Papers by the community

Researchers from the federal Brazilian universities UFRN and UFPB have just presented a new and promising catalyst for electrolysis – the process that splits the water molecule and can be used to produce green hydrogen. The material developed by the Brazilian team makes the most challenging stage of the process viable, the so-called “oxygen evolution reaction” (OER), allowing it to occur in less time and with less energy consumption. Formed by titanium niobate nanoparticles, the new catalyst is based on two elements abundant in Brazil: niobium, of which our country has the largest reserve in the world, and titanium. To optimize the material’s performance as an OER catalyst, the authors of the research carried out defect engineering work. To do this, they heated groups of nanoparticles to 950 ºC over different time intervals and tested the performance of each group. The sample calcined for 2 hours achieved the best performance in OER. Go to the paper.

A team of scientists from the Brazilian federal universities UFPE and UFV, along with a researcher from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, have made an important contribution to the development of orbitronics. Orbitronics is a new area of ​​knowledge that seeks to use a quantum property related to how electrons orbit atomic nuclei (the orbital angular momentum) in order to develop information transport and storage technologies. In the new study, the authors conducted a series of experiments with metallic and semiconductor materials that demonstrated the generation and detection of orbital current. The results provide a basis for the development of devices that use orbital angular momentum as an efficient and versatile information carrier. Go to the paper.

Superconducting materials hold promise for sustainable technologies with applications in sectors such as transportation, energy, health, and computing. In this review, a scientific team from the Brazilian universities UNESP and UFSCar, and institutions in Germany and Russia, used bibliometric tools to study the relationship between superconductivity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The authors analyzed 33,756 articles on superconductors and their applications published between 1980 and 2025, focusing on the period of SDG implementation (from 2015 onwards). The analysis revealed that superconductivity research is still poorly represented in databases that classify scientific production according to the SDGs, such as the Web of Science. The results indicate that this low visibility is largely associated with the fact that the authors themselves do not usually use keywords or terms that link the field to the global effort towards a more sustainable society. Go to the paper.

XXIV B-MRS Meeting
Curitiba (state of Paraná), September 27 to October 1st, 2026

Record number of submissions. For the first time, the B-MRS Meeting surpassed 3,000 submitted abstracts!

Important upcoming dates. Authors who need to modify their abstracts may submit the corrected versions until June 12th and will receive final approval notification on June 26th.

Program. Program at a glance is available, here.

Registration. The registration fee can now be paid with an early registration discount. See the prices by category and the special rates for active B-MRS members, here.

Student Awards. The best oral and poster presentations given by undergraduate and graduate students will be recognized with awards from B-MRS (Bernhard Gross), ACS Publications, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. To be eligible for the awards, an extended abstract must be submitted by July 10th. Learn more.

Early-career Woman Award. Sponsored by MDPI’s Electronic Materials journal, this award will recognize a young female researcher who presents outstanding contribution in an oral session. To participate, scientists must submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Learn more.

Science Popularization Award. This contest challenges event participants to produce a short video for a general audience about their research. The award is sponsored by the startup Arqueatec. Participants must submit their videos by June 30th. Learn more.

Accommodation. We have provided a list with some hotel options in Curitiba, here.

Venue. The event will be held at the Cruzeiro do Sul Conecta Convention Center (formerly UP Experience), located on the Positivo University campus in Curitiba. Address: Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 5300.

Plenary lectures. See the names of the renowned scientists from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and the United States who will deliver plenary lectures at the event, here.

Chairs. The chairs of this edition are Prof. Gregório Couto Faria (IFSC-USP) and Prof. Paula Cristina Rodrigues (UTFPR).

FAQ. If you have questions about the event, please consult the frequently asked questions or write to 24encontro@sbpmat.org.br.

ATTENTION: The XXIV B-MRS Meeting does NOT have an authorized travel agency. Protect yourself against scams and fraud.

Opportunities

– Postdoctoral opportunities (12 fellowships of 36 months each) for the FutureChips program at Tampere University (Finland) for researchers from all countries holding a PhD in fields related to photonics, advanced materials, future electronics, and chip design. Learn more.

If you wish to publicize opportunities in the materials area, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

Upcoming events

– 25th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS-25). Seoul (South Korea). July 12 to 17, 2026. Site.

– International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Electronic Materials (ICSM). Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). July 19 to 24, 2026. Site.

– Feira e Congresso Internacionais de Materiais Avançados FEIPLAR & FEIPUR 2026. São Paulo (Brazil). August 5 to 27, 2026. Site.

