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FCT-NOVA and Nature Group launch new scientific journal

This new open-access project for knowledge dissemination 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 up three years ago, after the participation of FCT-UNL in the Workshop "Frontiers and Materials: Spintronics" promoted by E-MRS and the Nature Group. The meeting highlighted the remarkable activity of the Portuguese units specialized 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 Centres, - which are part of 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 devoted to research in materials science, as well as to involve 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.

Although considered a recent scientific area, research on 2D materials has seen significant growth since 2004, thanks to the identification and characterization of several two-dimensional, crystalline materials. The first material in this new class is graphene, - consisting of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, - with extraordinary and unique properties: it is extremely strong [more so than steel], very light and flexible. In addition, it is a highly conductive material for electricity and heat.

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

To encourage research in 2D materials and to give visibility and space to the authors of the trends and novelties that are emerging in this area are the main objectives of the new npj 2D Materials and Applications. Published on a weekly basis, 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, scientist Elvira Fortunato. The magazine's editorial board also includes a Portuguese researcher, Luís Pereira from CENIMAT/ I3N/CEMOP. He will thus be the first Portuguese appointed to exercise editorial functions in the Nature Group.

This year, the Materials Sciences Department of 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 ApplicationsThe partnership with Springer Nature and E-MRS for the creation of npj Materials, 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.