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XXV B-MRS Meeting (Fortaleza, September 12 to 16, 2027)
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The call for symposium proposals for the XXV B-MRS Meeting—to be held from September 12 to 16, 2027, in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará—is now open. The event chairs are Professors Alejandro Pedro Ayala, from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), and Yara Galvão Gobato, from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). Research teams interested in organizing symposia on topics related to Materials Science and Technology within the event must submit their proposals by November 23. Visit the webpage for further information regarding the call and to access the submission form, here.
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Papers by the community
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of developing rapid, reliable, and low-cost methods, such as biosensors, for detecting and monitoring infectious diseases. Recently, a team of researchers from UFV, in collaboration with colleagues from UFMG, made a contribution in this area. The scientists developed an innovative biosensor capable of effectively detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human serum samples (the liquid component of blood). To construct the device, the researchers incorporated the N protein—a molecule that is part of the COVID-19 virus—onto a layer of graphene, allowing it to react with disease-specific antibodies if they are present in the blood. The interaction between the antibodies and the sensor’s surface causes a change in what is known as the “magnetoelastic resonance frequency,” which signals that detection has occurred. The biosensor was tested on ten serum samples containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and ten samples without them, demonstrating excellent performance in every case. This work represents the first instance of using graphene in a magnetoelastic sensor. Go to the paper.
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A team of researchers from UNESP, in collaboration with colleagues from UFRGS and Fujian Normal University (China), has utilized a low-cost, environmentally friendly molecule to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. In these devices, the presence of defects within the perovskite films affects their electronic properties and impairs their performance. To address this, the authors of this study incorporated guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) as an additive during the preparation of the perovskite films. This organic molecule—which occurs naturally in the bodies of humans and other animals—contains both positively and negatively charged chemical groups. This unique characteristic allows GAA to interact with and neutralize both cation- and anion-related defects in the perovskite structure. The research findings demonstrate that the use of GAA modulates film formation, resulting in a higher-quality material characterized by larger grains, reduced surface roughness, and neutralized defects. Consequently, the electronic properties of the film are improved, making the solar cells more efficient at energy conversion while also allowing them to retain their initial efficiency for longer periods. According to the authors, the use of GAA outperforms other previously tested strategies, which either rely on toxic molecules or fail to simultaneously address both cationic and anionic defects. Go to the paper.
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25 years of B-MRS
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The video produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of B-MRS—which was unveiled at the opening of the XXIV B-MRS Meeting in Curitiba—is now available on YouTube. In just over seven minutes, the video recounts the origins of the society, highlights key initiatives undertaken to date, and discusses the growth of the community. Furthermore, it explores the impact of materials research on people’s lives and underscores the value of scientific societies. The video was created based on interviews with members who have served as president of B-MRS over the years. Watch the video.
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XXIV B-MRS Meeting (Curitiba, September 27 to October 1, 2026)
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The event in numbers
Discover the figures for the 24th edition of the B-MRS Meeting, which set a new record for the number of participants and featured the highest-ever count of short courses, special sessions, and exhibitors. See here.
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Event report
Read our coverage of the event, featuring an account of the key moments and comments from the organizers. Read here.
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List of winners
See the list of participants who received prizes in Curitiba. Access here.
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Community
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T. Randall Lee, a professor at the University of Houston (USA), passed away on October 6. The scientist was a regular attendee of the B-MRS Meetings and delivered a plenary lecture at the 2024 edition. In a piece published on the B-MRS website, Professor Mônica Cotta—a member and former president of the society who served alongside Professor Randall on the editorial board of ACS Applied Nano Materials—pays tribute to this outstanding researcher and generous human being. Read the text.
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Upcoming events
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– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 to 10, 2026. Site.
– Materials for Sustainable Development Conference – Latin América (MATSUS-LATAM27). Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). February 1 to 3, 2027. Site.
– 13th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT). Singapore. July 5 to 9, 2027. Site.
– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). September 12 to 16, 2027. Call for symposium proposals.
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If you wish to publicize materials science events, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.
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