B-MRS Newsletter. Year 11, issue 8.

Posted on Thursday 5 de September de 2024

Year 11, issue 8. September 4th, 2024.

Paper and books by the community

This paper reports a possible solution for producing electronics using cleaner and more sustainable processes. The authors, from UNESP (Brazil) and the University of Glasgow (Scotland), demonstrated the effectiveness of an innovative method for manufacturing biodegradable and flexible paper electronic devices. They used a laser to draw conductive paths in kraft paper, causing the carbon atoms on the surface to reorganize into graphene-like structures. The conductive paths were used to produce resistive heaters. The group used the life cycle assessment method to measure the environmental impact of this process, showing a reduction in impact of two orders of magnitude compared to conventional methods. Access the paper.

In this article, conducted at Brazilian institutions (UCS, Unicamp and CETENE) and at North Carolina State University (USA), the authors demonstrate a new way to control friction at the nanoscale. In the system prepared for the experiments, consisting of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in aqueous suspension, they observed that exposure to light reduces friction and that, when the light is turned off, friction increases again. The discovery may be a first step towards developing smart lubricants whose properties can be controlled with an external stimulus during use of the product. In addition, the study paves the way for studying the effects of light on other properties of various suspensions. Access the paper.

Using nanocapsules containing minimal doses of herbicide has proven to be a good strategy for achieving better crop results while reducing environmental impact. This research, conducted at UEL and Unesp, further enhanced this effect. The scientific team developed polymeric nanocapsules containing atrazine (a well-known herbicide) and coated them with chitosan (a natural polymer derived from chitin that is biodegradable, biocompatible, and very abundant on the planet). The coating modified the interaction between the nanocapsules and the surface of the leaves, improving the delivery of atrazine to the plants. As a result, the researchers achieved greater weed control using only half the dose applied with the unencapsulated product. Access the paper.

In this work, a Brazilian scientific team developed a process that uses extract from jambolan leaves (Syzygium cumini) as a binder and encapsulator to synthesize iron-doped tin dioxide nanoparticles. The objective of the work was to optimize the properties of the nanoparticles to use them as photocatalysts in environmental remediation processes; that is, to degrade pollutants present in the environment through light-driven oxidation reactions. With the new process, the scientists were able to improve characteristics of this semiconductor oxide that limit its performance in photocatalysis: they expanded its light absorption capacity and increased its quantum efficiency. The work was carried out through the collaboration of researchers from UNIFAL-MG, IFSC-USP, IFMA, UFSCar, UNESP and CDTN. Access the paper.

This book is a reference for students, researchers and teachers who work in the field of Nanobiotechnology and need to understand the unique relationship between physical, chemical and biological properties of oncological drugs and their interactions. The author is Eudenilson L. Albuquerque, retired professor from UFRN and researcher in the areas of Condensed Matter Physics, Biophysics and Biochemistry. Access the book.

Community

Researchers Luiza Amim Mercante (UFBA) and Daniel Souza Correa (Embrapa Instrumentação), B-MRS members and chairs of our 2025 event, received the Academic Jabuti Award in the Chemistry and Materials category for a book in Portuguese about electrofiber spinning and nanofibers. In the work, they brought together 19 chapters on various aspects of the electrospinning technique, all written by authors from Brazilian institutions. In its first edition, the Academic Jabuti Award, a new award from the Brazilian Book Chamber dedicated to scientific, technical and professional areas, had almost 2,000 works entered.

XXII B-MRS Meeting
Santos (SP), September 29 to October 3, 2024

Short courses. Four short courses on characterization techniques, nanoparticle synthesis and scientific writing will be held on Sunday, September 29, before the opening of the event. To participate, it is necessary to register at no extra cost in the event system, in the “Add/Edit activity” tab.

Poster printing service. Visumania printing company offers a poster printing service with delivery to the event location. Interested parties should send the files by email by September 26th. Learn more.

Program. The program at a glance and the presentation schedule are available on the event website. Learn more.

Transfer. The company Central de Fretes & Receptivo will have a transfer service between the airports (Congonhas and Guarulhos) and hotels in Santos for participants of our event who wish to hire it. Reservations must be made up to 15 days before the event. Learn more.

Hosting. Hotels offering special discounts to participants of the XXII B-MRS Meeting are listed on the event website. By clicking on the links, the promotional prices are accessed. Learn more.

Plenary lectures. Seven internationally renowned scientists from universities and companies in Brazil, Canada, the United States, Italy, Poland and Singapore will speak on topics of broad interest and current affairs.The Joaquim da Costa Ribeiro Memorial Lecture will be given by Professor Marília Junqueira Caldas (USP) and the José Arana Varela Prize Lecture by Professor Bluma Guenther Soares (UFRJ). Learn more.

Exhibitors. 31 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Meet the exhibitors.

Location. The event venue is the Blue Med Convention Center in the city of Santos. More information about the city and the convention center.

Chairs. The general coordinators of the event are Prof. Laura Oliveira Péres, from the Chemistry Department of the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and Prof. Lucas Fugikawa Santos, from the Physics Department of the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp).

