Professor João Nuno Barbosa Rodrigues

@article{Lian2025,

title = {PLLA–PEG/mPEG Copolymer with Improved Hydrophilicity, Crystallinity, and Biocompatibility: An In-Depth Study on the Crystallization Kinetics},

author = {Ruixian Lian and Dong Zhou and Lan Xiao and João N. B. Rodrigues and Ruilong Sheng and Zhishan Bai and Yulin Li and Changsheng Liu},

doi = {10.1021/acsami.5c02818},

issn = {1944-8252},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-05-11},

urldate = {2025-05-11},

journal = {ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces},

publisher = {American Chemical Society (ACS)},

abstract = {Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) possesses excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability for the construction of biomaterials. However, its limited crystallinity largely restricts practical application. In this study, four poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) copolymers were synthesized by incorporating two different molecular weights of PEG/mPEG (1K and 2K) chains with l-lactide via ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The impact of PEG/mPEG chains on the hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of the resulting copolymers, their crystallization kinetics, and activation energy was also examined. The results demonstrate that introducing PEG/mPEG chains could significantly improve the hydrophilicity, crystallinity, and crystallization rate and reduce the maximum crystallization temperature of the copolymer materials. Among the PLLA copolymers, PLLA-mPEG (2K) exhibits the most remarkable improvements in polymer crystallinity, crystallization rate, and reduction of the maximum crystallization temperature. The advancements in copolymer material properties were anticipated to significantly expand the potential applications for PLLA-based polymer materials, which also greatly improved the applicability as sustainable and controllable biopolymer materials.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Munevar2025,

title = {Chemical pressure effects on the physical properties of the quasicrystal approximants 
author = {J. Munevar and K. V. R. A. Silva and M. S. Dutra and F. Fabris and E. Padrón-Hernández and João N. B. Rodrigues and M. Cabrera-Baez},

doi = {10.1103/physrevb.111.174408},

issn = {2469-9969},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-05-06},

urldate = {2025-05-00},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {111},

number = {17},

publisher = {American Physical Society (APS)},

abstract = {Quasicrystal approximants (QCAs) are a class of crystalline materials that share structural and electronic similarities with quasicrystals while maintaining periodicity. Here we report on the structural, thermodynamic, electronic, magnetic, and transport properties of the QCAs of GdCd6−𝑥⁢Zn𝑥 (𝑥 =0.0, 0.5, and 1.0) prepared by the flux method. The substitution of Cd by Zn results in a 4.7% reduction in volume for 𝑥 =1.0, as revealed by x-ray diffraction measurements. The chemical pressure also reduces the Néel temperature (𝑇𝑁), as observed in specific heat, resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, which is caused by the reduction of the total density of states at the Fermi level induced by Zn doping, as suggested from density functional theory calculations. Interestingly, for a specific concentration of Zn (𝑥 = 1.0), the system behaves differently, exhibiting tunable resistance at low temperatures under different values of an external magnetic field. These observations suggest that the physical properties of the GdCd6 approximant under chemical pressure can be interpreted within an electronic multiband scenario.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ogoshi2024,

title = {Learning from machine learning: the case of band-gap directness in semiconductors},

author = {Elton Ogoshi and Mário Popolin-Neto and Carlos Mera Acosta and Gabriel M. Nascimento and João N. B. Rodrigues and Osvaldo N. Oliveira and Fernando V. Paulovich and Gustavo M. Dalpian},

url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43939-024-00073-x},

doi = {10.1007/s43939-024-00073-x},

issn = {2730-7727},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-02-29},

urldate = {2024-12-00},

journal = {Discov Mater},

volume = {4},

number = {1},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {AbstractHaving a direct or indirect band gap can influence the potential applications of a semiconductor, for indirect band gap materials are usually not suitable for optoelectronic devices. Even though this is a fundamental property of semiconducting materials, discussed in textbooks, no unified theory exists to explain why a material has a direct or indirect band gap. Here we used an interpretable machine learning model, the multiVariate dAta eXplanation (VAX) method, to gather information from a dataset of materials extracted from the Materials Project. The dataset contains more than 10000 entries, and atomic properties such as the number of electrons, electronic affinity and orbital energies were used as features to build random forest models that successfully explain the directness of the band gaps. Our results indicate that symmetry is an important feature that dictates the target property, which is the reason why our analysis is made based on sub-groups with similar structures. These sub-groups include materials with zincblende, rocksalt, wurtzite, and perovskite structures. Besides the symmetry of the materials, the existence or not of d bands and the relative energy of atomic orbitals were found to be important in defining whether a material’s band gap is direct or indirect. In conclusion, interpretable machine learning methods such as VAX can be useful in obtaining physical interpretation from materials databases.},

keywords = {General Medicine},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ogoshi2024b,

title = {Learning from machine learning: the case of band-gap directness in semiconductors},

author = {Elton Ogoshi and Mário Popolin-Neto and Carlos Mera Acosta and Gabriel M. Nascimento and João N. B. Rodrigues and Osvaldo N. Oliveira and Fernando V. Paulovich and Gustavo M. Dalpian},

url = {https://repositorio.usp.br/directbitstream/1ee44f9f-13de-45ad-bb4b-fb7f0cb95272/3183025%20falta%20rep.pdf},

doi = {10.1007/s43939-024-00073-x},

issn = {2730-7727},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-02-29},

urldate = {2024-12-00},

journal = {Discov Mater},

volume = {4},

number = {1},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {AbstractHaving a direct or indirect band gap can influence the potential applications of a semiconductor, for indirect band gap materials are usually not suitable for optoelectronic devices. Even though this is a fundamental property of semiconducting materials, discussed in textbooks, no unified theory exists to explain why a material has a direct or indirect band gap. Here we used an interpretable machine learning model, the multiVariate dAta eXplanation (VAX) method, to gather information from a dataset of materials extracted from the Materials Project. The dataset contains more than 10000 entries, and atomic properties such as the number of electrons, electronic affinity and orbital energies were used as features to build random forest models that successfully explain the directness of the band gaps. Our results indicate that symmetry is an important feature that dictates the target property, which is the reason why our analysis is made based on sub-groups with similar structures. These sub-groups include materials with zincblende, rocksalt, wurtzite, and perovskite structures. Besides the symmetry of the materials, the existence or not of d bands and the relative energy of atomic orbitals were found to be important in defining whether a material’s band gap is direct or indirect. In conclusion, interpretable machine learning methods such as VAX can be useful in obtaining physical interpretation from materials databases.},

keywords = {General Medicine},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Wheeler2023,

title = {PyQMC: An all-Python real-space quantum Monte Carlo module in PySCF},

author = {William A. Wheeler and Shivesh Pathak and Kevin G. Kleiner and Shunyue Yuan and João N. B. Rodrigues and Cooper Lorsung and Kittithat Krongchon and Yueqing Chang and Yiqing Zhou and Brian Busemeyer and Kiel T. Williams and Alexander Muñoz and Chun Yu Chow and Lucas K. Wagner},

doi = {10.1063/5.0139024},

issn = {1089-7690},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-03-21},

volume = {158},

number = {11},

publisher = {AIP Publishing},

abstract = {We describe a new open-source Python-based package for high accuracy correlated electron calculations using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) in real space: PyQMC. PyQMC implements modern versions of QMC algorithms in an accessible format, enabling algorithmic development and easy implementation of complex workflows. Tight integration with the PySCF environment allows for a simple comparison between QMC calculations and other many-body wave function techniques, as well as access to high accuracy trial wave functions.},

keywords = {General Physics and Astronomy, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}