on the Spin-Valley Physics of MoSe₂/WSe₂ Heterobilayers: From Energy Bands to Dipolar Excitons”
by Paulo E. Faria Junior and Jaroslav Fabian
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1187, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071187
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1187

6. “Seed Priming with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Grafted with Pluronic P85 Preserves the Functional and Structural Characteristics of Pea Plants”
by Sashka Krumova, Asya Petrova, Nia Petrova, Svetozar Stoichev, Daniel Ilkov, Tsonko Tsonev, Petar Petrov, Dimitrina Koleva and Violeta Velikova
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1332, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081332
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1332

7. “Silver Nanoparticle/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanocomposites: One-Step Green Synthesis, Properties, and Applications”
by Jun Natsuki and Toshiaki Natsuki
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081297
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1297

8. “Comparison of Thermal and Laser-Reduced Graphene Oxide Production for Energy Storage Applications”
by M. Belén Gómez-Mancebo, Rodolfo Fernández-Martínez, Andrea Ruiz-Perona, Verónica Rubio, Pablo Bastante, Fernando García-Pérez, Fernando Borlaf, Miguel Sánchez, Assia Hamada, Andrés Velasco et al.
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081391
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1391

9. “Nanomaterial-Based Advanced Oxidation/Reduction Processes for the Degradation of PFAS”
by Inês M. F. Cardoso, Luís Pinto da Silva and Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(10), 1668, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13101668
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/10/1668

1. “Uranium Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Aerogel-Based Adsorbents—A Critical Review”
by Efthalia Georgiou, Grigorios Raptopoulos, Ioannis Anastopoulos, Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis, Michael Arkas, Patrina Paraskevopoulou and Ioannis Pashalidis
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020363
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/2/363

2. “Recent Progress in Piezoelectric-Triboelectric Effects Coupled Nanogenerators”
by Yifei Wang, Xia Cao and Ning Wang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030385
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/385

3. “Recent Advances in Two-Dimensional MXene for Supercapacitor Applications: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives”
by Zambaga Otgonbayar, Sunhye Yang, Ick-Jun Kim and Won-Chun Oh
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050919
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/919

4. “Ball-Mill-Inspired Durable Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Wind Energy Collecting and Speed Monitoring”
by Qinghao Qin, Xia Cao and Ning Wang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050939
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/939

5. “Microwave Synthesis of Visible-Light-Activated g-C3N4/TiO2 Photocatalysts”
by Maria Leonor Matias, Ana S. Reis-Machado, Joana Rodrigues, Tomás Calmeiro, Jonas Deuermeier, Ana Pimentel, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins and Daniela Nunes
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061090
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/6/1090

6. “Nanofluids for Direct-Absorption Solar Collectors—DASCs: A Review on Recent Progress and Future Perspectives”
by Hussein Sayed Moghaieb, Vincenzo Amendola, Sameh Khalil, Supriya Chakrabarti, Paul Maguire and Davide Mariotti
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071232
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1232

7. “Advances in WO3-Based Supercapacitors: State-of-the-Art Research and Future Perspectives”
by Giacometta Mineo, Elena Bruno and Salvo Mirabella
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081418
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1418

8. “DNA-Templated Silver Nanoclusters as Dual-Mode Sensitive Probes for Self-Powered Biosensor Fueled by Glucose”
by Akhilesh Kumar Gupta and Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081299
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/8/1299

9. “Cerium-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution/Reduction Reactions: Progress and Perspectives”
by Huiyi Zhang, Yan Wang, Daqi Song, Liang Wang, Yifan Zhang and Yong Wang
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1921; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131921
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/13/1921

10. “Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries”
by Roberto Colombo, Daniele Versaci, Julia Amici, Federico Bella, Maria Laura Para, Nadia Garino, Marco Laurenti, Silvia Bodoardo and Carlotta Francia
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2149; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142149
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/14/2149

In May, MDPI Romania held three author training sessions – one endorsing an external event and two stand-alone sessions.

The National Session of Scientific Student Communications took place at Technical University Cluj on 17 and 18 May 2024. MDPI Romania sponsored this event and contributed an author training session on the production of research papers and case study analyses. JRS Norbert Kiss gave a presentation called The World of Open Access to explain different open access publishing models and the benefits of open access publishing. His presentation highlighted the impact of open access publishing on scientific progress and innovation.

On 29 May 2024, MDPI Romania hosted an author training session for Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and professors at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In collaboration with Prof. Andreea Arsene, JRS Ioana Paunescu prepared two presentations: The Steps of the Publishing Process and Elaboration of a Peer Review Report. In her first presentation, she delved into MDPI’s history and mission, MDPI’s editorial process, and MDPI journals of various scopes that are accepting submissions. Her second presentation outlined the types of peer review, the contents of a peer review report by an MDPI reviewer, and the responsibilities of an MDPI reviewer.

MDPI Romania also hosted an author training session at the Iasi University of Life Sciences on 29 May 2024. JRSs Laurentiu Preda and Cosmin Artan gave four presentations: Efficient Writing of an ISI-Indexed Scientific Article, Benefits of Publishing in the Open Access Model, Various Methods of Open Access Publishing, and MDPI Guide for the Article Review Process. The first three presentations offered guidance on how to improve academic writing, the fourth focused on how to write peer review reports. A highly interactive discussion followed the presentations, during which the JRSs provided extensive answers to attendees’ questions.

