Beya Quertani | Materials Science | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Engineering Scientist

Dr. Beya Quertani | Materials Science
| Editorial Board Member

University of Carthage  | Tunisia

Dr. Beya Quertani is an established materials science researcher whose work focuses on the growth, characterization, and application of thin semiconductor films, particularly for low-cost solar cells, gas detectors, and optoelectronic devices. Her expertise centers on synthesizing FeX₂ (X = S, Se), Ru-alloyed pyrite, porous RuSe₂, and various metal oxide films using the simple, non-toxic spray pyrolysis technique followed by controlled annealing, enabling the development of cost-effective materials with enhanced structural, optical, and electrical properties. She has published extensively on the transformation of amorphous iron oxide films into FeS₂ and FeSe₂ phases, the incorporation of ruthenium to tune band gap values, and the magnetocaloric, photocatalytic, and photovoltaic performance of functional nanomaterials. Her research contributions include advancing understanding of phase formation, alloying effects, and semiconductor behavior in thin films, supported by studies published in Ceramics International, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Materials Chemistry and Physics, Thin Solid Films, Colloids and Surfaces A, and other high-impact journals. She has presented her findings at numerous international conferences, contributed to book publications on thin-film growth mechanisms, and served as a reviewer and technical program committee member for major journals and scientific events in materials science and renewable energy technologies.

 Profile:  Orcid 

Featured Publications

Selmi, I., & Ouertani, B. (2025). Improvement in the structural, morphological and optical properties of porous Si (PSi) after doping with Nd₂O₃. Ceramics International, (In press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.03.273

Ouertani, B. (2024). Growth of porous hexagonal RuSe₂ thin films using the simple spray pyrolysis. Ceramics International, 50(5), 12345–12352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.01.356
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Ouertani, B. (2021). Ru-substitution effect on the FeSe₂ thin films properties. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 865, 159490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159490

Zaharia Marius | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Engineering Scientist

Dr. Zaharia Marius | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry | Romania

Dr. Zaharia Marius is a distinguished Scientific Researcher at the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iași, Romania, where he conducts pioneering research in polymer and organic synthesis, ion-exchanger materials, and environmental chemistry. His scientific expertise encompasses the synthesis and characterization of functional ion-exchangers for water purification and medical applications, as well as the development of composite materials based on CaCO₃ and multilayer polyelectrolyte coatings for advanced functional surfaces. He has extensive experience in analytical and instrumental techniques, including HPLC, FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD, GC-TCD, and atomic absorption spectrometry. Dr. Zaharia has authored or co-authored 32 ISI-indexed journal articles (12 in Q1 and 12 in Q2 journals), 8 conference proceedings papers, 39 oral presentations, 31 posters, and holds 1 patent. His scholarly impact is reflected in 274 citations and an h-index of 13, underlining the significance of his work. He has been involved in eight national research grants, one international PNRR project, and served as director of a national grant (WHIERTARN, 2019–2022) focused on wastewater heavy metal ion decontamination. Recognized with multiple awards for oral and poster presentations and excellence in research, Dr. Zaharia continues to advance innovative solutions for environmental sustainability and green chemistry. ORCID: 0000-0002-4964-8874.

 Profile:  Orcid 

Featured Publications

  1. Bucatariu, F., Petrila, L.-M., Ciobanu, T.-A., Zaharia, M.-M., & Mihai, M. (2025). Dynamic ultra-fast sorption/desorption of indigo carmine onto/from versatile core-shell composite microparticles. Applied Sciences, 15(19), 10725. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910725

  2. Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., Karayianni, M., Lotos, E.-D., Mihai, M., & Pispas, S. (2024). Synthesis of thermoresponsive chitosan-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hybrid copolymer and its complexation with DNA. Polymers, 16(10), 1315. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16101315

  3. Mihai, M., Lotos, E.-D., Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., & Vasiliu, A.-L. (2024). Alginate-based composite hydrogels formed by in situ CaCO₃ crystallization. Crystal Growth & Design, 24(3), Article 3c01518. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.3c01518

  4. Pelin, I. M., Popescu, I., Calin, M., Rebleanu, D., Voicu, G., Ionita, D., Zaharia, M.-M., Constantin, M., & Fundueanu, G. (2023). Tri-component hydrogel as template for nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite deposition using alternate soaking method for bone tissue engineering applications. Gels, 9(11), 905. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9110905

  5. Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., Vasiliu, A.-L., & Mihai, M. (2023). Versatile zwitterionic beads for heavy metal ion removal from aqueous media and soils by sorption and catalysis processes. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 5(10), 8183–8193. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c01375