Opportunities

-Submissions of scientific articles for a special edition of the new IOP journal on science and technology for sustainability are open until October 31. The edition is dedicated to solutions for Latin America and has two B-MRS members as guest editors: Ana Flavia Nogueira (Unicamp) and Caue Ribeiro (Embrapa). The publication will be open access and free of charge.. Learn more.

– Special issue on materials for energy conversion and storage of the Journal of Alloys and Compounds Communications (Elsevier) accepts papers and review articles. Guest editors are members of the Brazilian materials community. Submissions are open until December 24th. Learn more.

– The call for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Alloys and Compounds Communications on titanium-based alloys, from processing to applications, with a focus on biomedical devices, is open until March 31, 2025. The three guest editors are members of B-MRS (Pedro Nascente, Carlos Grandini and Conrado Afonso). Learn more.

Upcoming events

– VI Latin American Crystallographic Association Meeting. Montevideo (Uruguay). September 23 to 26, 2024. Website.

– XXII B-MRS Meeting. Santos (SP). September 29 to October 3, 2024. Website.

– VI Iberoamerican Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies (CIPOA). Florianópolis (SC). October 7-11, 2024. Website.

– São Paulo School of Advanced Science on 4th Generation Synchrotron Techniques. Campinas (SP). October 14-25, 2024. Website.

– Biomaterials and Novel Technologies for Healthcare (4th BioMAH). Rome (Italy) October 15-18, 2024. Website.

– 8th International Workshop on Flow and Fracture of Advanced Glasses. Tokyo (Japan). October 27–30, 2024. Website.

– 8th Meeting on Self Assembly Structures in Solution and at Interfaces (Autoorg). Santos (SP). November 27-29, 2024. Website.

– XXIII B-MRS Meeting. Salvador (BA). September 28 to October 2, 2025. SAVE THE DATE!

Featured scientist: interview with Bluma Guenther Soares, winner of the José Arana Varela Award

Posted on Monday 19 de August de 2024

It was while working on a scientific initiation project as an undergraduate student in the early 1970s that Bluma Guenther Soares identified with the profession of scientist. And for this reason, throughout her career as a researcher, she has always found great motivation and satisfaction in acting as a supervisor, especially for scientific initiation students.

Bluma Guenther Soares was born in Rio de Janeiro city, but she spent her childhood and adolescence in Barra do Piraí, in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state. At the age of 18, she moved to the capital to fulfill her dream of studying Chemistry at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). She completed her undergraduate degree at the Chemistry Institute of that university in 1973. The following year, she enrolled in a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, also at UFRJ, and completed it in 1978.

In 1979, Bluma began her career as professor at UFRJ. At the same time, in 1981, she began her PhD in Polymer Science and Technology, also at UFRJ. In 1987, she defended her dissertation on cationic polymerization.

Between 1992 and 1993, during her postdoctoral studies at the Université de l’Etat a Liège, in Belgium, the scientist worked for the first time with conductive polymer composites, a topic in which she continues to work to this day.

Between 1998 and 2004, Bluma was coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Polymer Science and Technology at UFRJ. In 2005, she became a full professor at UFRJ. In 2010 and 2016, she was a visiting researcher at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) in Lyon, France.

In 2014, she was one of ten female scientists from Brazil honored with the Capes-Elsevier Award for their outstanding scientific production. In 2020, her name appeared in the ranking published in the journal PLOS Biology among the 2% of researchers in the world in her field with the greatest impact on publications.

Over 50 years of scientific activity, she has authored more than 370 scientific articles. With over 11,000 citations according to Google Scholar, Bluma currently has an H index of 54 and is a CNPq research productivity fellow at the highest level (1 A). In addition, she has supervised 60 scientific initiation projects, 74 masters and 49 doctorates to date.

At 73 years of age, the scientist has no less than 25 students under her supervision in her laboratory at the Macromolecule Institute Professora Eloisa Mano (IMA) at UFRJ and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at the university. In addition, she is a member of the editorial board of several journals and is part of the board of directors of the Brazilian Polymer Association (ABPol).

At the XXII B-MRS Meeting, which will be held in Santos (Brazil) from September 29 to October 3 of this year, Bluma Guenther Soares will receive the José Arana Varela Award, which is granted annually by B-MRS to an outstanding researcher in Brazil. On the occasion, the honoree will give a plenary lecture on ionic liquids in polymeric materials and nanocomposites.

Learn more about this prominent scientist from our community in this interview.

B-MRS Newsletter: Tell us what led you to become a scientist.

Bluma Guenther Soares: I was still in high school when I fell in love with science classes. I decided then that I would study Chemistry at the National School of Chemistry. The motivation to become a scientist came later when I began my scientific initiation internship at the Organic Chemistry Department of the IQ/UFRJ.

When I finished the basic cycle at the College (Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at UFRJ had the same basic cycle) I requested to transfer my student registration to the Chemistry Institute. My professional path was the same as always: I enrolled in the Master’s degree program at the Organic Chemistry Department of the IQ/UFRJ. During my Master’s degree, I realized that I wanted to follow an academic path and approached the head of the department to teach classes in the department without a contract – and without a salary, of course.

He encouraged me and I began teaching Organic Chemistry from that moment on. In 1979 I was hired as a professor by the Organic Chemistry Department. I then started my PhD in Polymer Science and Technology at the Institute of Macromolecules.

