🔬 Category

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

2898 papers

Condensed matter physics and materials science form a dynamic partnership, exploring how the collective behavior of atoms gives rise to the unique properties of solids and liquids. This field bridges the gap between fundamental quantum mechanics and the practical engineering of everything from flexible electronics to superconductors, turning abstract theories into tangible innovations that shape our daily lives.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from arXiv to make these complex discoveries accessible to everyone. Our team generates both plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries for each paper, ensuring that researchers, students, and curious minds alike can grasp the latest breakthroughs without getting lost in dense jargon.

Below are the latest papers in condensed matter and materials science, organized by their most recent publication dates.

🔬 materials science

Identifying open-orbit topological surface states in dual topological semimetal TaSb2_2

By combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, density functional theory, and transport measurements, this study identifies and characterizes spin-momentum-locked, open-orbit topological surface states on the weakly topological (201ˉ\bar{1}) plane of the dual topological semimetal TaSb2_2, distinguishing them from bulk states and establishing the material as a platform for spin-polarized topological transport.

Susmita Changdar, Heike Schlörb, Oleksandr Suvorov, Dimitry Efremov, Alexander Yaresko, Rui Lou, Alexander Fedorov, Bern (…)2026-02-17
🔬 materials science

Low-Temperature Sputtering and Polarity Determination of Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanocolumns

This paper demonstrates that low-temperature reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering enables the scalable growth of vertically aligned ZnO nanocolumns on Si substrates with controlled polarity and morphology, where O-polar structures exhibit superior piezoelectric performance suitable for flexible and wearable electronics.

A. Hamzi, L. Ouardas, M. Saleh, P. Leuasoongnoen, T. Sonklin, P. David, S. le Denmat, O. Leynaud, E. Mossang, B. Fernand (…)2026-02-17
🔬 materials science

Stacking-Engineered Thermal Transport and Phonon Filtering in Rhenium Disulfide

This study demonstrates that stacking order serves as a critical control knob for cross-plane thermal transport in multilayer ReS₂, where AA stacking enhances thermal conductivity through longer phonon lifetimes and frequency-selective filtering, establishing a new framework for engineering heat management in 2D electronics.

Yongjian Zhou, Haoran Cui, Zefang Ye, Jung-Fu Lin, Yan Wang, Yaguo Wang2026-02-17
🔬 mesoscale physics

Topological Lasing from Thouless Pumping in Bilayer Photonic Crystal

This paper numerically demonstrates a dynamically reconfigurable topological laser in a bilayer photonic crystal at telecom wavelengths, where Thouless pumping between competing periodic potentials creates a robust, tunable lasing mode enabled by MEMS or phase-change materials.

D. -H. -Minh Nguyen, Dung Xuan Nguyen, Hai-Chau Nguyen, Thibaud Louvet, Emmanuel Drouard, Xavier Letartre, Dario Berciou (…)2026-02-16
🔬 materials science

Realisation of de Gennes′' Absolute Superconducting Switch with a Heavy Metal Interface

This paper reports the realization of de Gennes' predicted absolute superconducting switch by demonstrating that $EuS/Au/Nb/EuS$ structures, leveraging a heavy metal interface to enhance spin-mixing conductance, can completely quench superconductivity in the parallel magnetic configuration down to 20 mK, thereby achieving a near-unity switching ratio essential for low-power electronics.

Hisakazu Matsuki, Alberto Hijano, Grzegorz P. Mazur, Stefan Ilic, Binbin Wang, Yuliya Alekhina, Kohei Ohnishi, Sachio Ko (…)2026-02-16
🔬 mesoscale physics

Spin-degenerate bulk bands and topological surface states associated with Dirac nodal lines in RuO2

Micro-focused ARPES and first-principles calculations reveal that RuO2 exhibits spin-degenerate bulk bands inconsistent with altermagnetism, while its observed surface states near the Fermi level arise from topological Dirac nodal lines, suggesting these features are crucial for understanding the material's spintronic and catalytic properties.

T. Osumi, K. Yamauchi, S. Souma, S. Paul, A. Honma, K. Nakayama, K. Ozawa, M. Kitamura, K. Horiba, H. Kumigashira, C. Bi (…)2026-02-16
🔬 materials science

Phonon properties and unconventional heat transfer in quasi-2D Bi2O2SeBi_2O_2Se crystal

This study investigates the phonon properties and unconventional heat transfer in quasi-2D Bi2O2SeBi_2O_2Se crystals, revealing that strong low-frequency polar phonons drive an exceptionally high in-plane permittivity that enhances electron mobility, while anomalous phonon density of states and group velocity behaviors explain the material's unique temperature-dependent heat capacity and thermal conductivity.

Jan Zich, Antonín Sojka, Petr Levinský, Martin Míšek, Kyo-Hoon Ahn, Jiří Navrátil, Jiří Hejtmánek, Karel Knížek, Václav (…)2026-02-16
🔬 mesoscale physics

Wavefunction textures in twisted bilayer graphene from first principles

This study employs large-scale first-principles calculations to reveal how atomic-scale wavefunction textures and interlayer interaction strength in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene drive a topological phase transition involving band inversion, offering a theoretical framework to interpret experimental signatures of superconductivity and correlated phases.

Albert Zhu, Daniel Bennett, Daniel T. Larson, Mohammed M. Al Ezzi, Efstratios Manousakis, Efthimios Kaxiras2026-02-16