Highly cited papers in 2025

Several highly cited works highlight major advances in nanoscience and nanofabrication, particularly for nanophotonic devices, neuromorphic computing, and solid‑state ionic electronics, reinforcing ICMAB’s leadership at the interface of materials design and next‑generation information technologies. Energy research remains a central pillar, with influential contributions addressing supercapacitors, catalytic reactions, photodegradation processes, and sustainable organic aerogels, all aligned with global demands for clean energy, environmental remediation, and circular materials.

Nanofabrication for Nanophotonics
Yang, Y., Jeon, Y., Dong, Z., Yang, J. K. W., Moghaddam, M. H., Kim, D., Oh, D. K., Lee, J., Hentschel, M., Giessen, H., Kang, D., Kim, G., Tanaka, T., Zhao, Y., Bürger, J., Maier, S. A., Ren, H., Jung, W., Choi, M., . . . Rho, J.
ACS Nano., 19(13), 12491-12605
10.1021/acsnano.4c10964
Citations: 58

Supercapacitors: an emerging energy storage system
Iqbal, M. F., Nasir, F., Shabbir, F., Babar, Z. U. D., Saleem, M. F., Ullah, K., Sun, N., & Ali, F
Sustainability Research, 6(8)
10.1002/aesr.202400412
Citations: 52

RNA-Puzzles Round V: blind predictions of 23 RNA structures
Bu, F., Adam, Y., Adamiak, R. W., Antczak, M., De Aquino, B. R. H., Badepally, N. G., Batey, R. T., Baulin, E. F., Boinski, P., Boniecki, M. J., Bujnicki, J. M., Carpenter, K. A., Chacon, J., Chen, S., Chiu, W., Cordero, P., Das, N. K., Das, R., Dawson, W. K., . . . Miao, Z
Nature Methods, 22(2), 399-411
10.1038/s41592-024-02543-9
Citations: 50

The need to implement FAIR principles in biomolecular simulations
Amaro, R. E., Åqvist, J., Bahar, I., Battistini, F., Bellaiche, A., Beltran, D., Biggin, P. C., Bonomi, M., Bowman, G. R., Bryce, R. A., Bussi, G., Carloni, P., Case, D. A., Cavalli, A., Chang, C. A., Cheatham, T. E., Cheung, M. S., Chipot, C., Chong, L. T., . . . Rovira, C.
Nature Methods, 22(4), 641-645
10.1038/s41592-025-02635-0
Citations: 38

Metal Doping Activation of Anion-Mediated Electron Transfer in Catalytic Reactions
Zhang, C. Y., Yu, J., Huang, C., Sun, G., Balcells, L., Li, J., Qi, X., Yi, C. Z., Herrero-Martín, J., Simonelli, L., Fauth, F., He, R., Pan, X., Li, J., Arbiol, J., Zhou, J. Y., & Cabot, A.
Journal Of The American Chemical Society 147(8), 7070-7082
10.1021/jacs.4c18236Citations: 36

Asymmetric Coordination in Cobalt Single‐Atom Catalysts Enables Fast Charge Dynamics and Hierarchical Active Sites for Two‐Stage Kinetics in Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants
Liu, X., Zhang, Y., Sun, P., He, F., Wu, Y., Wang, S., Wang, S., & Zhang, J.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(28), e202507028
10.1002/anie.202507028
Citations: 33

Advanced delivery systems for gene editing: A comprehensive review from the GenE-HumDi COST Action Working Group
Cavazza, A., Molina-Estévez, F. J., Reyes, Á. P., Ronco, V., Naseem, A., Malenšek, Š., Pečan, P., Santini, A., Heredia, P., Aguilar-González, A., Boulaiz, H., Ni, Q., Cortijo-Gutierrez, M., Pavlovic, K., Herrera, I., De la Cerda, B., Garcia-Tenorio, E. M., Richard, E., Granados-Principal, S., . . . Benabdellah, K.
Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids, 36(1), 102457
10.1016/j.omtn.2025.102457
Citations: 30

Highly Selective and Scalable Molecular Fluoride Sensor for Naked-Eye Detection
Ullah, Z., Subramanian, S., Lim, H., Dogan, N. A., Lee, J. S., Nguyen, T. S., & Yavuz, C. T.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17(12), 17767-17774
10.1021/acsami.4c01187
Citations: 28