B-MRS Newsletter: Think about the scientific discoveries and advances in which you have participated throughout your career and briefly describe those that you consider most relevant or interesting.

Bluma Guenther Soares: As previously mentioned, I began my career as a researcher in the area of Organic Chemistry and joined the Polymer Group, coordinated by Professor Eloisa Mano. After finishing my PhD, and based on student demand, I began working in the area of polymer applications.

When I went to do my postdoctoral internship in Liège in 1992, the project was to be the synthesis of block copolymers, that is, organic chemistry applied to polymers. When I got there, the supervisor, Professor Jerome, changed my project to the development of electrically conductive polymer composites. It was truly the greatest challenge of my life, because I had no knowledge whatsoever about the physics involved in this area. I had to study a lot. Therefore, the discoveries involving materials that absorb electromagnetic waves were of great relevance.

Another discovery of great impact was the verification that some ionic liquids could act as non-covalent agents on carbon nanotubes and improve their dispersion. This discovery also resulted in the preparation of anticorrosive coatings involving epoxy resin and hybrid material containing polyaniline and carbon nanotubes, whose dispersion was aided by the ionic liquid.

B-MRS Newsletter: From the point of view of training researchers, creating laboratories, scientific dissemination and other aspects of a researcher’s career, what are your achievements that have had the greatest impact and/or that have given you the greatest satisfaction?

Bluma Guenther Soares: In my opinion, training human resources is always what gives us the greatest satisfaction. And every publication made with master’s, doctoral and scientific initiation students is of great importance to me.

I would like to highlight my work in advising scientific initiation students. Since I became excited about a career as a scientist after my scientific initiation internship, I am concerned with providing good guidance and inspiring these students, thus contributing to creating a critical mass of researchers in Brazil.

B-MRS Newsletter: In your profession as a professor and researcher, have you encountered many difficulties related to being a woman and/or being a mother?

Bluma Guenther Soares: Although I began my professional career in the 1970s, I never encountered any difficulties, either during my undergraduate studies or later as a professor and researcher, due to the fact that I was a woman. In these places, there was no discrimination because I was a woman.

In fact, I had some difficulties because I had to balance my professional life with a marriage and three children. For example, I ended up having to postpone my postdoctoral project in Liège, because I had to balance it at the best time. My male friends went abroad to do their doctorates and postdoctoral studies more easily than we women did. But we managed to balance the double shift well.

B-MRS Newsletter: Leave a message for our readers who are starting a career as scientists in Brazil or are considering this possibility.

Bluma Guenther Soares: As a message, I would like to say that studying new things is very challenging and tiring at times. Therefore, the first point is to know how to choose your field of activity so that research is truly a pleasure. When choosing a career that fascinates you, young people cannot be discouraged by the first difficulties.

Just to tell you a little story, I lived in Barra do Piraí when I was in middle school and high school – what we called the “science course” at that time. The only science course was at night, and the Chemistry teacher didn’t know Chemistry. He was a doctor. I had to study alone for the entrance exam to the university. It was very difficult, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by because I didn’t have a teacher. We don’t have good teachers, we have good books.

Good luck to everyone and don’t forget to pursue your dreams.

B-MRS Newsletter. Year 11, issue 7.

Posted on Monday 5 de August de 2024

Year 11, issue 7. August 2nd, 2024.

Papers by the community

A study on a new transistor, conducted by researchers from Brazil (Unesp and Mackenzie) and Germany, was featured on the cover of Advanced Electronic Materials in June. Using low-cost printing techniques, the authors manufactured an EGVFET transistor based on zinc oxide. The new transistor was studied by the scientific team to elucidate its charge transport mechanisms, that is, how charge carriers move through the materials that compose it. In addition, the authors guarantee that the device is capable of allowing or interrupting the passage of electric current when exposed to ultraviolet light depending on its intensity. The advances open up possibilities for applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Access the paper.

A large portion of the medications we take are excreted and end up polluting the water, since conventional treatments are unable to remove these substances. Therefore, developing advanced techniques to solve the problem is a major challenge. In this article, a team of Brazilian scientists from UFPI, UFAL and UFPE, together with collaborators from the University of Málaga (Spain), report a new approach to remove tetracycline from water, an antibiotic used to treat various infections and widely present in effluents. The researchers achieved a synergistic effect by combining the adsorption of the pollutant and its degradation through photocatalysis. To do this, they developed a nanocomposite formed by a porous adsorbent clay (sepiolite) and a photocatalyst (cerium-doped titanium dioxide). The material was able to remove 70.45% of tetracycline, thanks to the action, in almost equal parts, of adsorption and photocatalysis. Access the paper.

Methanol is a compound that can be used in many everyday products, but when it volatilizes into the air, it has strong toxic effects that can harm human health. Therefore, its effective, real-time detection is necessary. Recently, a scientific team of researchers from UFPR and collaborators from NEXT Chemical (a Brazilian nanomaterials industry) reported the development of a new gas sensor that presented one of the highest responses ever published in methanol detection. The sensor was produced using a simple, low-cost method that can be used on an industrial scale: slot-die. The technique is similar to a printing technique, in which the ink contains the elements needed to form films of the desired material. In this way, the team obtained films of a nanocomposite formed by a conductive polymer and nanoparticles of an inorganic material (zinc oxide). The material was able to detect methanol at room temperature with high selectivity and can be deposited on both rigid and flexible substrates. Access the paper.