MDPI is grateful for all the attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

In this webinar, esteemed researchers from various research groups will give presentations about work that has led to the publication of important articles, primarily encompassing research that utilizes X-ray absorption spectroscopy in conjunction with other techniques.

Date: 30 July 2024 at 2:00 p.m. CEST | 8:00 a.m. EDT | 8:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 858 6693 2084

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Simone Pollastri, ¹Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Area Science Park, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy; ²Department of Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Dr. Martina Fracchia, ¹University of Pavia, Department of Chemistry, viale Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy; ²INSTM, National Inter-University Consortium for Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy
Dr. Boby Joseph, Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14, Km 163.5 in Area Science Park, Basovizza, 34149, Italy
Dr. Danilo Oliveira de Souza, Institute of Physics, Rio de Janeiro State University: Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900 – Rio de Janeiro – RJ – Brasil

Relevant Special Issue:
“State-of-the-Art Insights into Nanostructures by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy”
Edited by Simone Pollastri
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2024

Relevant Feature Papers:
“Effect of Ag-Decorated BiVO₄ on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: An X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Investigation”
by Ta Thi Thuy Nga, Yu-Cheng Huang, Jeng-Lung Chen, Chi-Liang Chen, Bi-Hsuan Lin, Ping-Hung Yeh, Chao-Hung Du, Jau-Wern Chiou, Way-Faung Pong, K. Thanigai Arul et al.
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3659; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203659

“X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study of Thickness Effects on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Pr_2−δNi_1−xMn_1+xO_6−y Double Perovskite Thin Films”
by Mónica Bernal-Salamanca, Javier Herrero-Martín, Zorica Konstantinović, Lluis Balcells, Alberto Pomar, Benjamín Martínez and Carlos Frontera
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4337; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234337

“Kinetics, Electronic Properties of Filled Carbon Nanotubes Investigated with Spectroscopy for Applications”
by Marianna V. Kharlamova
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010176

For more information, please see the following website: https://sciforum.net/event/Nanomaterials-19.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Di Wei has been appointed Associate Editor of Section “Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices” in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991).

Prof. Dr. Di Wei is a principal researcher at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (BINN). He oversees the Iontronics Laboratory, holding the titles of Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and Senior Member of Wolfson College at Cambridge University. Additionally, he holds the adjunct position at both Cambridge University in the UK and Åbo Akademi University in Finland. He has published over 100 journal papers including Nat. Energy, Nat. Commun., PNAS, Adv. Mater., Energ. Environ Sci., Chem. Soc. Rev., Matter, Device etc., as the first/corresponding author. He has also edited three English books, published by Wiley, Cambridge University Press etc., focusing on nanoengineering for energy and information. The book published by Cambridge University Press was highlighted and reviewed in Science. Recent advancements from his research group have been reported by Cell Press, MIT Technology Review, DeepTech, and the American Physical Society (phys.org) etc. His academic achievements have been recognized by the Brian Conway Prize in Physical Electrochemistry from the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE) and he has received various other prizes from ISE and RSC.

Name: Prof. Dr. Di Wei
Affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: iontronics; triboiontronics; nanoenergy; contact-electro-chemistry; nanosensor
Website: http://iontronics.group/en/

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Di Wei, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area:

1. What motivated you to assume the role of Section Associate Editor for this journal?
My academic background and research experience, which include extensive scholarly work and participation in numerous research projects, have provided a robust foundation and fostered critical thinking, meticulous problem-solving, and effective communication skills. I am committed to collaborating with a diverse array of scholars to drive academic progress and make significant contributions to the academic community. In the digital age, leveraging the internet and social media to actively promote the content of academic journals and establish close connections with readers and researchers is crucial. By fully utilizing modern technological means, we can disseminate academic achievements to a broader audience, thereby enhancing the impact of academic journals. In particular, the importance of nanotechnology in nanoelectronics, nanosensors, and devices cannot be overstated. The journal Nanomaterials has a strong history of advancing these fields, and I am eager to contribute to its mission of fostering innovation and excellence in nanotechnology research.

2. Could you share your vision for the Section and its future direction?
The future of nanoelectronics, nanosensors, and devices lies in transcending the limitations of traditional von Neumann architectures. Nanoconfined iontronics, which involves the precise control of ion flow within nano-confined spaces, promises to revolutionize these fields. This innovative approach offers unprecedented applications in efficient, low-energy sensing and energy provision. By leveraging nano-confinement to manipulate ionic behavior, we can develop new generations of sensors and energy devices that are not only more efficient but also significantly reduce energy consumption. This paradigm shift heralds a new era of technological advancement, driving forward the capabilities and impact of nanoelectronics, nanosensors, and devices.

3. How do you envision the evolution of this research field in the coming years?
Iontronics, once a nascent concept when I established my lab, has now emerged as a burgeoning field of interest. Iontronics, which utilizes ions as carriers, offers a wide array of possibilities and stands at the forefront of future technological advancements. By harnessing ions to transmit signals, this field enables the control of charge flux and the regulation of ion currents in ways analogous to neural systems. This capability allows for signal amplification and operation at high frequencies, opening new avenues for innovation and application in advanced electronics and sensing technologies.

