Two Decades of Materials Research Excellence at Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE, CAS)

Abstract

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this special issue features NIMTE's state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of materials science and engineering. We established an academic committee with Prof. Qunji Xue, a Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), as the advisor. Prof. Liping Wang, the president of NIMTE, Prof. Tao Chen, and Prof. Zhiyi Lu as guest editors are responsible for the issue. The special issue showcases a collection of Reviews reflecting the remarkable contributions of NIMTE faculty members, covering a wide range of hot topics in materials science and their highly important applications. NIMTE, as a research institute affiliated with the CAS, was officially co-founded in 2004 by the CAS, Zhejiang Province, and Ningbo Municipality. NIMTE is dedicating itself to strengthening the cross-integration of the main discipline, i.e., materials science, with other disciplines of chemistry, physics, information technology, medical engineering, and mechanical engineering. NIMTE, including 12 academic and technology innovation units, now has a full-time regular faculty staff of more than 1000 from a diverse background and a student population of more than 2500. Named after “materials”, NIMTE pursues the goals with “materials” as the cornerstone, conducting fundamental, forward-looking, world-leading research in the field of materials. As a result, the research and development of marine materials and related technologies, magnetic functional materials and devices, polymers and composites, new energy materials and system technology, optoelectronic information materials and devices, biomedical materials and technology, etc., have shown distinctive features and advantages in recent years. In the near future, NIMTE will strive to become a cradle of original innovation and integrated innovation of key technologies in the new materials field, growing into a world-class scientific research institution. This Special Issue of Advanced Materials features 31 Reviews, encompassing various disciplines within materials science and engineering, organized under 6 main themes: marine materials and related technologies, magnetic functional materials and devices, polymers and composites, new energy materials and system technology, optoelectronic information materials and devices, biomedical materials and technology. In the field of marine materials and related technologies, Prof. Liping Wang, Prof. Wenjie Zhao, and coworkers present the latest advances in two dimensional (2D) nanomaterial-reinforced organic composite coatings. The main protection models based on 2D nanomaterials for corrosion resistance are thoroughly summarized, including a physical barrier, self-healing, as well as cathodic protection, respectively. Furthermore, computational simulations and critical factors on the corrosion protection properties of 2D nanomaterials are clarified in detail. The remaining challenges and key prospects for marine corrosion protection based on 2D nanomaterials reinforced organic coatings are highlighted (article number 2312460). In the field of marine materials and related technologies, Prof. Liping Wang, Prof. Liangfeng Huang, and coworkers review the up-to-date computational studies for the effect of environmental factors on the lubrication performance of 2D materials, summarize the theoretical methods in lubrication from classical to quantum-mechanics ones, and emphasize the importance of quantum method in revealing the lubrication mechanism at the atomic and electronic level. An effective simulation method based on ab initio molecular dynamics is also proposed to try to provide more ways to accurately reveal the friction mechanisms and reliably guide the lubricating material design. On the basis of current development, future prospects and challenges for the simulation and modeling in lubrication with a r