XXII B-MRS Meeting
Santos (SP), September 29 to October 3, 2024

Next important date. The early bird registration period, which guarantees registrations with significant discounts for all categories, ends on August 10th. Know more.

Transfer. The company Central de Fretes & Receptivo will have a transfer service between the airports (Congonhas and Guarulhos) and the hotels in Santos for the participants of our event who wish to hire it. Know more.

Accommodation. Hotels offering special discounts to participants of the XXII B-MRS Meeting are listed on the event website. By clicking on the links, the promotional prices are accessed. See here.

Plenary lectures. Seven internationally renowned scientists from universities and companies in Brazil, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and Singapore will speak on scientific topics of broad interest. The Joaquim da Costa Ribeiro Memorial Lecture will be given by Prof. Marília Junqueira Caldas (USP) and the José Arana Varela Prize Lecture by Prof. Bluma Guenther Soares (UFRJ). Know more.

Exhibitors. 31 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Meet the exhibitors. Organizations interested in the exhibition and other forms of sponsorship can contact comercial@sbpmat.org.br.

Local. The event venue is the Blue Med Convention Center in the city of Santos. More information about the city and the convention center.

Chairs. The general coordinators of the event are Prof. Laura Oliveira Péres, from the Chemistry Department of the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and Prof. Lucas Fugikawa Santos, from the Physics Department of the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp).

Opportunities

– Postdoctoral research in perovskite solar cells at Unesp (Bauru, SP). Applications until August 23rd. Know more.

– Paper submission is open until October 31 for a special issue of a new IOP journal on science and technology for sustainability. The edition is dedicated to solutions for Latin America and has two B-MRS members as guest editors: Ana Flavia Nogueira (Unicamp) and Caue Ribeiro (Embrapa). The publication will be open access and free of charge. Know more.

– Special issue on materials for energy conversion and storage of the Journal of Alloys and Compounds Communications (Elsevier) accepts papers and review articles. Guest editors are members of the Brazilian materials community. Submissions are open until December 24th. Know more.

– Call for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Alloys and Compounds Communications on titanium-based alloys, from processing to applications, with a focus on biomedical devices. The three guest editors are B-MRS members (Pedro Nascente, Carlos Grandini and Conrado Afonso). The deadline is March 31, 2025. Know more.

Upcoming events

– 4th Workshop on Coated Tools & Multifunctional Thin Films. Campinas (SP). August 19-23, 2024. Website.

– XIV Curso do Método Rietveld. Fortaleza (CE). August 26-30, 2024. Website.

– III Simpósio Multidisciplinar em Materiais do Centro-Oeste (SMMCO). Caldas Novas (GO). August 26-28, 2024. Website.

– 19th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE 2024). Erfurt (Germany). September 2–5, 2024. Website.

– VI Latin American Crystallographic Association Meeting. Montevideo (Uruguay). September 23-26, 2024. Website.

– XXII B-MRS Meeting. Santos (SP). September 29 to October 3, 2024. Website.

– VI Iberoamerican Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies (CIPOA). Florianópolis (SC). October 7-11, 2024. Website.

– São Paulo School of Advanced Science on 4th Generation Synchrotron Techniques. Campinas (SP). October 14-25, 2024. Website.

– Biomaterials and Novel Technologies for Healthcare (4th BioMAH). Rome (Italy) October 15-18, 2024. Website.

– 8th International Workshop on Flow and Fracture of Advanced Glasses. Tokyo (Japan). October 27–30, 2024. Website.

– XXIII B-MRS Meeting. Salvador (BA). September 28 to October 2, 2025. SAVE THE DATE!

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B-MRS Newsletter. Year 11, issue 6.

Posted on Tuesday 9 de July de 2024

Year 11, issue 6. July 2nd, 2024.

Papers and patents by the community

Photoluminescent nanoparticles can play a crucial role in diagnostic imaging methods used in medicine due to their ability to emit light inside living organisms and cells. They can also be used in theranostic medicine, which combines diagnosis and treatment in the same procedure. In this recently published article, a group of researchers from IFSC-USP and UFSCar presents new photoluminescent and biocompatible nanoparticles, made from carbonated calcium phosphate and functionalized with citrate. Using simple, low-cost methods, the team was able to optimize the luminescence of these nanoparticles, in addition to increasing their stability. The work highlights the potential of this material for bioimaging and theranostics. Access the paper.

This paper reports an innovative approach to degrading the glyphosate molecule – a herbicide widely used in agriculture, which ends up polluting water and soil. In this proposal, glyphosate powers a fuel cell based on a photoanode that captures sunlight and promotes spontaneous reactions capable of degrading the molecule and, at the same time, generating electricity. The authors of the work, researchers from UFMS and LNNano-CNPEM, carefully developed the photoanode materials in order to increase their efficiency. Access the paper.

