Welcome Prof. Dr. Rafael Luque as Editor-in-Chief of Intelligent Materials & Catalysis

OAE's Intelligent Materials & Catalysis, a brand-new academic platform and open access journal by OAE focusing on intelligent materials and catalytic systems, is honored to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Rafael Luque as Editor-in-Chief. Prof. Dr. Luque is a promising chemist affiliated with King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and RUDN University, Moscow, Russia.

Prof. Dr. Rafael Luque established himself early in his career as a leading researcher in sustainability, waste valorization, and catalytic innovation. In 2011, he received the prestigious "Green Talents" award from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), an honor recognizing young researchers worldwide showing outstanding potential in sustainable development. At the time, he had completed his PhD in Organic Chemistry and held a professorship in Organic Chemistry at the University of Córdoba, Spain.

His research focuses on converting biomass residues and waste–such as food scraps and waste frying oils–into valuable chemicals, fuels, and advanced materials through nanoscale chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis. His work exemplifies the core principles of green chemistry: resource efficiency, waste minimization, circular economy, and the development of cleaner, low-impact chemical processes. He strongly advocates for viewing waste as a resource rather than a burden and emphasizes bridging fundamental research with practical, real-world applications.

By 2011, Prof. Dr. Luque had already authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and contributed to more than 20 book chapters. His contributions are widely recognized, and he has served on the Editorial Boards of leading journals in catalysis, materials chemistry, and sustainable chemistry.

For the research community surrounding Intelligent Materials & Catalysis, Prof. Dr. Luque embodies the intersection of nanoscale materials science, heterogeneous catalysis, waste-to-resource valorization, and sustainable chemical innovation. His research demonstrates how catalytic science can advance circular economy initiatives, bio-based materials, and green energy solutions–key themes central to catalysis-driven sustainable technologies.

Intelligent Materials & Catalysis warmly welcomes Prof. Dr. Luque as Editor-in-Chief. His scientific excellence, innovative vision, and commitment to sustainability align seamlessly with the journal's goal of advancing materials and catalysis research. The journal will uphold stringent academic standards, facilitate interdisciplinary exchanges, and drive innovations that connect materials design, catalytic processes, automation, and computational intelligence. Researchers worldwide are invited to engage with the journal and contribute to its growing influence in the field.

Editor: Mehak Nawaz Khan
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Intelligent Materials & Catalysis