Solid‐State Oxide‐Ion Synaptic Transistor for Neuromorphic Computing
Langner, P., Chiabrera, F., Alayo, N., Nizet, P., Morrone, L., Bozal‐Ginesta, C., Morata, A., & Tarancón, A.
Advanced Materials, 37(7), e2415743
10.1002/adma.202415743
Citations: 23

Review and Perspectives on the Sustainability of Organic Aerogels
García-González, C. A., Blanco-Vales, M., Barros, J., Boccia, A. C., Budtova, T., Durães, L., Erkey, C., Gallo, M., Herman, P., Kalmár, J., Iglesias-Mejuto, A., Malfait, W. J., Zhao, S., Manzocco, L., Plazzotta, S., Milovanovic, S., Neagu, M., Nita, L. E., Paraskevopoulou, P., . . . López-Iglesias, C.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 13(18), 6469-6492
10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c09747
Citations: 19

Most cited papers since 2015

Since 2015, ICMAB’s most cited papers have been particularly influential in the development of electrochemical energy storage, with foundational contributions to calcium‑ and sodium‑ion batteries, electrode materials, and a widely cited analysis of battery failure mechanisms. These studies have helped shape alternative battery chemistries beyond lithium and remain reference points for both fundamental and applied research.

These top‑cited publications reflect ICMAB’s sustained excellence in combining fundamental science with technological relevance, and its ability to contribute decisively to both laboratory‑scale materials research and large international scientific infrastructures.

Reversible Hydration of CH₃NH₃Pbl₃ in Films, Single Crystals, and Solar Cells
Leguy, Aurelien M. A.; Hu, Yinghong; Campoy-Quiles, Mariano; Isabel Alonso, M.; Weber, Oliver J.; Azarhoosh, Pooya; van Schilfgaarde, Mark; Weller, Mark T.; Bein, Thomas; Nelson, Jenny; Docampo, Pablo; Barnes, Piers R. F.
Chemistry of Materials 27, 9, 3397-3407, 2015
10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00660
Citations: 1,231

FCC-ee: The Lepton Collider: Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 2
Abada, A. et al.
Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 228, 261–623, 2019
10.1140/epjst/e2019-900045-4Citations: 841

Why do batteries fail?
Palacin, M. R.; de Guibert, A.
Science 5, 351, 6273, 1253292, 2016
10.1126/science.1253292
Citations: 783

Towards a calcium-based rechargeable battery
Ponrouch, A.; Frontera, C.; Barde, F.; Palacin, M. R.
Nature Materials 15, 2, 169, 2016
10.1038/NMAT4462
Citations: 682

Non-aqueous electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries
Ponrouch, A.; Monti, D.; Boschin, A.; Steen, B.; Johansson, P.; Palacin, M. R.
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3, 1, 22, 42, 2015
10.1039/c4ta04428b
Citations: 616

FCC-hh: The Hadron Collider: Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 3
Abada, A., et al.
Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 228, 755–1107, 2019
10.1140/epjst/e2019-900087-0Citations: 614

Review—Hard Carbon Negative Electrode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries
E. Irisarri, A. Ponrouch and M. R. Palacin
J. Electrochem. Soc. 162 A2476, 2015
10.1149/2.0091514jesCitations: 573

FCC Physics Opportunities: Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 1
Abada, A., et al.
Eur. Phys. J. C 79, 474, 2019
10.1140/epjc/s10052-019-6904-3Citations: 562

Self-assembled monolayers in organic electronics
Casalini, S., Bortolotti, C. A., Leonardi, F., & Biscarini, F.
Chemical Society Reviews 46(1), 40-71, 2016
10.1039/c6cs00509h
Citations: 542

Electrochemistry and Photoluminescence of Icosahedral Carboranes, Boranes, Metallacarboranes, and Their Derivatives
Núñez, R., Tarrés, M., Ferrer-Ugalde, A., De Biani, F. F., & Teixidor, F.
Chemical Reviews 116(23), 2016
10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00198
Citations: 500

Most cited papers of all ICMAB history (1986-2025)

At the very top sits the SIESTA method for order-N ab initio simulations, a work that transformed large-scale materials modeling. Close behind is a density-functional approach to nonequilibrium electron transport, critical for understanding nanoscale devices. Early contributions to hydrogen-bond topology laid the groundwork for modern charge-density analysis, while later reviews and research on conversion-type Li-ion electrodes and rechargeable battery materials have guided the development of next-generation energy storage. The hydration behavior of perovskite solar absorbers further underscores ICMAB’s impact in photovoltaics. Complementing these are spectroscopic investigations of carbon-black materials, explorations of multifunctional open-framework compounds, and pioneering studies of multiferroic tunnel junctions, demonstrating the breadth of ICMAB’s influence from 1986 through 2025.