In this article, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Unesp, Unicamp and PUC-Rio presents an new antenna for satellite communication with better performance than conventional ones. The team developed an innovative design based on mathematical models and was able to manufacture it thanks to the use of metal additive manufacturing. The authors made adjustments to the design of the classic helical antenna, invented in the 1940s. By proposing wires with variable diameters throughout the antenna, they managed to bring together the main advantages of thick-wire and thin-wire antennas. Additive manufacturing was essential to enable the precise manufacturing of a device with complex geometry using high-quality steel. Access the paper.

Recently granted to UFRN by the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), this letter patent protects the invention of a material with high sensitivity to deformation that could be used as a touch sensor. The technology is based on the use of magnetostrictive films, which change their magnetic properties when subjected to some degree of deformation. To maximize the effect, the authors carried out a detailed study to transfer these properties, already well studied in rigid substrates such as glass, to flexible substrates. Using the magnetron sputtering technique, they deposited nanostructures based on cobalt alloys on flexible polymeric substrates. The material obtained allows controlling the level of sensitivity through external magnetic fields and variations in the frequency of electrical current. This possibility may be interesting for technological applications, such as, for example, touch systems on car steering wheels, where sensitivity control must be rigorous to avoid accidents.

Advocacy

– B-MRS signs a letter to Brazilian federal science agencies CNPq and Capes asking for resources for mobility of students from institutions in Rio Grande do Sul affected by the climate catastrophe, so that they can continue their research in other institutions in the country, if they wish. Read the letter.

Community

Reginaldo Muccillo (IPEN), former administrative director of B-MRS, joined the body of associate editors of Ceramics International, Elsevier’s prestigious magazine dedicated to advanced ceramic materials. Muccillo’s trajectory in this area of research has international prominence, including his election as a member of the World Academy of Ceramics and awards from the American Ceramic Society. We wish our member success in this new assignment!

XXII B-MRS Meeting
Santos (SP), September 29 to October 3, 2024

Next important date. Extended abstracts to compete for event prizes and awards must be sent by July 10th. Know more.

Accommodation. The hotels that offer a special discount to participants of the XXII B-MRS Meeting are listed on the event website. By clicking on the links, the promotional values are accessed. Check here.

Plenary talks. Seven internationally renowned scientists, from universities and companies in Brazil, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and Singapore, will speak about scientific topics of broad interest. The Memorial Lecture Joaquim da Costa Ribeiro will be given by Prof. Marília Junqueira Caldas (USP) and the José Arana Varela Award Lecture, by Prof. Bluma Guenther Soares (UFRJ). Know more.

Student awards and prizes. The B-MRS Bernhard Gross Awards will recognize the best poster and best oral presentation by undergraduate and postgraduate students at each symposium. Among the finalists, the works with the best evaluations will receive cash prizes from scientific publishers ACS and RSC. To compete for the prizes it is necessary to submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Early career woman researcher prize. The B-MRS Young Researcher Award will recognize the best oral presentation of the entire event made by a woman who defended her doctorate between 2015 and 2024. The winner will receive a cash prize from the scientific publisher MDPI. To compete, you must submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Registration. The registration fee for the event is available for the different categories and conditions. The early registration discount for all categories ends on August 10th. See registration fees.

Venue. The event location is the Blue Med Convention Center in the city of Santos. More information about the city and the convention center.

Chairs. The general coordinators of the event are Prof. Laura Oliveira Péres, from the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and Prof. Lucas Fugikawa Santos, from the Physics Department of the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp).

Opportunities

– The submission of scientific articles for a special edition of a new IOP magazine on science and technology for sustainability is open until October 31st. The issue is dedicated to solutions for Latin America and has two B-MRS members as guest editors: Ana Flavia Nogueira (Unicamp) and Caue Ribeiro (Embrapa). The publication will be open access and free of charge. Know more.

– Alexander von Humboldt Foundation + CAPES program offers scholarships for scientific visits to Germany for recent doctors or experienced researchers. Know more

Upcoming events

– 17th International Conference on Inorganic Membranes (ICIM 2024). Florianópolis (SC, Brazil). July 1-5, 2024. Website.

– 29th International Liquid Crystal Conference (ILCC 2024). Rio de Janeiro (RJ, Brazil). July 21 to 26, 2024. Website.

– 24th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar EnergS-24y (IP). Hiroshima (Japan). July 28 to August 2, 2024. Website.

– VI Escola de Inverno em Física Aplicada à Medicina e Biologia (EIFAMB). Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brazil). July 29 to August 2, 2024. Website.

– 4th Workshop on Coated Tools & Multifunctional Thin Films. Campinas (SP, Brazil). August 19 to 23, 2024. Website.

– XIV Rietveld Method Course. Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). August 26 to 30, 2024. Website.

– III Simpósio Multidisciplinar em Materiais do Centro-Oeste (SMMCO). Caldas Novas (GO, Brazil). August 26 to 28, 2024. Website.

– 19th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE 2024). Erfurt (Germany). September 2nd to 5th, 2024. Website.

– VI Latin American Crystallographic Association Meeting. Montevideo (Uruguay). September 23-26, 2024 Website.