– 20th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE). Erfurt (Germany). August 31 September 3, 2026. Site.

– XXIV B-MRS Meeting. Curitiba (Brazil). September 27 to October 1st, 2026. Site.

– 12th International Workshop on High Resolution Depth Profiling. Bento Gonçalves (Brazil). October 5 to 9, 2026. Site.

– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 to 10, 2026. Site.

– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (Brazil). September 12 to 16, 2027.

If you wish to publicize materials science events, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

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Papers by the community

Considering that 99% of the world’s population is exposed to air quality exceeding recommended pollution limits, air pollution sensors are extremely relevant. However, their use is still limited, mainly because current devices lack sufficient selectivity to quantify specific pollutants in real-world environments, which contain hundreds of interferences. In a recently published review article, researchers from UNESP (Brazil) and ETH (Switzerland) present a systematic comparison of the performance of various air pollution sensor technologies in relation to current air quality guidelines. The study covers sensors based on materials such as metal oxide heterostructures, MOFs, MXenes, and conductive polymers. The article can help develop more efficient and sustainable sensors, as well as their integration into everyday devices and systems, from wearable electronics to smart homes. Go to the paper.

A scientific team led by researchers from Brazilian universities USP and UNESP has shown which heat treatment generates the best properties in Mar18Ni maraging steel. This alloy presents a rare combination of mechanical strength and toughness and has been used to produce parts with complex geometries through additive manufacturing techniques. After processing, heat treatments are performed to adjust some properties. In this work, the authors systematically analyzed the impact of eight post-processing routes on the microstructure and properties of the alloy. They concluded that aging at 480 °C increases the material’s strength, while treatments at 610–670 °C improve its ductility. Furthermore, the scientists showed that the combination of these routes results in an intermediate behavior, offering a balanced combination of strength and ductility. In addition to researchers from Brazil, authors from the United States (Ohio State University) and Germany (Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and Max-Planck-Institut) participated in the work. Go to the paper.

An international collaborative project coordinated by researchers at the Brazilian university UFSC has yielded fundamental advances in understanding a phenomenon that makes OLEDs more efficient. In these devices, widely used in cell phone screens and high-quality TVs, organic materials emit light when they receive electricity. When these organic materials exhibit the phenomenon of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), they are able to convert 100% of the injected energy into light emission, making OLED devices more efficient. Typically, the materials used in OLEDs are organic molecules formed by an electron donor and an electron acceptor part, joined together by conjugation, which can be of the “para” or “meta” type. In this new work, the authors used experimental and theoretical methods to investigate the impact of “para” and “meta” conjugations on the TADF phenomenon. They discovered that the delayed emission properties change drastically with these modifications in the molecule’s structure. Go to the paper.

XXIV B-MRS Meeting
Curitiba (PR), September 27 to October 1st, 2026

Record number of submissions. For the first time, the B-MRS Meeting surpassed 3,000 submitted abstracts!

Important upcoming dates. On May 29th, authors will receive notifications regarding the evaluation of their abstracts. Those who need to modify their abstracts may submit the corrected versions until June 12th and will receive final approval notification on June 26th.

Student Awards. The best oral and poster presentations given by undergraduate and graduate students will be recognized with awards from B-MRS (Bernhard Gross), ACS Publications, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. To be eligible for the awards, an extended abstract must be submitted by July 10th. Learn more.

Early-career Woman Award. Sponsored by MDPI’s Electronic Materials journal, this award will recognize a young female researcher who presents outstanding contribution in an oral session. To participate, scientists must submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Learn more.

Science Popularization Award. This contest challenges event participants to produce a short video for a general audience about their research. The award is sponsored by the startup Arqueatec. Participants must submit their videos by June 30th. Saiba mais.

Accommodation. We have provided a list with some hotel options in Curitiba, here.

Venue. The event will be held at the Cruzeiro do Sul Conecta Convention Center (formerly UP Experience), in the city of Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná. Address: Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 5300.

Plenary lectures. See the names of the renowned scientists from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and the United States who will deliver plenary lectures at the event, here.

Registration. The registration fee can now be paid with an early registration discount. See the prices by category and the important discounts for active B-MRS members, here.

Chairs. The chairs of this edition are Prof. Gregório Couto Faria (IFSC-USP) and Prof. Paula Cristina Rodrigues (UTFPR).

FAQ. If you have questions about the event, please consult the frequently asked questions or write to 24encontro@sbpmat.org.br.

