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Interview: José Arana Varela Award
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Ana Flávia Nogueira, a professor at UNICAMP and director of the Center for Innovation on New Energies (CINE), is this year’s recipient of the José Arana Varela Award. Presented by B-MRS, this award honors an established researcher from a Brazilian institution who stands out for scientific or technological achievements in the field of materials science (and related areas) and/or for contributions to the research community. Ana Flávia will receive the award in Curitiba on the 30th, during the XXIV B-MRS Meeting, where she will also deliver a lecture on perovskite solar cells. Her career has been marked by impactful contributions to the development of materials for emerging photovoltaic technologies. Furthermore, she has consistently worked to boost the international visibility of Latin American research and to foster collaboration between academia and industry. Learn more in the interview she gave to the B-MRS Newsletter, here.
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Papers by the community
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A study conducted by researchers from Brazilian institutions UFF, CBPF, UFRJ, and UFJF presents new possibilities for the development of materials based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These structures—the subject of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry—have been successfully employed in various applications. One such application is carbon dioxide capture, which prevents the gas from accumulating in the atmosphere and allows it to be used as a raw material for producing compounds of industrial value. In this study, the authors developed a hybrid material capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide, composed of a copper-based MOF and an ionic liquid; the latter served as the medium for the reactions between the metals and the organic ligands. The team observed that the ionic liquid not only acted as a solvent but also modified the MOF’s structure and properties. This resulted in the formation of a two-dimensional network featuring species derived from the ionic liquid on the surface, which generated strong interactions with carbon dioxide. By combining experimental techniques with theoretical calculations, the study demonstrated that the use of ionic liquids can induce distinct structures and additional functionalities in MOFs. This approach opens up new perspectives for the design of such materials. Go to the paper.
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A new study conducted by researchers from Brazilian universities UFSCar, USP, Unesp, and UNILA contributes to the optimization of implant materials. The authors employed a low-cost, environmentally friendly treatment—plasma electrolytic oxidation—to modify the surfaces of three titanium-based materials. The treatment produced micrometric coatings composed of oxide nanocomposites. Subsequently, the scientists analyzed the properties of each material—both coated and uncoated—to assess their potential for implant applications. They found that the treatment significantly enhanced the samples’ corrosion resistance. Furthermore, they observed that the coating’s porous, rough topography optimized the adhesion of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) to the materials, thereby promoting potential integration with bone tissue. Among the samples studied, the coated Ti-40Nb-40Zr alloy demonstrated the best performance. Go to the paper.
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XXIV B-MRS Meeting
Curitiba (state of Paraná), September 27 to October 1st, 2026
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App. The event app is available for download, here.
Complete program. The complete event program, including information on all presentations and activities, is available here.
Program at a glance is available here.
Young Scientists Showcase. Public school students from Paraná will present projects they developed in Science Clubs on September 29 and 30, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in the event lounge.
Awards. The winners of the awards and prizes for participants (awards for students, early-career women, and science popularization) will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on October 1st at 12:30 PM. Winners must be present at the ceremony to receive the awards.
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 Universidade Positivo campus in Curitiba. Address: Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 5300.
Chairs. The chairs of this edition are Prof. Gregório Couto Faria (IFSC-USP) and Prof. Paula Cristina Rodrigues (UTFPR).
ATTENTION: The XXIV B-MRS Meeting does NOT have an authorized travel agency. Protect yourself against scams and fraud. |
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Upcoming events
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– Science in Transformation: AI, Simulation, and Innovation. Talks by Henrik Rudolph (Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Surface Science) and Pablo I. Bechthold (Editor of Applied Surface Science). Online. September 24th, 2026. Link to the live.
– XXIV B-MRS Meeting. Curitiba (Brazil). September 27 – October 1st, 2026. Site.
– 12th International Workshop on High Resolution Depth Profiling. Bento Gonçalves (Brazil). October 5 – 9, 2026. Site.
– XIII Latin American Workshop on Magnetism, Magnetic Materials and their Applications (XIII LAW3M). Natal (Brazil). October 19 – 23, 2026. Site.
– 26º Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia e Ciência dos Materiais (CBECIMAT 26). Florianopolis (Brazil). November 22 – 26, 2026. Site.
– 13th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS 2026). Nairobi (Kenya). December 5 – 10, 2026. Site.
– II Reunião de Usuários de Nêutrons (II RUN). São Paulo (Brazil). January 26 – 28, 2027. Site.
– Materials for Sustainable Development Conference – Latin América (MATSUS-LATAM27). Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). February 1st – 3, 2027. Site.
– XXV B-MRS Meeting. Fortaleza (Brazil). September 12 – 16, 2027.
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If you wish to publicize materials science events, write to comunicacao@sbpmat.org.br.
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