– XXII B-MRS Meeting. Santos (SP, Brazil). September 29 to October 3, 2024. Website.

– VI Iberoamerican Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies (CIPOA). Florianópolis (SC, Brazil). October 7th to 11th, 2024. Website.

– São Paulo School of Advanced Science on 4th Generation Synchrotron Techniques. Campinas (SP, Brazil). October 14-25, 2024. Website.

– Biomaterials and Novel Technologies for Healthcare (4th BioMAH). Rome (Italy) October 15 to 18, 2024. Website.

– 8th International Workshop on Flow and Fracture of Advanced Glasses. Tóquio (Japan). October 27 to 30, 2024.Website.

– XXIII B-MRS Meeting. Salvador (BA, Brazil). September 28 to October 2, 2025. SAVE THE DATE!

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Sugestão de apoio emergencial aos pós-graduandos do Rio Grande do Sul.

Posted on Friday 14 de June de 2024

SUGESTÃO DE APOIO EMERGENCIAL AOS PÓSGRADUANDOS DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Excelentíssimo Professor Ricardo Galvão, Presidente do CNPq.
Excelentíssima Professora Denise Pires de Carvalho, Presidente da CAPES.

Em virtude da situação de calamidade enfrentada pelo Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, os Comitês de Assessoramento de Química e Física/Astronomia do CNPq vêm, por meio desta, propor ao CNPq e à CAPES, como mais uma ação de solidariedade para com as Instituições de Ensino e Pesquisa que tiveram seus laboratórios e infraestrutura de ensino e pesquisa afetados pela recente catástrofe climática que se abateu sobre aquele estado, um apoio emergencial aos pós-graduandos das instituições apoiadas pelo sistema CNPq e CAPES. Propomos, então, uma iniciativa que vise a apoiar os estudantes de pós-graduação (PG) de todas as áreas do conhecimento das instituições gaúchas, para realizarem – quando necessário e desejável – seus trabalhos experimentais e computacionais em outras instituições do sistema de PG do País. Para tanto, pedimos que CNPq e CAPES destinem recursos para a mobilidade dos estudantes, de modo que possam dar continuidade à sua pesquisa de mestrado/doutorado em outros laboratórios. Detalhes da formatação desta ação emergencial poderão ser discutidos em reunião específica sob a coordenação do CNPq e CAPES.

Como exemplo de uma forma de operacionalizar esta proposta, as agencias de fomento (CNPq e Capes) poderiam abrir um edital simplificado emergencial de mobilidade e disponibilizar um formulário eletrônico, para cadastro dos laboratórios interessados em participar dessa ação recebendo estudantes. É importante ressaltar que, ao se cadastrarem, os laboratórios oferecerão sua estrutura para os/as estudantes durante o período em que estes/as estiverem envolvidos/as em suas atividades. Adicionalmente, os/as estudantes deveriam manifestar seu interesse em ser acolhido em determinado laboratório, com a devida anuência de seus/suas orientadores/as e do supervisor local que receberá. Para otimizar este processo, sugerimos ainda que que os/as candidatos/as indiquem até três laboratórios, dentre os cadastrados, onde possam vir a desenvolver suas atividades, para maior flexibilidade.

Esperamos poder contar com a sensibilidade e apoio das ilustres presidências do CNPq e da CAPES, e agradecemos antecipadamente pela atenção dispensada a esta solicitação.

Essa iniciativa conta com o apoio, além dos membros dos CA’s, das entidades cujos dirigentes esta subscrevem.

Em 10 de junho de 2024.

Atenciosamente,

Severino Alves Júnior, membro do CA- Química, CNPq,

Monica Cotta, membro do CA Física/Astronomia, CNPQ,

Helena Nader, Presidente Academia Brasileira de Ciências,

Renato Janine Ribeiro, Presidente Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência,

Anderson Gomes, Presidente da Academia Pernambucana de Ciências,

Ivan Bechtold, Presidente da SBPMat.

B-MRS Newsletter. Year 11, issue 5.

Posted on Monday 3 de June de 2024

Year 11, issue 5. June 4th, 2024.

Papers and books by the community

Liquid crystals bring together fluidity and molecular order, making them very interesting for various technologies. In this work, the authors demonstrated for the first time that a liquid crystal based on the organic compound perylene has the potential to store and process information through switching between “on” and “off” states based on the resistivity of the material (the degree of resistance that it offers to the passage of electricity). The liquid crystal showed a very good ability to “write-read-erase-read” information. Carried out by researchers from Brazilian institutions UFSC, FURB and IFSC-USP and collaborators from Canada, France and Poland, this study opens up possibilities for producing low-cost organic memories. Access the paper.

This book, written in Portuguese, is for everyone who works in the field of welding or is interested in the subject. The author, Prof. Jair Carlos Dutra, is the founder and researcher at the Institute of Welding and Mechatronics – LABSOLDA at UFSC. Based on decades of experience in science, technology and innovation in the area, the book discusses in detail and, in some cases, questions concepts about welding processes and their applications. Access the book.

Transistors made from organic materials are increasingly being used in promising devices for health and environmental areas. However, the technique most used to date to characterize them, electrochemical impedance, is not the most appropriate. In this article, researchers from IFSC-USP show why this method is not the most accurate and what would be the best alternative for measuring volumetric capacitance (the amount of electrical charges that can be stored in a given volume) in organic transistors. Access the paper.