The SIESTA method for ab initio order-N materials simulation
Soler, JM; Artacho, E; Gale, JD; Garcia, A; Junquera, J; Ordejon, P; Sanchez-Portal, D
Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter 14 ,11, 2745-2779 PII S0953-8984(02)30737-9, 2002
10.1088/0953-8984/14/11/302
Citations: 12,002

The article in second position, as over 5,000 citations, is about density-function method for nonequilibrium electron transport, from the same year 2002 in Physical Review B:

Density-functional method for nonequilibrium electron transport
Brandbyge, M; Mozos, JL; Ordejon, P; Taylor, J; Stokbro, K
Physical Review B 65, 16, 165401, 2002
10.1103/PhysRevB.65.165401
Citations: 5,396

The third most cited article is a study on hydrogen-bonds from year 1998 in Chemical Physics Letters, with more than 3,000 citations:

Hydrogen bond strengths revealed by topological analyses of experimentally observed electron densities
Espinosa, E; Molins, E; Lecomte, C
Chemical Physics Letters 285, 3-4, 170-173, 1998
10.1016/S0009-2614(98)00036-0
Citations: 3,336

And the one in fourth position, a one in Li-ion batteries from year 2010, published on Advanced Materials, with over 2,000 citations:

Beyond Intercalation-Based Li-Ion Batteries: The State of the Art and Challenges of Electrode Materials Reacting Through Conversion Reactions
Cabana, Jordi; Monconduit, Laure; Larcher, Dominique; Rosa Palacin, M.
Adv. Mat. 22, 35, E170, E192, 2010
10.1002/adma.201000717
Citations: 2,196

The others in the list are the following: 

From weak to strong interactions: A comprehensive analysis of the topological and energetic properties of the electron density distribution involving X-H center dot center dot center dot F-Y systems
Espinosa, E; Alkorta, I; Elguero, J; Molins, E
Journal of Chemical Physics 117, 12, 5529-5542, 2002
10.1063/1.1501133
Citations: 1,819

Recent advances in rechargeable battery materials: a chemist's perspective
Palacin, M. R.
Chemical Society Reviews 38, 9, 2565-2575, 2009
10.1039/b820555h
Citations: 1,261

Reversible Hydration of CH₃NH₃Pbl₃ in Films, Single Crystals, and Solar Cells
Leguy, Aurelien M. A.; Hu, Yinghong; Campoy-Quiles, Mariano; Isabel Alonso, M.; Weber, Oliver J.; Azarhoosh, Pooya; van Schilfgaarde, Mark; Weller, Mark T.; Bein, Thomas; Nelson, Jenny; Docampo, Pablo; Barnes, Piers R. F.
Chemistry of Materials 27, 9, 3397-3407, 2015
10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00660
Citations: 1,231

Raman-Spectroscopic characterization of some commercially available carbon-black materials
Jawhari, T.; Roig, A.; Casado, J.
Carbon 33, 11, 1561-1565, 1995
10.1016/0008-6223(95)00117-V
Citations: 1,214

Old materials with new tricks: multifunctional open-framework materials
Maspoch, Daniel; Ruiz-Molina, Daniel; Veciana, Jaume
Chemical Society Reviews 36, 5, 770-818, 2007
10.1039/b501600m
Citations: 1,038

Tunnel junctions with multiferroic barriers
Gajek, Martin; Bibes, Manuel; Fusil, Stephane; Bouzehouane, Karim; Fontcuberta, Josep; Barthelemy, Agnes; Fert, Albert
Nature Materials 6, 4, 296-302, 2007
10.1038/nmat1860
Citations: 973

Amazing! Congratulations to all ICMAB researchers for this amazing work!

More information

• Top 10 ICMAB articles with a higher IF in 2025 - A year in review
• ICMAB's most frequent collaborators in 2025 - A year in review
• ICMAB’s 2025 most published journals - A year in review

Note: The data has been gathered from the Web of Science-Core collection, as of 26/2/2025. Some 2025 articles may be not yet added to the Web of Science-Core collection. Thank you for your understanding.