FCT-NOVA and Grupo Nature launch new scientific journal

This new open access knowledge dissemination project in the area of 2D materials is a partnership between FCT-NOVA and the Nature Group with the support of the European Materials Society ( E-MRS ).

The idea came about 3 years ago, after FCT-UNL participated in the Workshop “Frontiers and Materials: Spintronics” promoted by E-MRS and Grupo Nature. The meeting highlighted the notable activity of Portuguese units specializing in the areas of Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies and Applications. It was realized that there was no interdisciplinary platform for sharing and disseminating research projects in two-dimensional materials.

Having identified this gap and recognizing the prestige and experience of the CENIMAT/I3N and CEMOP Centers, – inserted in the Department of Materials Science of FCT-UNL, – the Nature group challenged the institution to lead the project of creating a new online scientific journal entirely focused on research in materials science, as well as involving European academics and researchers. This invitation was immediately accepted by FCT-NOVA, which thus became the first Portuguese institution to work in partnership with the renowned journal Nature.

Despite being considered a recent scientific area, research into 2D materials has seen significant growth since 2004, thanks to the identification and characterization of several two-dimensional and crystalline materials. The first material in this new class is graphene, – made up of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice – which has extraordinary and unique properties: it is extremely strong [more than steel], very light and flexible. Furthermore, it is a material that is highly conductive of electricity and heat.

During the E-MRS Conference in France, the potential of this new category of [2D] materials and the numerous applications for the technology, health, sports and even textile industries became clear. Sustainable, creative and innovative solutions are being developed for the construction of electronic equipment and multifunctional, intelligent and interactive systems.

Encouraging research into 2D materials and giving visibility and space to the authors of trends and innovations that are emerging in this area are the main objectives of the new npj 2D Materials and Applications . With weekly frequency, this online scientific journal aims to publish articles and materials of international relevance, in open access, using the credible nature.com platform for the dissemination of content.

On the FCT-NOVA side, the project has the faces of Rodrigo Martins , researcher responsible for CEMOP/Uninova, in the area of applications and, in the areas of electronics and nanotechnology, the scientist Elvira Fortunato . The journal's editorial board also includes a Portuguese researcher, Luís Pereira from CENIMAT/I3N/CEMOP. He will thus be the first Portuguese person appointed to perform editorial duties at the Nature Group.

This year, the Department of Materials Sciences at FCT-NOVA celebrates 40 years of existence, and the partnership established with Springer Nature and E-MRS for the creation of npj 2D Materials and Applications , highlights the prestige of the institution and the excellence of the activity of its units in the fields of Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies and Creative and Innovative Applications.