1. Spin orbit and altermagnetism

Descripción:

The recent emergence of altermagnetism is enriching our understanding of magnetism. By enabling spin-band splitting without the need for a net magnetization, and combined with the richness provided by spin-orbit coupling, these systems open the door to new phenomena and next-generation spintronics. This symposium is conceived as a meeting point for the Spanish community working on altermagnetism and systems with spin-orbit coupling. The main objective is to create a space to share ideas, discuss current developments—both theoretical and experimental—and foster collaborations that strengthen the Spanish presence in this field.

Organizador: Alberto Cortijo (ICMM-CSIC) · alberto.cortijo@csic.es

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2. Thermoelectricity in Spain: challenges, experimental and theoretical capabilities, and opportunities

Descripción:

Thermoelectricity connects central problems in solid-state physics (out-of-equilibrium transport, electron-phonon scattering, disorder, correlations) with direct applications in energy efficiency and sensing. At a time of strong momentum toward the energy transition, waste heat recovery and the development of autonomous sensors open clear opportunities for thermoelectric materials and robust characterization methodologies (Seebeck, resistivity, thermal conductivity, Nernst, metrology, and micro/nanofabrication). This symposium will discuss current trends in materials design, synthesis, modeling, scaling, and instrumentation.

Organizador: Norbert Nemes (Univ. Complutense de Madrid) · nmnemes@ucm.es

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3. Trends in soft condensed matter

Descripción:

Soft condensed matter encompasses systems with large response functions. Liquid crystals, grains, colloids, polymers, emulsions are all soft in certain distinct ways. This symposium will highlight work done with these materials to address fundamental questions and/or aid in the many applications these materials have. The symposium will be organized in conjunction with DIFESNC.

Organizador: Alberto Fernández Nieves (Univ. de Barcelona) · a.fernandeznieves@ub.edu

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4. Artificial Intelligence in Materials Research: Revolution, Evolution, or Illusion?

Descripción:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous. Nearly every corner of human activity—and especially the practice of science—now seems incomplete without AI playing some role. A central question hovers over this rapid expansion: Is it truly transformative? Across all domains? And specifically in materials science? This symposium aims to provide a focused examination of AI in our day-to-day work as scientists and to assess, albeit with necessary caveats, whether AI has arrived to reshape materials science fundamentally or will prove to be a passing trend. Through discussion and case studies, we seek to clarify real impact, limitations, and future directions ahead.

Organizador: Sergio Gutierrez Rodrigo (Univ. de Zaragoza) · sergut@unizar.es

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5. Soft materials for optoelectronics

Descripción:

The design of new organic and hybrid materials, such as halide perovskites, has opened the door to the development of optoelectronic devices in which the presence of structural and electronic defects is not incompatible with achieving high efficiencies. The understanding and exploitation of these unique features have given rise to a very active international community. This symposium will accommodate the various national reference groups in the synthesis and advanced characterization of these materials, as well as in their implementation in solar cells, LEDs, and radiation detectors, among others. The symposium will be organized in conjunction with GENAM.

Organizador: Miguel Anaya (Univ. de Sevilla) · anaya@us.es

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6. Superconductivity: Emerging Materials and Quantum Phenomena

Descripción:

Advances in superconductivity are at the heart of the current quantum technology revolution. The discovery of novel superconducting materials, such as nickelates and kagome systems, together with superconductivity in two-dimensional materials (both intrinsic and moiré-induced) and engineered heterostructures, is reshaping the field and opening avenues toward scalable quantum devices. This symposium will bring together experimentalists and theorists working at the interface of fundamental and applied physics to discuss recent breakthroughs, outstanding challenges, and emerging directions of the field. Following the last dedicated symposium about superconductivity at the 2022 RSEF Bienal, this meeting will provide a timely forum to assess progress and future opportunities.

Organizadores: David Sánchez Manzano (UCM) and Lucia Iglesias (Laboratoire Albert Fert) · davidsan@ucm.es

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7. Beyond ferroelectrics: Emerging coupling mechanisms and related phenomena

Descripción:

While ferroelectric materials have long been the focus of extensive fundamental and applied research, emerging coupling mechanisms and related phenomena are opening new experimental and theoretical pathways with impact far beyond the ferroelectric community. This includes effects such as piezoelectricity, magnetoelectricity, pyroelectricity, triboelectricity and electrocaloric phenomena, spanning materials from nanoscale thin films to bulk systems, including polar polymers and nanocomposites for next-generation flexible electronics. This symposium will focus on understanding correlations and new coupling phenomena which enhance functional responses.