4. What are your thoughts on the progress of open access within the publishing realm?
Open access not only improves researchers' access to literature and promotes academic progress but also enhances the efficiency of scholarly communication, becoming a pivotal form of academic research.

5. What advice or principles would you offer to young scholars aiming to pursue similar research paths with a focus on excellence?
The allure of research lies in its inherent uncertainty, much like life itself. While uncertainty can evoke a sense of the unknown, it simultaneously signifies boundless possibilities. It is often said that one must believe in the power of belief to transform the impossible into the possible; this principle applies equally to scientific research. Looking forward, our efforts may seem scattered, but retrospectively, they form a coherent whole. Life resembles a hidden blind box, and the purpose of living is to find and earnestly unveil it.

6. Your research background spans various institutions and countries. What key moments influenced your decisions in this regard?
From China to Finland, to the UK, and back to China, I have consistently adhered to the principle of “conducting useful research” when confronting career crossroads. My ability to face all uncertainties with composure stems from this unwavering commitment. Although my path has not followed a conventional academic trajectory, it is precisely this divergence that has enabled me to confront the unknown and embrace uncertainty.

7. Having secured more than 50 US patents, many of which have had transformative impacts, what challenges do you foresee in transitioning scientific technologies from the lab to industrial applications?
In my book, National Science and Technology Strategy Engine: New R&D Institutions, published by China Economic Publishing Press, I introduce the concept of the two “valleys of death” between science, technology, and the market. The first “valley of death” is the transition from science to technology; the second is the commercialization of technology into the market. Successfully navigating these “valleys of death” requires exceptional talent with distinct skills at each of the three stages. First, in the initial scientific research phase, we need outstanding scientists—individuals deeply passionate about science and capable of conducting pioneering fundamental research. Second, the transition from science to technology demands excellent engineers, whose design and engineering skills can swiftly amplify technological advancements. Third, the phase from technology to market requires extraordinary tech product managers—distinct from current market product managers—who possess profound insights into industry and technological development and a strong understanding of the essence of commerce, all grounded in their education and experience.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Di Wei as the Associate Editor of Section “Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices” of Nanomaterials, and we wish his every success in his new position.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Silvia Villar-Rodil has been appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “2D and Carbon Nanomaterials” in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991).

Dr. Silvia Villar-Rodil is a scientific researcher at the Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono (INCAR), which belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the largest research institution in Spain. She entered the field of nanomaterials when the research field of two-dimensional (2D) materials emerged after the first isolation of graphene. In fact, the research team she belongs to pioneered experimental work on graphene in her country. Her current research activity focuses on the development of scalable preparation and processing methods for graphene and other 2D materials, investigating their potential in energy storage and environmental applications. Her research includes the optimization of 2D materials performance in application and the exploitation of the basic knowledge generated in parallel.

The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Silvia Villar-Rodil, who shared her vision for the journal with us, as well as her views of the research area:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take on the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?
Nanomaterials is a well-known and respected journal in its field. The fact that the scope of this Section, “2D and Carbon Nanomaterials”, covers my field of research and encompasses the full range of materials I have studied throughout my scientific career makes it very exciting to become its Section Editor-in-Chief. For someone whose research career started in carbon materials science, and who entered fully into the field of two-dimensional materials hand in hand with graphene and then expanded the scope of her research to include other 2D materials, this role offers a great opportunity to witness, share and promote the advances of the field from a privileged position.

2. What is your vision for the Section?
I see this Section as an open platform for the advancement of scientific research in its scope and as a window into the field of research for the whole scientific community. I look forward to the discovery and publication of new methodologies for the preparation and processing of 2D and carbon nanomaterials with optimized performance in relevant applications to address our society’s demands.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
New preparation avenues are expected to open up for an increasing number of 2D materials, including those coming from non-layered 3D precursors. The availability of a large number of 2D materials with different characteristics will open up the possibility of their tailor-made development for each specific application. Their combinations will give way to an even greater number of both 2D and 3D materials with emergent and tunable properties. To this end, new methodologies will have to be developed for the large-scale preparation of both 2D materials-based heterostructures and superlattices. It is also expected that new and better strategies will be developed to address the tendency of 2D nanolayers to restack, an issue that impedes fully exploiting their potential. Not only incremental but also disruptive advancements are expected to arise from the implementation of 2D and carbon nanomaterials application to diverse fields, such as nanomedicine, nanosensing, optoelectronics, catalysis or energy storage, among others. Overcoming difficulties with scalability and cost-effectiveness will be crucial to enable the actual implementation of these materials in application. Given the increasing focus on sustainability in science policy worldwide, more sustainable preparation and processing methodologies for 2D and carbon nanomaterials are expected to become available in the coming years. This trend will also be reflected in the increasing use of 2D and carbon nanomaterials in sustainability-related applications, such as catalysis for pollutant degradation and energy storage in relation to decarbonization. As with any other type of nanomaterial, attention must be paid to potential toxicity and health effects, as well as biocompatibility in medical applications.