XXII B-MRS Meeting
Santos (SP), September 29th to October 3rd, 2024

Upcoming important dates. The deadline to submit revised abstracts is June 14. Submission of extended abstract for Student and Woman Awards is open by July 10.

Plenary talks. Six internationally renowned scientists, from universities and companies in Brazil, Canada, Italy, Singapore and UK will speak about scientific topics of broad interest. Know more.

Student awards. The Bernhard Gross Award will recognize the best poster and best oral presentation by undergraduate and postgraduate students at each symposium. Among the finalists, the works with the best evaluations will receive cash prizes from scientific publishers ACS and RSC. To compete for the awards and prizes it is necessary to submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Early career woman researcher prize. This award will recognize the best oral presentation of the entire event made by a woman who defended her PhD between 2015 and 2024. The winner will receive a cash prize from the scientific publisher MDPI. To compete, it is mandatory to submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Registration. The registration fee for the event is available for the different categories and conditions. See registration fees.

Exhibitors. 27 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Check the exhibitors. Organizations interested in the exhibition and other forms of sponsorship can contact comercial@sbpmat.org.br.

Venue. The event location is the Blue Med Convention Center in the city of Santos. More information about the city and the convention center.

Chairs. The general chairs of the event are Prof. Laura Oliveira Péres, from the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and Prof. Lucas Fugikawa Santos, from the Physics Department of the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp).

Opportunities

– Submission of scientific articles is open until October 31st for a focus isuue of a new IOP journal on science and technology for sustainability. The issue is dedicated to sustainability solutions in Latin America and features two B-MRS members as guest editors: Ana Flavia Nogueira (Unicamp) and Caue Ribeiro (Embrapa). The publication will be open access and free of charge. Know more.

– Alexander von Humboldt Foundation + CAPES program offers scholarships for scientific visits to Germany for both early career and experienced researchers. Know more.

To follow opportunities in the area, enter the B-MRS group on Linkedin.

Upcoming events

– 6th International Conference on Applied Surface Science (ICASS). Wuzhen (China). June 17th to 20th, 2024. Website.

– 20th International Conference on Diffusion in Solids and Liquids (DSL2024). Barcelona (Spain). June 24th to 28th, 2024. Website.

– 17th International Conference on Inorganic Membranes (ICIM 2024). Florianópolis (SC, Brazil). July 1-5, 2024. Website.

– 29th International Liquid Crystal Conference (ILCC 2024). Rio de Janeiro (RJ, Brazil). July 21 to 26, 2024. Website.

– 24th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS-24). Hiroshima (Japan). July 28 to August 2, 2024. Website.

– VI Escola de Inverno em Física Aplicada à Medicina e Biologia (EIFAMB). Ribeirão Preto (SP). July 29 to August 2, 2024. Website.

– 4th Workshop on Coated Tools & Multifunctional Thin Films. Campinas (SP, Brazil). August 19 to 23, 2024. Website.

– III Simpósio Multidisciplinar em Materiais do Centro-Oeste (SMMCO). Caldas Novas (GO, Brazil). August 26 to 28, 2024. Website.

– 19th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE 2024). Erfurt (Germany). September 2nd to 5th, 2024. Website.

– VI Latin American Crystallographic Association Meeting. Montevideo (Uruguay). September 23-26, 2024. Website.

– XXII B-MRS Meeting. Santos (SP, Brazil). September 29 to October 3, 2024. Website.

– VI Iberoamerican Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies (CIPOA). Florianópolis (SC, Brazil). October 7th to 11th, 2024. Website.

– São Paulo School of Advanced Science on 4th Generation Synchrotron Techniques. Campinas (SP, Brazil). October 14-25, 2024. Website.

– Biomaterials and Novel Technologies for Healthcare (4th BioMAH). Rome (Italy) October 15 to 18, 2024.Website.

– 8th International Workshop on Flow and Fracture of Advanced Glasses. Tokyo (Japan). October 27-30, 2024. Website.

– XXIII B-MRS Meeting. Salvador (BA, Brazil). September 28 to October 2, 2025. SAVE THE DATE!

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Nota de solidariedade ao povo do RS.

Posted on Monday 20 de May de 2024

A Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa em Materiais (SBPMat) manifesta solidariedade à população do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul atingida por esta catástrofe climática. Muito além de bens materiais, foram vidas e histórias perdidas.

Também manifesta sua solidariedade aos pesquisadores e pesquisadoras do RS. A comunidade científica do RS é uma força nacional no desenvolvimento científico do Brasil, em especial na área de Materiais, com grandes contribuições para a SBPMat.

Ivan H Bechtold
Presidente da SBPMat

Nota de apoio à Fapesp.

Posted on Friday 10 de May de 2024

Rio de Janeiro, 09 de maio de 2024

NOTA DE APOIO À FAPESP

A Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa em Materiais (SBPMat) manifesta preocupação com a proposta de corte de 30% no orçamento da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) para o ano de 2025.

