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

Anisotropic anomalous Hall effect in distorted kagome GdTi3Bi4

This study reveals that the distorted kagome magnet GdTi3Bi4 exhibits a highly anisotropic anomalous Hall effect, where a significant Hall conductivity appears only when the magnetic field is aligned with the c-axis due to magnetization-direction-dependent orbital mixing and Berry curvature redistribution, challenging the conventional scaling of the effect with magnetization.

Avdhesh K. Sharma, Bo Tai, Subhajit Roychowdhury, Premakumar Yanda, Ulrich Burkhardt, Xiaolong Feng, Claudia Felser, Cha (…)2026-02-04
🔬 materials science

Single-run determination of the saturation vapor pressure and enthalpy of vaporization/sublimation of a substance undergoing successive solid-solid and solid-liquid phase transitions: the case of NN-methyl acetamide

This paper presents a single-run dynamical measurement method that determines the saturation vapor pressure and the enthalpies of sublimation and vaporization for NN-methyl acetamide as it undergoes successive solid-solid and solid-liquid phase transitions within a vacuum chamber.

Mohsen Salimi, Aurelien Dantan, Henrik B. Pedersen2026-02-04
🔬 optics

Gear-based 3D-printed Micromachines Actuated by Optical Tweezers

This paper presents the design, fabrication via two-photon polymerization, and optical tweezer actuation of functional 3D-printed gear-driven micromachines that convert light into controlled mechanical motion, enabling complex out-of-plane rotations and torque amplification for applications in biomedical and lab-on-a-chip systems.

Alaa M. Ali, Gwenn Ulliac, Edison Gerena, Abdenbi Mohand-Ousaid, Sinan Haliyo, Aude Bolopion, Muamer Kadic2026-02-04
🔬 materials science

Single-Atom Adsorption on h-BN along the Periodic Table of Elements: From Pristine Surface to Vacancy-Engineered Sites

This study uses density functional theory to demonstrate that while pristine hexagonal boron nitride exhibits weak physisorption for most elements, introducing boron or nitrogen vacancies dramatically enhances adsorption energies and creates distinct binding preferences for electropositive and electronegative species, respectively, thereby establishing defect engineering as a powerful strategy for tailoring h-BN's functional properties.

Ana S. Dobrota, Natalia V. Skorodumova, Igor A. Pašti2026-02-04
🔬 materials science

Acceleration of Atomistic NEGF: Algorithms, Parallelization, and Machine Learning

This paper summarizes key algorithmic advancements in parallelization and machine learning that have enabled the scaling of accurate, ab-initio Density Functional Theory combined with Non-equilibrium Green's function (DFT+NEGF) simulations from small atomic systems to realistic, large-scale nanoscale devices.

Mathieu Luisier, Nicolas Vetsch, Alexander Maeder, Vincent Maillou, Anders Winka, Leonard Deuschle, Chen Hao Xia, Manasa (…)2026-02-04
🔬 materials science

Skyrmions in 2D chiral magnets with noncollinear ground states stabilized by higher-order interactions

This study proposes and demonstrates, through first-principles calculations and simulations, that unconventional skyrmions can be stabilized in noncollinear ground states of Rh/Co and Pd/Co bilayers on Re(0001) via higher-order spin exchange interactions, offering new prospects for topological spintronics and hybrid systems.

Mathews Benny, Moinak Ghosh, Moritz A. Goerzen, Bjarne Beyer, Hendrik Schrautzer, Stefan Heinze, Souvik Paul2026-02-04
🔬 materials science

Origin of mixed anisotropy in crystalline Permalloy and amorphous Cobalt thin films individually deposited on Si substrate

This study investigates the evolution of mixed magnetic anisotropies in rf-sputtered crystalline Permalloy and amorphous Cobalt thin films on Si substrates, revealing how growth conditions and film thickness induce magnetization tilt and defining distinct anisotropy regimes to enhance spintronic device performance.

Kirti Kirti, Baisali Ghadai, Abinash Mishra, Rahulkrishnan R, Sucheta Mondal2026-02-04