Organizadora: Cristina Pascual (ICMM-CSIC) · cristina.pascual@csic.es

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8. Forty years of Atomic Force Microscopy: advances in nanomaterials characterization

Descripción:

This symposium takes place in the year marking the 40th anniversary of the original publication of the atomic force microscope, a milestone that laid the foundation for one of the most versatile tools in nanoscience. Over the decades, AFM has evolved far beyond topographical imaging, enabling quantitative and multidimensional mapping of functional properties and providing deeper understanding of structure–property relationships in materials and devices. A major current frontier is the combination of AFM with complementary techniques (particularly light-related and spectroscopic methods) together with its expansion toward non-standard measurement configurations. These include in-situ and in-operando operation, the application of external stimuli (electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, chemical or mechanical), and measurements under controlled deformation. Such approaches enable the exploration of dynamic processes and functional responses at the nanoscale, as well as the characterization of materials and devices during actual operation. This symposium will highlight recent advances in correlative and multimodal AFM, with special emphasis on combined methodologies and applications in non-conventional environments and working systems.

Organizadores: Carmen Munuera (ICMM-CSIC), Pablo Ares (UAM, IFIMAC), Elisa Palacios-Lidón (Univ. Murcia).

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9. Physical Virology: from virus function to materials science

Descripción:

Viruses hijack the cell machinery to perpetuate themselves. They self-assemble from protein or lipid subunits into precise and uniform structures, seamlessly selecting and encapsulating their genome. Despite their simple composition and minimal components, they conduct complex functions: from packaging and transporting their genome through aggressive environments, to nucleic acid delivery into the host. These features suggest that viruses could be used and mimicked in other scientific disciplines, such as materials science and medicine. Our preparedness against viral diseases and our ability to exploit viral structures to advance technology require multidisciplinary collaborations, including physics-oriented approaches and the study of viral infection with biophysical tools. This symposium aims at bridging the physics and virology communities in pursuing a new paradigm in understanding viruses for their biology and technological applications.

Organizadores: Pedro Jose de Pablo (UAM) y Horacio Vargas Guzmán (ICMAB-CSIC) · p.j.depablo@uam.es

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10. Frontiers in Fusion Materials Science

Descripción:

Fusion energy has attracted renewed attention after recent milestones such as net energy gain at Lawrence Livermore (2022) and progress at JET, together with increasing private investment. Despite these advances, important challenges remain — especially concerning the performance of materials under the extreme irradiation conditions inside a fusion reactor. Radiation-induced damage at the atomic scale can severely alter mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties making the integration of experiments and modeling essential. In this context, facilities such as IFMIF-DONES, under construction in Granada, will play a crucial role. Several DFMC-GEFES members are already active in fusion materials research, and this symposium aims to increase the visibility of these efforts while fostering stronger collaboration within the community.

Organizadoras: Blanca Biel (Univ. Granada) y María José Caturla (Universidad de Alicante) · mj.caturla@ua.es

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11. Phase transitions, electronic transport and emergent phenomena in strongly correlated systems

Descripción:

Strongly correlated materials are at the frontier of modern condensed matter physics. Emergent phenomena due to correlations include high-temperature superconductivity, unconventional magnetism, Mott insulators and quantum spin liquids. These systems challenge stablished theoretical frameworks while opening pathways to next-generation energy, computing, and sensing technologies. This symposium will be an opportunity to discuss present challenges in the field and to nucleate the Spanish community working in different aspects related to strongly correlated physics. The topics will include:

• Electronic properties and phase transitions

• Carrier modulation, topology, transport, interfacial and ultrafast phenomena.

• Applications: memories, sensors, novel computing architectures, electro-optical devices.

Organizadoras: Mariela Menghini (IMDEA Nanociencia) y Anna Palau (ICMAB) · mariela.menghini@imdea.org