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

Stress-induced Martensitic transformation in epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga thin films and its correlation to optical and magneto-optical properties

This study investigates stress-induced martensitic transformations in epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga thin films and demonstrates how substrate strain and film thickness govern structural changes, which in turn drive significant evolution in the films' electronic structure and magneto-optical properties.

M. Makeš, J. Zázvorka, M. Hubert, P. Veřtát, M. Rameš, J. Zemen, O. Heczko, M. Veis2026-08-31
🔬 materials science

Atomistic Indicators of the Ductile-to-Brittle Transition in Polycrystalline Tungsten: Temperature and Rhenium Effects on Crack-Tip Plasticity

This study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate that adding 10% rhenium to polycrystalline tungsten enhances pre-instability plasticity and alters crack-tip dislocation mechanisms, thereby identifying atomistic indicators for the high-rate ductile-to-brittle transition while clarifying that these findings do not directly predict experimental transition temperatures.

Divyesh Mistry, Avik Mahata2026-08-31
🔬 materials science

Efficient perturbations for basin hopping in amorphous glasses

This paper demonstrates that employing specific nonlocal perturbations, particularly moving oxygen atoms to alter aluminum coordination numbers, followed by local relaxation, significantly accelerates the exploration of potential-energy landscapes in amorphous Al2_2O3_3 compared to conventional Monte Carlo methods, thereby reducing trapping in local minima and improving structure-search efficiency.

Coraline Du, Hye Sol Kim, Scott C. Warren2026-08-31
🔬 materials science

Ionization Energies, Electron Affinities, Bandgaps, Exciton Binding Energies, and Polarization Energies of Orientation-Controlled Picene, [6]-Phenacene, and [7]-Phenacene Thin Films

This study utilizes photoelectron spectroscopy to demonstrate that while the band gaps and exciton binding energies of picene and phenacene thin films are largely independent of molecular size and orientation, their ionization energies and electron affinities exhibit significant orientation-dependent shifts of approximately 1 eV driven primarily by electrostatic interactions from molecular quadrupole moments.

Rintaro Makino, Mihiro Kubo, Keiichirou Yonezawa, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Satoshi Kera2026-08-31
🔬 applied physics

How a polymer filling enhances the rate and selectivity of colloid permeation across mesopores

This paper demonstrates that a polymer filling which attracts colloids and extends beyond mesopores can paradoxically enhance both the rate and selectivity of colloid permeation, offering a physical explanation for nuclear pore complex function and a design strategy for advanced separation and delivery devices.

Mikhail Y. Laktionov, Frans A. M. Leermakers, Ralf P. Richter, Leonid I. Klushin, Oleg V. Borisov2026-08-31
🔬 materials science

uMOF: A Universal Database, Benchmark, and Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials for Metal-Organic Frameworks

The paper introduces uMOF, a comprehensive resource comprising the largest DFT dataset for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a literature-mined experimental benchmark, and two universal machine learning interatomic potentials that significantly outperform existing models in predicting complex gas adsorption properties by leveraging diverse training data and high-level theory.

Théo Jaffrelot Inizan (Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA, Bakar Inst (…)2026-08-31
🔬 materials science

Band-like Carriers in a Soft, Anharmonic Lattice: Lead-Halide Perovskites

This paper proposes a unified microscopic framework for lead-halide perovskites, arguing that their unique combination of soft, anharmonic lattice dynamics and robust band-like carrier transport arises from a thermally fluctuating ensemble of locally symmetry-broken configurations driven by the Pb 6s² lone pair, which simultaneously dictates electronic structure, dielectric response, and defect tolerance.

Young Mi Lee, Inhee Maeng, Jinwoo Park, Seung-Jae Oh, Min-Cherl Jung2026-08-31