Guest Editors: Jessica O. Winter (The Ohio State University), Jawwad Darr (University College London), John Wang (National University Singapore)
Advanced Functional Materials (AFMs): especially nanomaterials, play an important role in catalysis, optoelectronic and quantum materials, biomaterials, and energy harvesting, storage, and conversion materials. AFMs can be designed, synthesized, (or modelled) to possess different (nano)particle/cluster attributes, such as bulk and/or defect structures and surface properties. AFMs can be further consolidated into larger hierarchical arrangements, using additive manufacturing or electrospinning for example, with nano-/micro-structure or surface characteristics that impart new functionality.
Materials Processes: Research involving discovering and translating AFMs from the bench to commercial products can be challenging. Discovery synthesis approaches for new AFMs require materials to be made faster and consistently, so that properties can be compared within compositional space. Thereafter, during scale up, replicating properties can pose a number of challenges. Scale-up can result in inhomogeneous mixing and uneven mass and heat gradients that influence material function. Structure-property relationships can strongly depend on manufacturing method (e.g., thermodynamic vs. kinetic limitations). Consequently, there is a need to better understand the relationship between materials synthesis and consolidation parameters at different scales in order to maintain desired functional properties.
This themed issue aims to explore the latest developments in advanced inorganic functional materials (synthesis, modelling and simulation), novel manufacturing processes including scale up approaches, and property evaluation and optimization. Suggested contributions that address, but are not restricted to, the following topics are welcome:
Advanced Materials
- Ceramics, metal oxides, nanoparticles, metal organic frameworks, zeolites
- Combinatorial, structure-property relationships, theory and simulation
- Catalysts, quantum materials, biomaterials, and energy materials
Materials Processes
- Batch vs. flow, green synthesis/manufacturing, process control and optimization
- Hydrothermal/solvothermal, flame, plasma, electrospinning, precipitation methods, etc.
- Process intensification / scale up
- Controlled heat treatments/sintering
- Additive manufacturing/3D printing
If you are interested in contributing to this collection please get in touch with the Editorial Office by email.
Please add a “note to the editor” in the submission form when you submit your manuscript to say that this is a submission for the themed collection. The Editorial Office and Guest Editors reserve the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal’s usual peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the collection as soon as they are online, and they will be published in a regular issue of Materials Advances.
