Aims & Scope

Materials research plays a crucial role in driving sustainable processes, a pivotal element for the global transition towards sustainable living on earth. Breakthroughs in this field often stem from robust cross-disciplinary approaches that bridge different domains. A significant societal task is the implementation of new manufacturing processes geared towards a more sustainable utilization of resources.

This journal is dedicated to the exploration of material research, emphasizing its contribution to achieving a more sustainable use of resources. This encompasses advancements in renewable energy sources, the development of more efficient processes, establishment of sustainable lifecycles for materials and products, a refined understanding of current processes serving as a foundation for optimization towards sustainable devices, and innovative fabrication methods.

Specifically, the journal focuses on the role of materials research in energy harvesting and storage, recycling, green and novel fabrication processes. This includes the enhancement of renewable energy sources, a comprehensive understanding of functionalities, the creation of novel devices for energy conversion and storage, and the integration of sustainable processes such as recycling and energy-saving methods. Emphasis is placed on exploring novel material combinations, promoting the use of more sustainable materials, advancing material synthesis, delving into nanomaterials, and conducting structural investigations for improved device applications, considering factors like stability, efficiency, fabrication technology, and integration into functional devices. The integration of machine learning is recognized as a promising tool to enhance and expedite progress in this dynamic field.

Examples of topics are:

Energy harvesting and storage

• Pioneering material advancements for optimized renewable energy sources (solar, wind power, hydropower, etc.)
• Solar energy innovations (solar-to-electricity, heat, fuel)
  • Photovoltaic technologies (inorganic, organic, perovskite, and other emerging technologies)
  • (Photo-)catalysis, water splitting, CO₂ reduction, fuel cells
• Innovative (nanostructured) devices (nanogenerators, self-powered devices, thermoelectric, …)
• Advanced energy storage solutions (batteries, capacitors, supercapacitors, hydrogen storage, …)

Advancing recycling and energy-efficient materials and Processes

• Promoting energy-efficient materials and energy-saving processes
• Developing recyclable materials
• Advancing green fabrication methods and materials
• Pioneering novel material-based investigation tools and technologies for a greener and more sustainable world

Innovative processes

• Materials driving sustainable development
• Optimizing resource and material efficiency
• Alleviating undesirable environmental impacts
• Prioritizing health and safety in materials science
• Utilizing machine learning and AI for enhanced process efficiency