Special Interview with Prof. Rodrigo Martins: Toward Sustainable and System-Integrated Materials for Future Electronics
On April 20, 2026, the Editorial Office of Iontronics had the honor of interviewing Prof. Rodrigo Martins, a Full Professor at NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, President of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc), and a pioneer in transparent electronics and co-inventor of paper electronics.
In this interview, Prof. Martins shared forward-looking perspectives on next-generation material systems for information electronics and sustainable technologies. He noted that the field is increasingly evolving toward a framework that integrates sustainability, functionality, and device- and system-level design, particularly through the integration of energy harvesting, energy storage, and functional device operation.
He further identified sustainability-driven material selection as a key priority for future technologies, emphasizing that recyclability, environmental compatibility, and resource efficiency are becoming essential design principles. In addition, he underscored the importance of system-level integration, where multiple functionalities - including sensing, energy conversion, and storage - are co-designed and implemented within a single architecture.
Furthermore, Prof. Martins stressed the role of global collaboration in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and industrial application, pointing to the need for stronger partnerships between academia and industry across different regions to accelerate the translation of advanced materials into real-world technologies.
The interview also explored recent advances in paper electronics, including vertical transistors and sensing systems, as well as emerging directions in quantum materials, low-dimensional systems such as graphene and 1T-phase materials, and oxide-based platforms including ZnO and perovskites. Finally, Prof. Martins shared his views on iontronics as an emerging interdisciplinary field, emphasizing its potential to advance sustainable materials research and to attract innovative contributions from the global scientific community.
Watch the full interview with Prof. Rodrigo Martins:
Interview Questions:
Q1. What material systems are most likely to enable transformative advances in information electronics and sustainable technologies over the next decade? What are the key driving forces behind these developments?
Q2. You introduced the concept of paper electronics. What have been the most significant breakthroughs in this field in recent years, and what challenges remain for large-scale practical applications?
Q3. Your recent research spans low-dimensional halide perovskites, ZnO-based piezoelectric devices, and paper-based energy harvesting systems. Do these directions reflect a broader shift from single-material optimization toward device- and system-level integration? In this context, do low-cost manufacturing, sustainability, and multifunctional integration form a unified research framework?
Q4. Based on your extensive experience in both academia and industry in Europe, what are the main bottlenecks in translating advanced materials research into industrial applications? How can more effective and sustainable academia-industry collaboration models be established?
Q5. As an Associate Editor of Iontronics, how do you envision the future development of iontronics as an interdisciplinary field? Which research directions should the journal prioritize, and how can its international visibility and impact be enhanced?
About Prof. Rodrigo Martins:
Prof. Rodrigo Martins is a Full Professor in the Department of Materials Science at NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, and Coordinator of CENIMAT|i3N (Centre for Research in Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology / Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication), a leading research center in advanced functional materials. He currently serves as President of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) and holds key leadership roles in international organizations, including the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS, Strasbourg, France) and the Energy Materials Industrial Research Initiative (EMIRI, Brussels, Belgium). He has also contributed to major European research and innovation programs, particularly in advanced materials and sustainable technologies.
Prof. Martins is internationally recognized as a pioneer in transparent electronics and a co-inventor of paper electronics, where paper functions not only as a substrate but also as an active functional component. His research spans advanced functional materials, nanotechnology, microelectronics, oxide semiconductors, flexible electronics, and sustainable energy systems, with a strong emphasis on bridging fundamental science and practical applications.
He has authored over 900 scientific publications, with more than 30,000 citations and an h-index of 91, and holds numerous international patents. He has been involved in over 200 research projects and has received multiple international awards and distinctions. His work has played an important role in advancing materials science and shaping European strategies related to advanced materials and industrial innovation.
Editor: Xingcheng Li
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Iontronics