As instituições de ensino e pesquisa do estado de São Paulo são responsáveis por grande parte do conhecimento científico gerado no Brasil, em especial na área de materiais, e contribuem com a formação qualificada de pesquisadores para atuarem na academia, no mercado de trabalho e para empreender.

A FAPESP tem um papel central no financiamento destas atividades e a redução de 30% dos recursos comprometerá significativamente este processo, sendo um retrocesso não apenas para o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico do país, mas para a sociedade em geral por ele beneficiado.

O engajamento de todos os setores da sociedade é fundamental para alertar os parlamentares da Assembleia Legislativa de São Paulo, a fim de impedir que isso aconteça.

Ivan H Bechtold

Presidente da Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa em Materiais – SBPMat

B-MRS Newsletter. Year 11, issue 4.

Posted on Tuesday 7 de May de 2024

Year 11, issue 4. May 3rd, 2024.

B-MRS Awards: early career woman scientist

The B-MRS board of directors announces with great joy the launch of the B-MRS Early Career Woman Prize, which will recognize the best work presented in an oral session by a woman at the beginning of her career within the society’s annual event, the B-MRS Meeting. In its first edition, the award will be sponsored by the publisher MDPI. Know more.

Community consultation: plenary speakers for 2025

The organizing committee of the XXIII B-MRS Meeting, which will be held in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil) from October 28th to November 2nd, 2025, invites the scientific community to send suggestions for speakers for the plenary sessions. Suggestions must be sent through an open form until May 20th this year. Know more.

Papers and books by the community

Trying to contribute to the success of crime investigation, this work proposes a new, fast and low-cost method to reveal latent fingerprints on metal surfaces such as coins and keys. Based on the electrochemical deposition of silver nanoparticles, the method was effective in situations where conventional processes have limitations: aged fingerprints and wet/ colored / different textured surfaces. The nanoparticles are deposited in the regions of the metal that do not have residue left by the finger, thus forming a negative image of the fingerprint, with high contrast. The work was led by researchers from UFAL and had the participation of the Federal Police and authors from IFAL and the University of Leicester (United Kingdom). Access the paper.

By being able to produce nanoscale fibers with unique architectures, the electrospinning technique has enabled the development of various materials, with applications in sectors such as health, food, energy and photonics. In this book in Portuguese, which can be downloaded or read online free of charge, two young researchers in the field, Luiza Amim Mercante (professor at UFBA) and Daniel Souza Correa (researcher at Embrapa Instrumentação), bring together 19 chapters on various aspects of electrospinning, all written by authors from Brazilian institutions. Access the book.

XXII B-MRS Meeting
Santos (SP), September 29th to October 3rd, 2024

We received more than 2,200 submissions!

Next important date. Notifications of approval, modification or rejection of the abstracts will be sent on May 31st.

Awards for students. The Bernhard Gross Award will recognize the best poster and best oral presentation by undergraduate and postgraduate students at each symposium. Among the finalists, the works with the best evaluations will receive cash prizes from scientific publishers ACS and RSC. To compete for the awards and prizes it is necessary to submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Award for young woman researcher. The B-MRS Early Career Woman Prize will recognize the best oral presentation of the entire event made by a woman who defended her doctorate between 2015 and 2024. The winner will receive a cash prize from the scientific publisher MDPI. To compete, you must submit an extended abstract by July 10th. Know more.

Registration. The registration fee for the event is available for the different categories and conditions. See registration fees.

Exhibitors. 19 companies and startups have already confirmed their participation in our booth exhibition. Meet the exhibitors. Organizations interested in the exhibition and other forms of sponsorship can contact comercial@sbpmat.org.br.

Venue. The event location is the Blue Med Convention Center in the city of Santos. More information about the city and the convention center.

Chairs. The general chairs of the event are Prof. Laura Oliveira Péres, from the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and Prof. Lucas Fugikawa Santos, from the Physics Department of the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp).

Community

Prof. Edgar Zanotto (UFSCar) was awarded an important recognition in the area of glass materials, the Varshneya Frontiers of Glass Science Lecture. This lecture is awarded annually by The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) to a scientist who has made exceptional contributions to the advancement of glassy materials science. Zanotto is the first recipient from Latin America. The lecture will be held in May this year in Las Vegas, at the Glass & Optical Materials Division Meeting. On this occasion, the scientist will talk about the nucleation of crystals in glass and supercooled liquids.

Opportunities

– New call from Fapesp (São Paulo) and M-ERA NET (European Union) will support ambitious transnational research and development projects in the area of materials. Pre-proposals must be sent by May 14th. Know more.

To follow opportunities in the area, join the B-MRS group on Linkedin.

Upcoming events

– IEEE International Magnetics Conference (INTERMAG 2024). Rio de Janeiro (RJ, Brazil). May 5th to 10th, 2024. Website.

– 50th International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF 2024). San Diego (USA). May 19 to 24, 2024. Website.

– 101st IUVSTA workshop on high performance SIMS instrumentation and machine learning / artificial intelligence methods for complex data. Maresias (SP, Brazil). May 19 to 24, 2024. Website.

– I International Workshop on Applied Biosensing + IEEE Women in Sensors Day. Joinville (SC, Brazil). June 3-6, 2024. Website.