Nanomaterials Webinar | Emerging Frontiers in Nanofiber and Nanocomposite Research
Nanomaterials Webinar | Emerging Frontiers in Nanofiber and Nanocomposite Research
Part of the MDPI Nanomaterials Webinars series
Nanofibers, Nanomaterials, Composites, Nanotechnology, Sustainable Material Design, Biomedical Applications, Nanomechanics, Nanocomposites
Welcome from the Chairs
Nanofibers and nanocomposites have emerged as a fundamental topic of current materials science and engineering research, offering unprecedented opportunities to design multifunctional systems with tailored mechanical, electrical, and biological properties. Their unique characteristics, arising from controlled architectures at the nanoscale, are driving innovation across diverse sectors, including biomedicine, structural composites, wearable technologies, and sustainable materials engineering.
This webinar, entitled “Emerging Frontiers in Nanofiber and Nanocomposite Research,” brings together leading researchers to present recent advances and emerging directions that are shaping the future of this rapidly evolving field. The presentations of this webinar will address not only the fundamental scientific aspects of these technologies but also scalable manufacturing, sustainable material design, and advanced biomedical applications.
The session will feature presentations on nanomaterials-based stretchable device platforms for biomedical use, offering new possibilities for flexible and conformable healthcare technologies. It will also address the potential of recycled short carbon fibers as polymer fillers, examining their advantages and limitations as sustainable alternatives to conventional graphitic nanoreinforcements. In addition, advances in nanofiber production techniques will be discussed, emphasizing the importance of precise control over structure and functionality. Finally, insights into nanomechanics and bioengineering aspects of nanofiber systems will provide a deeper understanding of their behavior and performance in demanding applications. Together, these contributions will reflect the interdisciplinary nature of nanofiber and nanocomposite research, where innovation in materials design, processing, and characterization is enabling new technological solutions and addressing global challenges related to sustainability, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
This webinar will serve as a valuable platform to disseminate recent findings, stimulate scientific exchange, and foster collaboration within the international research community.
Date: 4 March 2026
Time: 14:00 (CET) | 08:00 (EST) | 21:00 (CST Asia)
Webinar ID: 897 2471 2280
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.
Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can't attend? Register anyway and we'll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Event Chairs
Materials Science and Engineering Area, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
Dr. Alberto Jiménez-Suárez is a full professor and Director of the Master School at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Spain, where he co-leads the Smart and Sustainable Polymers and Composites Research Group. He obtained his B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in 2012. Since 2008, his research has been focused on the field of polymers and composites, including the addition of nano reinforcements to obtain new multifunctional and smart materials with applications in the field of transportation and energy industries. His expertise is related to the processing of these nanocomposites by optimizing the dispersion, concentration, and morphology of the nano reinforcements used. Currently, his research has also been focused on the sustainability of these materials by working on bio-based matrices, covalent adaptable networks, and other formulations combined with nanoparticles to modify their behavior.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, USA
Lihua Lou is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. She received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and completed postdoctoral training at Virginia Commonwealth University and Florida International University. Her research spans multiple disciplines, including Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Pharmaceutics, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Toxicology, and Textile Engineering, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach. Her lab focuses on advancing nanomanufacturing, 0D/1D/2D materials nanomechanics, the fabrication and application of nanocomposites, and innovations in cardiac bioengineering.
Keynote Speakers
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
Nanomaterials-Based Standalone Stretchable Device Platform for Biomedicine
Prof. Huanyu "Larry" Cheng is the James L. Henderson, Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State University. His research group focuses on the design, fabrication, and application of the standalone stretchable device platform. Larry has co-authored more than 190 publications with total citations >28,000 according to Google Scholar. His work has been recognized through the reception of numerous awards, including Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field since 2023, Advanced Materials Rising Stars, International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IJEM) Best Editor Award since 2022, Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers, 2021 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trailblazer Award, MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (TR35 China) in 2021, Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2017, among others. He also serves as the editor for Chemical Engineering Journal, Computers in Biology and Medicine, along with a reviewer for > 300 journals.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Dr. Dania Olmos Díaz is a researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), based at the Escuela Politécnica Superior on the Leganés campus. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a PhD in Materials Science. Her research focuses on polymer nanocomposites, with particular emphasis on the use of high-energy ball milling as an advanced preparation and processing technique. Her work contributes to the development of innovative materials with enhanced structural and functional properties for applications in advanced materials science and engineering.
Materials Science and Engineering Area, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
The Advantages and Limitations of Replacing Graphitic Nanoreinforcements with Recycled Short Carbon Fibers as Polymer Fillers
Dr. Silvia González Prolongo is Full Professor at Rey Juan Carlos University and Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics, Materials Science and Engineering and Electronic Technology. She leads the research group “Sustainable and Smart Polymers and Composites” and is annually included since 2019 in Stanford University’s ranking of the World’s Top 2% Scientists in Materials, Polymers and Chemistry. She has coordinated numerous European, national and industrial R&D projects, holds five patents (including international and European ones with Airbus), and maintains active international collaborations with institutions in the USA, China and Mexico. Her research focuses on thermoset composites and nanocomposites with enhanced functionality, smart performance, and improved recyclability and sustainability.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, USA
Dr. Lihua Lou is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. She received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and completed postdoctoral training at Virginia Commonwealth University and Florida International University. Her research spans multiple disciplines, including Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Pharmaceutics, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Toxicology, and Textile Engineering, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach. Her lab focuses on advancing nanomanufacturing, 0D/1D/2D materials nanomechanics, the fabrication and application of nanocomposites, and innovations in cardiac bioengineering.
Programme
| Speaker / Presentation | Time (CET) | Time (EST) |
|---|---|---|
| Nanomaterials Journal Introduction | 14:00–14:10 | 08:00–08:10 |
|
Prof. Alberto Jiménez Suárez (Chair) |
14:10–14:20 | 08:10–08:20 |
|
Dr. Huanyu Cheng (Speaker 1) Nanomaterials-Based Standalone Stretchable Device Platform for Biomedicine |
14:20–14:40 | 08:20–08:40 |
| Dr. Dania Olmos Díaz (Speaker 2) | 14:40–15:00 | 08:40–09:00 |
|
Prof. Dr. Silvia González Prolongo (Speaker 3) The Advantages and Limitations of Replacing Graphitic Nanoreinforcements with Recycled Short Carbon Fibers as Polymer Fillers |
15:00–15:20 | 09:00–09:20 |
| Dr. Lihua Lou (Chair, Speaker 4) Engineering Multifunctional Electrospun Nanofibers: Mechanistic Insights and Applications |
15:20–15:40 | 09:20–09:40 |
| Q&A Session | 15:40–16:05 | 09:40–10:05 |
| Closing of Webinar | 16:05–16:10 | 10:05–10:10 |
Relevant Special Issue
"Nanofiber and Nanomaterial Composites: Energy, Healthcare and Beyond"
Edited by Dr. Lihua Lou and Prof. Dr. Alberto Jiménez Suárez
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