We warmly welcome Dr. Silvia Villar-Rodil as the Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “2D and Carbon Nanomaterials”, and we wish her every success in her new position.

Five new journals covering multiple subjects have launched their inaugural issue in June 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Editorial Board Members and each journal will ensure its high-quality output using excellent editorial and rigorous peer review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Marco Ranucci, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	anaesthetic medications; blood and fluid management; pain management; critical care; critical illness | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Giovanni E. Cacciamani, University of Southern California, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr.  Gassan Hodaifa, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	laboratory management; laboratory safety; protective equipment; laboratory problems and challenges; laboratory Innovation | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, Texas A&M University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	companion animals health and disease; veterinary care and nutrition; genetics and genomics; behavior and welfare; human-animal relations | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Pierfrancesco De Paola, University of Naples Federico II, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	real estate appraisal; economic and financial valuation of real estate projects; sustainable real estate; housing and urban economics | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones has been appointed Associate Editor-in-Chief in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991). With an extensive background in scientific research and publishing, she will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role.

Name: Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones
Affiliation: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Interests: nanomaterial properties; reactivity; toxicity; solubility; bio-nano interactions
Website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/gees/valsami-jones-eva

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones, who shared her vision for the journal with us, as well as her views on the research area:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Associate Editor-in-Chief?
I first crossed paths with Nanomaterials as an author—a number of times—and this was always a positive experience. More recently, I took on a guest editorial role, which is ongoing and gave me a glimpse of the running of the journal, and those involved with it on a daily basis—this also felt very positive and a good omen for working closer with the in-house team.
The role of Associate Editor-in-Chief is a great responsibility but also an opportunity to contribute and influence my field of science in ways that are not possible through simply publishing papers or in short-term guest editorial activities. I feel ready to take on such a major role, one that offers an opportunity to support and shape a much broader area of research than my own. I look forward to making this happen!

2. What is your vision for Nanomaterials?

Nanomaterials is already a well-respected and influential journal in nanoscience and nanotechnology, so what can I do to make it even better?
On a day-to-day basis, I will ensure responsiveness from my side and fast turnaround of editorial decisions. As an author, I know how important this is to all of us. But this is something pretty much already happening with Nanomaterials, and my task here is to maintain, if not slightly improve, an already very high standard.

On a visionary note, I hope to make Nanomaterials special and the “go-to” journal for all major discoveries in nanomaterials research. Here are some ideas I have:

• Nanomaterials already publishes Special Issues, but these are selected on an ad-hoc basis and are not strategically chosen. A way to target Special Issues is to link them to important global activities, such as international conferences. Also, to partner up with workshops and support opportunities for authors to produce their abstracts (or even full papers) whilst at the workshop;
• We already publicise Editor’s Choice Articles, but I would like to strengthen this in two ways: publish an editorial when major developments in the field of nanomaterials take place and fast-track manuscripts on such ground-breaking developments, with the aim to publish within a week of receipt and showcase them in the ECA section;
• The journal’s awards are important, to us and you. They deserve more attention, and I shall aim to work on this to ensure that our winners are celebrated more visibly and broadly.

I also want to hear from anyone reading this! Do you like these ideas? What else would you like to see our journal doing that would make it more precious and a top target for your best papers?

A final note here is that if I succeed in making the journal more attractive to our readership, with popularity also, inevitably, will come an increased rate of rejection. Here, I will aim to make this as pain-free and transparent as possible and offer our authors alternatives (companion journals) for their rejected papers, so they can stay with the journal family and hopefully make it into Nanomaterials with their next submission. I will always aspire to give as much feedback as possible, especially when rejections happen before papers go to peer review so that we work with our authors to improve our standards. Ultimately, this is a win-win for everyone since, by raising the journal’s standards and impact, we raise the visibility of all our papers.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
There is a slight bias here as I am a nanomaterials scientist, but I see nanoscience and nanotechnology as a field of endeavor that will continue to go from strength to strength. Some of the greatest scientific discoveries, from graphene to vaccines, have nanoscience and nanotechnology at their core. The source of unique size-related properties found at the nanoscale will not dry up soon. Take, for example, the recent discovery of goldene (https://www.nature.com/articles/s44160-024-00518-4) or the newly described non-metal organic frameworks (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07353-9). Trust me on this, there is plenty more where these came from!

4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access creates a level playing field for all, regardless of location, status, or affiliation. It can only be a good thing. It removes limitations and bias from the intellectual development of parts of the academic world and allows everyone to keep up to date with scientific progress, regardless of their ability to pay for learning. It can be a tricky balance from the publishers’ point of view, but to me, it is the right direction of travel.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of Nanomaterials, and we wish her every success in her new position.

MDPI will be attending the 50th International Micro and Nano Engineering Conference (MNE 2024) held in Montpellier, France, from 16 to 19 September 2024.

The scientific topics of the conference cover all the domains impacted by micro/nano engineering activities:

• T1 – METHODS and PROCESS: micro/nano fabrication methods and processes;
• T2 – STRUCTURES and DEVICES: fabrication and integration of micro/nano structures and devices;
• T3 – SYSTEMS: micro/nano systems for computing, communication, sensing and quantum applications;
• T4 – BIO: micro/nano engineering for life and analytical sciences;
• T5 (New) – SUSTAINABILITY: energy efficiency of micro/nano engineering and environmental and ecological applications.

