Personal Presentation
MatER Materials for Energy Research -NEW
Scientific recognition of FEUP in 2024
José Maria Pinheiro 20/20 in his master's thesis!!! Congratulations!
Our first collaboration with Dr. José Costa, LAETA - DEMec, Thank you!
Manuela C. Baptista, Antonio B. Vale, Jose M. Costa, M. Helena Braga, Molecules (2025) 30(22), 4465, Robust All-Solid-State Batteries with Sodium Ion Electrolyte, Aluminum and Additive Manufacturing Inconel 625 Electrodes, Just accepted.
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224465
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/579U151RY0 (New special issue with Prof. Anter El-Azab, Purdue University, US!)
In collaboration with Atria University, and dedicated to Shri. Sunder Raju, on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), India
Maria Helena Braga, Nishchith B.S., Radha Shivaramaiah, Ravi Kumar T., Battery Energy (2025) e70055, 1 of 10, Uncovering Full-Cell Cycling Morphology through a Rechargeable Sodium Ion Battery based on Tungsten Oxide and Sodium Prussian Blue Intercalation Chemistry https://doi.org/10.1002/bte2.20250056 https://doi.org/10.1002/bte2.20250056
World’s Top 2% Scientists list (2024) Absolute numbers are often deceiving…
In collaboration with India (REVA University, Atria University, Dayananda Sagar University, and M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences), our second work:
Golla Lavanya, S. Ashoka, B.S. Nishchith, K. Yogesh, Ravikumar B.S., Maria Helena Braga, Chemical Engineering Journal 2025, 167669, Effect of oxidizer-to-fuel ratio on manganese oxides formation and their physico-chemical properties towards supercapacitor application https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.167669
A new collaboration with FCT-NOVA, CENIMAT|i3N, especially Joana Vaz Pinto, Luís Pereira, and Rodrigo Martins within NGS: Congratulations, Tomás Prior, on your first paper! Excellent Master's project work!
Tomás Prior, Joana Figueira, Ângela Freitas, David Carvalho, Manuela C. Baptista, Hugo Lebre, Rodrigo Martins, Luís Pereira, Joana Vaz Pinto, and Helena Braga, Molecules (2025) 30(17), 3493, Surface Morphology and Electrochemical Behavior of Microstructured Cu Electrodes in All-Solid-State Sodium Batteries https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173493
Another great collaboration within 
, Horizon Europe gave another fruit:
Nico Zamperlin, Rosalia Cid, Ville Kekkonen, Arianna Pesce, Manar Cheddadi, Beatriz M. Gomes, Manuela C. Baptista, M. Helena Braga, Ander Orue, Pedro López-Aranguren, Journal of Power Sources, 655 (2025) 237986 Advanced Manufacturing of Thin-Film Lithium Metal Anode by Pulsed-Laser Deposition for Next-Generation Solid-State Batteries https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.237986
Congratulations, José Pinheiro, on your first paper! Excellent Master's project work!
José M. Pinheiro, Beatriz Moura Gomes, Manuela C. Baptista, M. Helena Braga, Molecules (2025) 30, 2974 Nickel-rich cathodes for solid-state lithium batteries: comparative study between PVA and PIB binders https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30142974
And now... our PEEC(s) MatER, Júlia Holtz and Mª Luís Pinto, have their first paper accepted. They started by,
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS (IF: 19) Congratulations, Beatriz M. Gomes, Júlia Holtz, and Maria Luís Pinto!
Beatriz M.Gomes, Júlia Holtz, Maria Luís Pinto, M. Helena Braga, Polaronic and Electrochemical Signatures in Group IVB (Ti, Zr, Hf) Oxides: Unified SKP–DFT Insights for Tunable Transport in Energy and Electronic Devices, Advanced Functional Materials, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202509853
In collaboration with India (new Atria University), our first work:
Karthika Pichaimuthu, B.S. Nishchith (CoE, Atria University), Maria Helena Braga, Journal of Energy Storage 131 (2025) 117534, Sustainable, High Power Li-metal Battery with LiFePO4 and Activated Carbon from Terpene-Rich Orange Peel Composite Cathode (accepted) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.117534 Thank you, Karthika and Nishchith!
Another great collaboration within , Horizon Europe gave fruit:
Beatriz M. Gomes; Manuela C. Baptista; Ander Orue; Bhattacharjya Dhrubajyoti; Sylwia Terlicka; Peter Sjövall; Nico Zamperlin; Carlos Fonseca; Jasmin Smajic; Ville Kekkonen; Willar Vonk; Artur Tron; Andy Schena; Anwar Ahniyaz; M. Helena Braga, Energy Materials 2025; 5 All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries with NMC955 Cathodes: PVDF-Free Formulation with SBR and Capacity Recovery Insights https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2024.297 Paper is out there!
Sept. 2024, Proud to be an Associate Editor of the prestigious Journal of Energy Storage (Elsevier) with Prof. Dr. Luisa Cabeza as Editor-in-Chief!
PULSELiON EU
MHB
Most important experience:
2008-2011 Research Scholar and Long Term Visiting Staff Member at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2008-2011).
2016-2019 Senior Research Fellow in the Materials Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, collaborating with Prof. John B. Goodenough, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019.
Main interests:
Her main interests include experimental and theoretical characterization of solid-state materials and devices (e.g., ferroelectrics, electrolytes, energy harvest and storage devices, and metal hydrides). Her activities include materials synthesis, characterization, and devices’ conceptualization (new architectures), assembly, and testing.
The experimental techniques she uses are electrical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical cycling, ionic and electrical conductivity measurements, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction, and spectroscopy, including Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function (PDF).
Her theoretical simulation tools include density function theory (DFT), phonon, molecular dynamics, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties calculations, and phase diagram assessment (using CALPHAD).
She is credited with having created ferroelectric-glassy electrolytes and novel device architectures.
Main recognitions:
- World’s Top 2% Scientists list (2024)
- 2024 FEUP Scientific Excellence Award
- Portuguese Materials Society (SPM), Maria Manuela Oliveira Award (2024)
- World’s Top 2% Scientists list (2023)
- Scientific recognition FEUP in 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2007 for her publications and/or patents; Received on FEUP's day following two years.
- 2021 BIP PROOF award (Soli@uto team) with the support of Amadeu Dias Foundation, Santander Universities, and the University of Porto to develop a commercial prototype;
- 2020 Award "Personality" Exame Informática - Visão - Sapo (Portuguese) with SIC (TV);
- 2014-2016 Special Visitor Researcher Grant of the CNPq (Brazilian Science Foundation);
- 2012 Luso-American Foundation (FLAD) Paper Grant to present the MRS 2012 invited talk in Boston, USA;
- 2008-2009 FCT Sabbatical fellowship;