ATTENTION: The XXIV B-MRS Meeting does NOT have an authorized travel agency. Protect yourself against scams and fraud.

Opportunities

– Postdoctoral research in materials for carbon dioxide separation/capture at IPEN, with a FAPESP scholarship. Applications accepted until May 15th. Learn more.

– Postdoctoral opportunities (12 fellowships of 36 months each) for the FutureChips program at Tampere University (Finland) for researchers from all countries holding a PhD in fields related to photonics, advanced materials, future electronics, and chip design. Learn more.

– PhD opportunity at Keele University (England) in interfaces and electrolytes for solid-state batteries. Applications until May 29th. Learn more.

If you wish to publicize opportunities in the materials area, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

Upcoming events

– Workshop on i-Caloric Effects (WiCE). Online. May 5 – 6, 2026. Site.

– The 4th Global Conference of Innovation Materials & MRS-K Spring Meeting (GCIM2026). Jeju (South Korea). May 31 – June 4, 2026. Site.

– 7th International Conference on Applied Surface Science. Chengdu (China). June 1 – 4, 2026. Site.

– 25th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS-25). Seoul (South Korea). July 12 – 17, 2026. Site.

– International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Electronic Materials (ICSM). Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). July 19 – 24, 2026. Site.

– 20th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE). Erfurt (Germany). August 31 – September 3, 2026. Site.

– XXIV B-MRS Meeting. Curitiba (Brazil). September 27 – October 1, 2026. Site.

– 12th International Workshop on High Resolution Depth Profiling. Bento Gonçalves (Brazil). October 5 – 9, 2026. Site.

– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 – 10, 2026. Site.

– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (Brazil). September 12 – 16, 2027.

If you wish to publicize materials science events, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

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Papers by the community

New research from IFSC-USP shows advances in the development of ceramic nanoparticles that could have a major impact on nanomedicine. In the first study, conducted in collaboration with scientists from Germany, the authors modified calcium phosphate nanoparticles to make them more efficient in the direct application of chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells, reducing the harmful effects of the medication on healthy cells. Go to the paper. In the second study, the authors discovered a way to produce luminous hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, which could be used as “nanolanterns” to observe cells inside the body and thus diagnose diseases, monitor health problems, and perform treatments. The developed nanoparticles are composed mainly of abundant and low-cost elements (calcium, phosphorus, and carbon) and obtained through simple chemical reactions in water at room temperature, with high potential for industrial scaling. Go to the paper.

A study by researchers from UFRN and UFOP, in collaboration with scientists from Tsinghua University (China), demonstrates the high potential of a two-dimensional semiconductor in detecting DNA and other molecules. Combining advanced optical spectroscopy and theoretical modeling, the authors investigated the interaction, in an aqueous environment, of molybdenum disulfide with small molecules derived from DNA. Specifically, the scientists studied how these biomolecules are adsorbed onto the semiconductor at the interface with the liquid – a crucial point for the advancement of new biosensors. They showed that biomolecules can modify the electronic properties of the material through doping processes. The work points to ways to develop biosensors based on two-dimensional materials. Go to the paper.

A scientific team from CNPEM, Unesp, and MackGraphe conducted a detailed study on MOFs – the porous nanostructures whose development was the subject of last year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The authors produced thin films of MOFs, which can be easily integrated into electronic nanodevices. Using experimental and computational tools, they investigated how potentially toxic volatile organic compounds (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and hexane) diffuse in these films at the nanoscale. The study broadens the understanding of diffusion mechanisms in porous nanostructures and contributes to the development of more selective sensors and advanced environmental monitoring technologies. Go to the paper.

XXIV B-MRS Meeting
Curitiba (PR), September 27 to October 1st, 2026

Submissions. Abstract submission has been extended to April 13th. Read the guidelines for authors and access the submission system, here.

Symposia. Abstracts must be submitted within the 27 symposia that comprise the event. In addition to the 26 thematic symposia proposed by the community, the list includes the AA symposium, dedicated to posters on advanced materials topics not included in the other symposia. See the list of symposia.

Industry – academia workshop. This edition of the event includes a 3-day workshop that will bring together representatives from industry, academia, and government, from Brazil and abroad, to address the challenges of technological innovation in materials and nanotechnology, from proof of concept to industrial validation. Learn more.

Workshop on science communication and outreach. This one-day workshop will address the dialogue between scientists and other audiences through community contributed presentations and invited lectures. Event participants can present their studies and projects by submitting abstracts until April 13th. Learn more.