The MNE conference is the flagship event of the International Society for Micro- and Nanotechnology (iMNEs). It has always been the leading international conference for micro- and nano-fabrication, manufacturing techniques and applications of the fabricated micro/nanostructures, devices and microsystems in electronics, photonics, energy, environment, chemistry and life sciences. The MNE brings together researchers and experts from all over the world to meet and discuss the latest research results and their applications. Furthermore, the conference aims to promote, involve and train young talent in the field of micro and nano engineering.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Micromachines;
• Nanomaterials;
• Fibers;
• Applied Nano;
• Micro;
• Eng;
• Technologies;
• Sensors;
• Machines;
• Bioengineering;
• Applied science;
• Nanomanufacturing;
• JETA.

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth at #42. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about the conference, please see the following link: https://mne2024.imnes.org/.

MDPI is pleased to announce the inclusion of 237 journals in the 2024 release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and share the key results (see above).

This year, journals covered in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) received category ranks together with journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Overall, 139 MDPI journals indexed in ESCI are included in the new unified rankings for the first time.

Enhanced Comparability of Data

According to Clarivate, "the creation of unified category rankings [provides] a simpler and more complete category view for the evaluation of journal performance. [...] The category-first approach simplifies journal performance assessment with a holistic view of all journals in each subject category."

We are thrilled to announce that 72% of our ranked MDPI journals (171 of 237) are above average, in Q1 or Q2. Twenty-nine of our journals received their first Impact Factor this year, accounting for more than 5% of the journals accepted into the Web of Science last year.

MDPI Journals Ranked in JCR

The following data includes all MDPI journals indexed in SCIE, SSCI, ESCI and AHCI.

Source: 2023 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2024)

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.5 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 professional, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 440 fully open access titles.

The China Materials Conference 2024 will be held from 8 to 11 July 2024 in Guangzhou, China. The conference was hosted by the Chinese Materials Research Society and co-hosted by the European Materials Research Society.

The areas of focus for the conference include the following:

• Energy materials;
• Environmental materials;
• Advanced structural materials;
• Functional materials;
• Material design, preparation and evaluation;
• Others.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Symmetry;
• Fibers;
• Coatings;
• Catalysts;
• Inorganics;
• Nanoenergy Advances;
• Membranes;
• Journal of Composites Science;
• Crystals;
• Gels;
• C;
• Metals;
• Ceramics;
• Alloys;
• Polymers.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you and answering any questions that you may have. Our booth number is #2258, located on the first floor of Baiyun International Hall Phase II.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://cmc2024.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/.

Conference: ACS Fall 2024
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 18–22 August 2024
Place: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
Booth ID: 1420

A variety of MDPI journals will be attending ACS Fall 2024 as exhibitors, an exciting event being held in Denver, USA, from 18 to 22 August 2024.

ACS Meetings & Expositions are where chemistry professionals meet to exchange ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of chemical professionals, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for peers to engage with each other and share their passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies and helping to advance careers in this ever-changing global economy.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Molecules;
• Nanomaterials;
• Separations;
• Organics;
• Molbank;
• AppliedChem;
• Chemistry;
• Batteries;
• Fibers;
• Crystals;
• Polymers;
• Colorants;
• Analytica;
• Coatings;
• Symmetry;
• Liquids;
• Reactions.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth #1420. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to the Nanomaterials 2023 Young Investigator Award Ceremony, which will be held online at 10 a.m. CEST on 17 June 2024.

The Nanomaterials Young Investigator Award was established in 2018 to acknowledge the achievements of young investigators in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

The Award Committee selected the 2023 winners from a high number of highly qualified candidates based on the candidates’ academic background/potential, their research’s relevance to the topics covered by Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991), the innovative aspects of their research, and the strength of their references.

In this ceremony, we will have the opportunity to learn more about the two winners and listen to their presentations regarding their latest outstanding research achievements on the topic of “Advanced Materials for Energy Applications”.

The growing demand for sustainable and efficient energy solutions has propelled research and development in advanced materials, which play a crucial role in the transformation of energy technologies. These materials, designed at the atomic and molecular levels, offer innovative solutions to improve energy storage, conversion, and efficiency. Here, we explore some of the key advancements in materials science that are driving progress in energy applications.

I look forward to welcoming and “meeting” you online at the webinar!

Prof. Dr. Sotirios Baskoutas

Section Editor-in-Chief, Nanomaterials

Date: 17 June 2024 at 10.00 a.m. CEST | 4:00 a.m. EDT | 4:00 p.m. CST Asia

Webinar ID: 864 8497 3004

Nanomaterials 2023 Young Investigator Award

The Nanomaterials Young Investigator Award was established in 2018 to acknowledge the achievements of young investigators in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

The winners of the Nanomaterials 2023 Young Investigator Award were chosen by a selection committee chaired by the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Shirley Chiang. Following a review process by the Award Evaluation Committee, three winners were selected.

