Advances in Materials for Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, "Advances in Materials for Sustainable Development", was launched to collect and disseminate original, theoretical, and applied scientific research in various fields areas related to the development of new materials and technologies focusing on sustainable development.

The role of advanced materials in achieving sustainability goals is more critical than ever. In this Special Issue, we focus on crystals as the cornerstone of innovations driving sustainable development across multiple sectors, including energy, environment, and technology. From renewable energy generation to eco-friendly manufacturing and resource-efficient solutions, crystalline materials offer unparalleled opportunities to mitigate the global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation.

This Special Issue will explore the latest research in crystal engineering, synthesis, and applications, with a special emphasis on sustainability. Key topics include novel crystalline materials for energy storage and conversion (such as batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells), eco-friendly and energy-efficient crystalline semiconductors, and the role of crystals in reducing waste and enabling circular economies. We will also cover advancements in sustainable production methods, such as green synthesis, recycling, and upcycling processes, minimizing the environmental impact of material fabrication.

Bringing together cutting-edge theoretical and experimental work, this Special Issue will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of crystal research and its pivotal role in supporting the global transition to a more sustainable future. We invite contributions from researchers across the fields of materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering, with the goal of providing a comprehensive view of how crystal-based materials can help tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Crystalline materials for renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, fuel cells, etc.);
• Green synthesis and environmentally friendly production of crystalline materials;
• Crystal-based solutions for energy storage (batteries, supercapacitors);
• Role of crystals in catalysis for CO₂ reduction and other environmental applications;
• Crystalline materials for sustainable electronics and optoelectronics;
• Recycling and upcycling of crystalline materials for circular economy approaches;
• Innovations in crystal design for low-energy manufacturing and reduced environmental impact.

This Special Issue aims to serve as a key resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers working at the intersection of materials science and sustainable development, fostering new collaborations and inspiring future innovations.

Dr. Radu Claudiu Fierascu
Dr. Mihaela Doni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• crystalline materials
• green synthesis
• energy storage
• renewable energy
• sustainable electronics
• circular economy
• eco-friendly semiconductors
• catalysis for CO₂ reduction
• recycling and upcycling
• low-energy manufacturing
• photovoltaic materials
• fuel cells
• nanocrystals
• biodegradable materials
• advanced catalysts