Venue. The event will be held at the convention center UP Experience, in the city of Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná. Visit the website of the center.

Plenary lectures. The names of six scientists from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and the United States who will deliver plenary lectures at the event have already been confirmed. See here.

Registration. Registration is now open. See the prices per category and the important discounts for active B-MRS members, here.

Chairs. The chairs of this edition are Prof. Gregório Couto Faria (IFSC-USP) and Prof. Paula Cristina Rodrigues (UTFPR).

Exhibitors. 28 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Organizations interested in booths and other forms of participation should contact us via comercial@sbpmat.org.br.

FAQ. If you have questions about the event, please consult the frequently asked questions or wite to 24encontro@sbpmat.org.br.

News from members

Professor Edgar Dutra Zanotto (UFSCar), an internationally renowned Brazilian researcher in the field of vitreous materials, visited China this March to establish collaborations with Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), one of the five most prolific institutions in the world in publications on inorganic glasses. During his visit, Professor Zanotto signed a five-year academic collaboration agreement. He also participated in the inauguration of a 200-square-meter laboratory named in his honor, the Edgar Zanotto Global Laboratory of Advanced Disordered Materials (EZ-GLAD). Zanotto is the author of over 400 scientific articles, 25 book chapters, 3 books, and 27 registered patents. He has supervised over 100 postgraduate and postdoctoral research projects, participated in 25 projects in partnership with industry, and provided consulting services to approximately 40 companies. He has received more than 60 awards and distinctions, including the Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit – the highest honor in Brazilian science. He is the founder of the Laboratory of Glass Materials (LaMaV–UFSCar), created in 1977, and co-founder of B-MRS. Zanotto has given more than 100 invited or plenary lectures at scientific conferences and, at this year’s B-MRS Meeting in Curitiba, he will be one of the plenary speakers.

Upcoming events

– 52nd International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings & Thin Films (ICMCTF2026). San Diego (USA). April 19 – 24, 2026. Site.

– Workshop on i-Caloric Effects (WiCE). Online. May 5 – 6, 2026. Site.

– The 4th Global Conference of Innovation Materials & MRS-K Spring Meeting (GCIM2026). Jeju (South Korea). May 31 – June 4, 2026. Site.

– 7th International Conference on Applied Surface Science. Chengdu (China). June 1 – 4, 2026. Site.

– 25th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS-25). Seoul (South Korea). July 12 – 17, 2026. Site.

– International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Electronic Materials (ICSM). Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). July 19 – 24, 2026. Site.

– 20th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE). Erfurt (Germany). August 31 – Setember 3, 2026. Site.

– XXIV B-MRS Meeting. Curitiba (Brazil). September 27 – October 1, 2026. Site.

– 12th International Workshop on High Resolution Depth Profiling. Bento Gonçalves (Brazil). October 5 – 9, 2026. Site.

– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 – 10, 2026. Site.

– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (Brazil). September 12 – 16, 2027.

To publicize an event for our community, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

Membership

The deadline for discounted B-MRS membership fees ends on April 15th. Members who have paid their dues for two or more consecutive years will have a discount this year. Payment of the annual membership grants significant discounts on the B-MRS Meeting registration fee, among other benefits. Learn more.

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Papers by the community

Using two-dimensional materials, researchers from CNPEM, UFSCar, and Unicamp, along with collaborators from Japan, have developed an innovative electronic memory. Ultra-compact and energy-efficient, the new device has potential for use in miniaturized electronics. To produce the “nanomemory,” the authors combined two interesting 2D materials: graphene was used as a conductor and hexagonal boron nitride as a dielectric. The device can function stably over a wide temperature range, including near absolute zero, which would allow its use in space, for example. Furthermore, it is possible to erase the contents of this memory and reuse it. The work was featured on the cover of ACS Applied Electronic Materials. Go to the paper.

A team of researchers from UFRGS and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) conducted a detailed study on nanoparticles capable of enabling so-called “artificial photosynthesis.” In this reaction, carbon dioxide is directly transformed into compounds of industrial value, using sunlight as an energy source. The use of efficient photocatalysts is essential in the process, but developing them still presents challenges. In this work, the authors revealed what happens during artificial photosynthesis with nanoparticles composed of silver and copper, which have already shown their potential as photocatalysts in previous studies. By conducting meticulous experiments, the scientists discovered that a large rearrangement occurs in the nanoparticles throughout the reaction, positively impacting the performance of the nanoparticles. Go to the paper.