The First Award will be presented to Dr. Robert Hoye, Associate Professor of Materials Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK. His main research is focused on the use of optoelectronic nanomaterials for renewable energy applications, including photovoltaic, LEDs, energy harvesting, and photocatalysis.

The Second Awards will be presented to Dr. Deblina Sarkar and Dr. Zhen Wen. Dr. Deblina Sarkar is an Assistant Professor at the MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Her research interests involve integrating nanomaterials, applied physics, and biology to develop nano-electronic devices for sustainable Artificial Intelligence, exploring their integration with biological systems to transform healthcare.

Dr. Zhen Wen is a Full Professor at the Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, China. His research focuses on nanomaterials and nanogenerators for micro-nano devices, encompassing flexible energy harvesting, energy storage devices, smart sensors, and selfpowered sensing systems.

More information can be read here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/awards/2242.

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Sotirios Baskoutas (Chair), Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patras, Greece;
• Zhen Wen, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Jiangsu, China;
• Robert Hoye, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

On UNESCO’s 2024 Oceans Day, MDPI encourages the scientific community to increase the accessibility of ocean research to accelerate ocean conservation.

Basel, Switzerland, June 7, 2024: MDPI, a leading open access (OA) publisher, is proud to announce its active support for World Oceans Day 2024, celebrated under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade framework. MDPI’s CEO, Stefan Tochev hopes that “the latest ocean research can be made freely accessible to help empower scientists and communities at large to save our oceans,” under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade until 2030.

Open Access: A Catalyst for Ocean Action

MDPI’s presence at the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference 2024 highlights our unwavering commitment to using OA to advance ocean science, support research communities, and promote sustainable ocean management.

"Our involvement in the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference underscores MDPI's commitment to the underfunded Ocean SDG. By promoting OA to scientific articles and books on SDGs, we aim to inspire critical actions," said Tochev. "Our initiatives, like the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Award, further demonstrate our dedication to advancing sustainability.”

Showcasing MDPI’s Contributions to Ocean Research

Over the past three years, MDPI has published 30,000 papers focused on ocean research and related topics. Key MDPI journals contributing to this body of work include:

• Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (4.9k papers)
• Remote Sensing (2.6k papers)
• Sustainability (2k papers)
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) (1.7k papers)
• Marine Drugs (1.5k papers)
• Water (1.5k papers)

These publications highlight MDPI’s contributions to ocean science, reinforcing our role in the broader sustainability agenda by promoting blue innovation and economy.

Additionally, MDPI has launched Oceans, an international, peer-reviewed forum specifically aimed at publishing studies related to all branches of oceanography with an emphasis on the functioning of the ocean and the sustainable use of its resources and ecosystem services.

Affirming MDPI’s Commitment to Ocean Science

MDPI’s commitment to OA is pivotal in addressing critical global challenges, from climate change to ocean sustainability. Our efforts resonate with Outcome 4 of the UNESCO Ocean Decade action roadmap: an accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information, technology, and innovation. By aligning with UNESCO’s goals, MDPI continues to contribute to shaping a sustainable future for our oceans, reinforcing our position as a forward-thinking publisher dedicated to environmental stewardship and scientific excellence.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

We are pleased to inform you that Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991) has received a heightened CiteScore of 8.5.

CiteScore provides transparent metrics that enable well-informed publishing strategies, library collection development, and the benchmarking of journal performance. It is now a standard citation metric alongside SNIP and SJR that gives an up-to-date view of a journal’s impact.

The 2023 CiteScore provides an assessment of the scientific influence of journals in the 2020 to 2023 period.

This is a reflection of the excellent performance, support, and dedication of all journal editors, reviewers, authors, and readers.

Nanomaterials’s CiteScore ranks as follows:

• Q1 (44 out of 273) in the “General Chemical Engineering” category; 
• Q1 (93 out of 463) in the “General Materials Science” category.

For more journal statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/stats.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the journal.

Nanomaterials Editorial Office

95% of authors rate MDPI’s publication process as excellent or good, setting a new benchmark in scientific publishing – reveals 2023 Annual Report. 

Basel, Switzerland, June 4, 2024: MDPI, the leading open access (OA) publisher, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report, detailing remarkable achievements and reaffirming its leadership in advancing OA publishing. In 2023, MDPI received 655,065 submissions, of which 285,244 articles were published. The company now commands a 17% market share in gold open access articles, with a median publication time of six weeks.

Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO, stated, "As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI has long been a game-changer in the scholarly community, serving millions of authors around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available. Reflecting on our incredible journey at MDPI, 2023 has been marked by growth in paper submissions, ambitious projects and initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top-notch services to our scientists."

MDPI's 2023 Annual Report highlights several key achievements:

• 17% market share in gold open access articles across all disciplines.
• Record satisfaction rates: 95% of authors, 82% of reviewers, and 85% of guest editors.
• Enhanced editorial standards and feedback processes.
• Increased reach and impact with 54 new MDPI journal inclusions in Scopus, 29 in Web of Science, and 77 in DOAJ.

MDPI’s unwavering commitment to advancing OA has transformed the landscape of scholarly publishing, making high-quality research freely accessible to the global scientific community. The continuous improvement in our editorial standards and feedback processes underscores MDPI’s dedication to ensuring academic integrity and excellence.

Global Reach and Collaboration

MDPI’s global footprint continues to expand, with authors from diverse regions: 37% from Asia/Pacific, 36% from Europe, 15% from the Americas, and 12% from other parts of the world. The company’s fully OA platform attracted nearly 14 million monthly visitors in 2023, reflecting its widespread influence in the scientific community.

Commitment to Partnerships

With over 800 institutional partners, MDPI continues to demonstrate its dedication to providing reliable and collaborative publishing services. The introduction of a transparent flat-fee model highlights MDPI's ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and support to the academic community. For more details read our 2023 Annual Report.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Zhan’ao Tan has been appointed Associate Editor of the Section “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991). With an extensive background in scientific research and publishing, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role.

Name: Zhan’ao Tan
Affiliation: Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Interests: materials and devices for novel thin film solar cells (polymer solar cells and perovskite solar cells); materials and devices for novel light-emitting diodes (quantum dots light-emitting diodes, perovskite light-emitting diodes, and carbon dots light-emitting diodes); materials and devices for energy storage (organic redox flow batteries)
Website: https://en-baicsm.buct.edu.cn/2019/0703/c807a22296/page.htm

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Zhan’ao Tan, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area:

1. You have conducted a substantial amount of fundamental scientific research in the field of organic optoelectronic materials and devices. What do you think are the imminent bottlenecks that need to be overcome for these technologies to move from laboratory experiments to industrial applications?
Organic optoelectronic materials and devices represent an emerging research field formed at the intersection of disciplines such as chemistry, physics, materials science, and information electronic science. In particular, organic optoelectronic materials constructed with organic conjugated molecules, colloidal quantum dots, and organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites exemplify potential applications in various areas such as novel flat panel displays, solid-state lighting, new energy sources, photochemistry, high-density information transmission, and storage devices. These materials manifest a wide range of application prospects and have garnered close attention from both academic and industrial communities.
For instance, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) exhibit advantages such as active luminescence, rich color rendering, full solid state, and feasibility for flexible displays, which makes them considered as one of the most promising new flat panel display technologies. These OLEDs have gradually been implemented in large-scale production globally. Additionally, organic and perovskite solar cells are low in cost, simple in fabrication, and easily scalable to large-area devices, showcasing significant potential as a renewable energy technology with their photovoltaic conversion efficiencies approaching practical requirements.
However, organic optoelectronic devices still face a number of pending issues concerning materials, efficiency, lifespan, color rendering, large dimensions, flexibility, encapsulation, and production processes, which to a certain extent hinder the industrial development of organic optoelectronic devices. Therefore, future research directions will revolve around materials, devices, and mechanisms, forming a complete R&D chain encompassing “material design synthesis–high-performance device fabrication–device physical mechanism–technological dissemination and application”, aimed at breaking through key technologies such as large-area, flexible, and batch production processes, thus realizing the industrial application of research achievements.

2. With over 250 SCI-indexed papers published in international journals and more than 15,000 citations, how do you maintain innovation and consistently produce high-quality papers in academic research?
In my view, maintaining innovation and continuous high-quality output first requires a comprehensive understanding of the research field. This involves extensively reading the latest literature and classic works in the relevant field, participating in academic seminars, and engaging in discussions with scholars to swiftly grasp the latest research advancements in the field. Secondly, it entails conducting a rational analysis of the current state of research, identifying its shortcomings and limitations, and pinpointing potential research directions and breakthroughs. Finally, it involves proposing new questions or hypotheses based on existing research and designing experiments or research methods to validate or explore these questions or hypotheses. Through the integration of theory and practice, in-depth analysis of research results, and the discovery of new issues, one can present novel insights.

3. What expectations and goals do you have in your role as Associate Editor of the “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” Section?
About two years after serving as a member of the Editorial Board of Nanomaterials, I received an invitation from the journal office to become the Section Associate Editor. Given our positive past collaborations on Special Issues and other journal management tasks, I am pleased to accept this new opportunity. I hope to use my more than 20 years of professional knowledge and experience to participate more in the establishment of journals and Sections, to capture research hot spots and trends in academia, and to ensure the high-quality development of journals.
Nanomaterials is an authoritative academic journal focusing on the field of nanomaterials research. The responsibility and importance of being the Associate Editor of the Section are self-evident. As a Section Associate Editor, I believe that the most important quality is to have keen academic insight, as well as excellent communication and organizational coordination skills. I will continue to learn and practice in this position to promote the development of the journal.

We warmly welcome our Associate Editor, Prof. Dr. Zhan’ao Tan, and wish the journal every success in the future.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Liang Li has been appointed Associate Editor of the Section “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” in Nanomaterials (ISSN: 2079-4991). With an extensive background in scientific research and publishing, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role.

Name: Liang Li
Affiliation: School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China
Interests: optoelectronic conversion materials and devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, and photoelectrochemical cells; electrochemical batteries, such as Li- and Na- ion batteries; preparation of thin films utilizing atomic layer deposition, magnetron sputtering, etc.
Website: https://ecs.suda.edu.cn/1d/12/c30958a531730/page.htm

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Liang Li, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area:

1. Could you briefly introduce your current research direction and its main content?
Our team's research primarily focuses on optoelectronic conversion, energy materials, and devices, encompassing specifics such as photoelectric detection, solar (photochemical) cells, and energy storage devices.