A scientific team from Brazil, along with a collaborator from France, challenged a widely held assumption among computational scientists studying energy transfer. The authors questioned the common practice of using an approximate value for the so-called “orientation factor” in computational modeling of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). This simplification can lead to inaccuracies in predicting material properties related to energy transport, with a potentially significant impact on some optoelectronic devices. To overcome this limitation, the article presents a novel, multiscale computational approach that allows for the direct calculation of the orientation factor. The article reporting this work was featured in a special collection of the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, which includes papers rated as “hot” by reviewers. Go to the paper.

Do you wish to publish an outstanding scientific article in the field of materials with significant participation from authors from Brazilian institutions? Write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

XXIV B-MRS Meeting
Curitiba (PR), September 27 to October 1st, 2026

Submissions. Abstract submission is open until March 30th. Read the guidelines for authors and access the submission system, here.

Symposia. Abstracts must be submitted within the 27 symposia that comprise the event. In addition to the 26 thematic symposia proposed by the community, the list includes the AA symposium, dedicated to posters on advanced materials topics not included in the other symposia. See the list of symposia.

Industry-Academia Workshop. This edition of the event includes a 3-day workshop that will bring together representatives from industry, academia, and government, from Brazil and abroad, to address the challenges of technological innovation in materials and nanotechnology, from proof of concept to industrial validation. Learn more.

Venue. The event will be held at the convention center UP Experience, in the city of Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná. Visit the website of the center.

Plenary lectures. The names of six scientists from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and the United States who will deliver plenary lectures at the event have already been confirmed. See here.

Registration. Registration is now open. See the prices per category and the important discounts for active B-MRS members, here.

Chairs. The chairs of this edition are Prof. Gregório Couto Faria (IFSC-USP) and Prof. Paula Cristina Rodrigues (UTFPR).

Exhibitors. 17 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Organizations interested in booths and other forms of participation should contact us via comercial@sbpmat.org.br.

FAQ. If you have questions about the event, please consult the frequently asked questions or write to 24encontro@sbpmat.org.br.

University Chapters

After a period of reorganization, the B-MRS University Chapters Program is back in operation under the coordination of Professor Ingrid Távora Weber (UnB), a society’s scientific director. University chapters are student groups officially recognized by B-MRS that carry out research, scientific dissemination, and innovation activities in the field of materials. Learn more about the program.

Opportunities

– Postdoctoral position in computational modeling of advanced materials at the Federal University of Lavras (MG, Brazil). Applications by March 6. Learn more.

– Postdoctoral fellowship at Unesp Araraquara (SP, Brazil) in nanoparticles with antimicrobial action. Applications until March 20th. Learn more.

-Applications are open for the Brazilian Women in Chemistry Award, from ACS and SBQ. Nominations and self-nominations can be made until March 16th. Learn more.

To publicize an opportunity for our community, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

Upcoming events

– 52nd International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings & Thin Films (ICMCTF2026). San Diego (USA). April 19 to 24, 2026. Site.

– The 4th Global Conference of Innovation Materials & MRS-K Spring Meeting (GCIM2026). Jeju (South Korea). May 1 to June 4, 2026. Site.

– 7th International Conference on Applied Surface Science. Chengdu (China). June 1 to 4, 2026. Site.

– 25th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS-25). Seul (South Korea). July 12 to 17, 2026. Site.

– International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Electronic Materials (ICSM). Rio de Janeiro (RJ, Brazil). July 19 to 24, 2026. Site.

– 20th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE). Erfurt (Germany). August 31 to September 3, 2026. Site.

– XXIV B-MRS Meeting. Curitiba (PR, Brazil). September 27 to October 1st, 2026. Site.

– 12th International Workshop on High Resolution Depth Profiling. Bento Gonçalves (RS, Brazil). October 5 to 9, 2026. Site.

– 26º Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia e Ciência dos Materiais (CBECIMAT 26). Florianópolis (SC, Brazil). Novembro 22 to 26, 2026. Site.

– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 to 10, 2026. Site.

– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). September 12 to 16, 2027.

To publicize an event for our community, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.

Membership

B-MRS membership dues for 2026 can now be paid, both for those wishing to become B-MRS members for the first time and for existing members wishing to renew their membership. Members who have paid annual fees for two or more consecutive years receive a discount this year. Payment of member fee grants significant discounts on the B-MRS Meeting registration fee, among other benefits. Learn more.

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