2. We noticed that your research experience is quite extensive. What pivotal moments led to your choices of different research institutions and countries?
My research journey has indeed spanned across multiple countries and research institutions. Each pivotal moment has been accompanied by new opportunities and challenges. After obtaining my doctoral degree in 2006 from the Institute of Solid State Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, I pursued postdoctoral research at the National University of Singapore, Singapore, mainly due to the complementary nature of the research focus with my doctoral work, which centered on the electrochemical corrosion method for structured nano-array thin film fabrication. Subsequently, I moved to Japan, conducting postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and the National Institute for Materials Science, focusing on the micro/nano-fabrication and physical property characterization of nanostructured photoelectric detection devices. Finally, I concluded my postdoctoral research in Canada at the University of Western Ontario, working on the development of novel energy storage devices based on nanomaterials. Throughout these experiences, I accumulated rich research expertise, particularly gaining exposure to various research fields and scientific cultures in different countries, providing a strong foundation for my independent work as a principal investigator (PI) upon returning to China.

3. Do you have any advice or guiding principles for young scholars aspiring to engage in similar research pursuits and strive for excellence?
Firstly, maintaining a love for research and nurturing curiosity is of utmost importance. The path of research is full of challenges, demanding continuous exploration and innovation. Secondly, it's crucial to build a solid foundation and master the fundamental knowledge and experimental skills relevant to the field. Additionally, engaging in international conferences and academic exchanges broadens one’s horizons and offers access to the latest research trends. Lastly, perseverance and patience are essential. Research requires prolonged dedication and effort, it's not a path for quick victories.

4. What was it like to serve as an Associate Editor for the “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” Section? What are your expectations and goals in this role?
Serving as an Associate Editor has been a valuable experience, providing me with the opportunity to stay abreast of the latest research developments in the field, as well as participate in the paper review and decision-making process. My goal is to help enhance the journal's international influence and drive research advancements in the field of new energy. I look forward to being more involved in the selection and recommendation of outstanding papers, fostering academic exchange and collaboration.

5. As the Associate Editor of the “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” Section, what insights do you have regarding the latest developments and future trends in this field?
In recent years, solar cell technology has rapidly advanced, with perovskite solar cells continuously achieving breakthrough efficiencies, making it a research hotspot. Moving forward, stability and commercial applications will be its primary development focus. Furthermore, the integration of photovoltaic technology with other energy technologies, such as photoelectrocatalysis and energy storage, will also emerge as an important developmental trend.

We warmly welcome our Associate Editor, Prof. Dr. Liang Li, and wish the journal every success in the future.

Name: Dr. Jihua Chen
Email: [email protected]
Home page: https://www.ornl.gov/staff-profile/jihua-chen
Affiliation: The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, United States
Research Interests: Soft Matter Microscopy, Soft Electronics and Ionics, AI for Healthcare and Manufacturing

Dr. Jihua Chen has been a member of the research staff at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2011. He obtained a Ph.D. in macromolecular science and engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, USA, in 2006. He has served on various committees and symposiums for Microscopy and Microanalysis, American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, and Materials Research Society. He is an author or co-author of 170 publications, with an h-index of 58 and over 11k citations on Google Scholar. His research interests include soft electronics and ionics, polymers and organic molecules for energy and medicine and AI for manufacturing and healthcare.

The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Jihua Chen, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and open access publishing:
 
1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take on the role of its Associate Editor?
Nanomaterials is a cutting-edge open access journal promoting nanoscience and nanomaterial applications. The broader impacts can extend into areas such as optoelectronics, energy storage and harvest, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, engineering and circular economy, as well as the various approaches that mankind may rely on to tackle technical and societal challenges in the future. I am delighted to be part of this cause.
 
2. What is your vision for the Section?
Sustainability and efficiency, in my opinion, are among our top priorities in nanoscience, and in the Section “Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures”. The mission of many nanoscience researchers is to achieve sustainability and efficiency in energy and medical applications.
 
3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly taking on traditional ways of thinking and operating, including the way that our research is performed. It may not be able to completely replace or fully automate our experiments and analysis any time soon, but personalized AI or customizable AI (tailored for each domain or research area) can greatly increase the productivity of our nanomaterial research toward a future with sustainable energy and efficient healthcare.
 
4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access is an important part of the current and future knowledge-sharing activities including peer-reviewed publications. Personally, I felt the great benefits of being part of the movement. I very much enjoy sharing and receiving knowledge (and wisdom) through open access publications.

We warmly welcome Dr. Jihua Chen as the new Associate Editor and we look forward to him leading Nanomaterials to many more milestones.

The 50th World Polymer Congress will be held from 1 to 4 July 2024 in Coventry, UK. The conference is being organized by the University of Warwick.

The areas of focus for the above conference include the following:

• Bio-based polymer chemistry;
• European polymer journals;
• Polymers at surfaces and interfaces;
• Polymers for data science;
• Dynamic polymer networks;
• Block copolymers and self-assembly;
• Functional and sustainable polymers & elastomers.