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.

Circularity in Perovskite-Based Tandem Photovoltaics for Terawatt-Scale Deployment

This review outlines critical strategies for achieving circularity in perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics—addressing material scarcity, recycling protocols, lead safety, and policy frameworks—to ensure their sustainable, terawatt-scale deployment alongside crystalline silicon technologies.

Abderrahime Sekkat, Shiling Dong, Jenny Baker, Matt Burnell, Tapas Mallick, Ruy S. Bonilla, Robert L. Z. Hoye2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Switchable Surface Linear Photogalvanic Effect in the Magnetic Weyl Semimetal Co3Sn2S2

This paper theoretically demonstrates that the magnetic Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2 exhibits a switchable surface linear photogalvanic effect driven by extrinsic contributions from Fermi-arc states, which can be controlled by magnetization flipping and offers a promising platform for symmetry-controlled optoelectronic applications.

Niket Shah, Aymen Nomani, Kai Chen, Hridis Pal, Pavan Hosur2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mes-hall

A Neural-Network Framework to Learn History-Dependent Constitutive Laws and Identifiability of Internal Variables

This paper presents a causal and energetic neural-network framework for learning history-dependent constitutive laws that ensures thermodynamic consistency, stability, and solution existence while demonstrating that learned internal variables are unique up to a linear transform, achieving a 2% relative error in predicting the response of a polycrystalline magnesium unit cell.

Mayank Raj, Lianghao Cao, Andrew Stuart, Kaushik Bhattacharya2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Machine-learning-identified two-dimensional van der Waals multiferroics for four-state nonvolatile memory

By combining machine learning screening with first-principles calculations, this study identifies the AuCrP2_2S6_6 monolayer as a promising 2D van der Waals multiferroic candidate that enables non-destructive four-state nonvolatile memory through the intrinsic coupling of its ferroelectric polarization and ferromagnetic order via the bulk photovoltaic effect.

Zhibin Tan, Tao Wang, Hao Jin2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Shaping Maximally Localized Wannier Functions via Discrete Adiabatic Transport

This paper introduces a non-variational, deterministic algorithm for constructing Maximally Localized Wannier Functions by unifying gauge smoothing with the projected position operator eigenvalue problem through discrete adiabatic transport, thereby eliminating the need for iterative spread minimization while revealing the geometric origin of mesh-dependent spread scaling in systems like graphene.

Yuji Hamai, Katsunori Wakabayashi2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Probing the Chirality of Trigonal Selenium and Tellurium by Spin and Orbital Hall Effects

Using first-principles calculations, this study demonstrates that the spin and orbital Hall conductivities of left- and right-handed trigonal selenium and tellurium exhibit opposite signs due to mirror-symmetry-induced antisymmetry in their Berry curvature, thereby establishing a direct link between measurable transport signals and structural chirality.

Yuting Xiong, Yingjie Hu, Wei Ren, Heng Gao2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Kinetic effects on the phase behavior and microstructural transitions of a thermoresponsive polymer solution

This study investigates the kinetic effects of thermal stimuli on Pluronic F127 solutions, revealing that heating and cooling rates significantly influence micellization temperatures and induce a novel, transient multi-step phase transition pathway characterized by metastable states and evolving microstructural order, which is successfully captured by a comprehensive mathematical model and phase diagram.

Pritha Acharya, Riya Karmakar, Khushboo Suman2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Agentic Design of Compositional Descriptors via Autoresearch for Materials Science Applications

This paper introduces Automat, an autoresearch framework where an AI agent autonomously designs and iteratively refines chemically interpretable composition-based descriptors for materials property prediction, successfully outperforming established baselines in predicting band gaps and Curie temperatures while highlighting current limitations in search strategies and complexity control.

Matteo Cobelli, Stefano Sanvito2026-05-15🔬 cond-mat.mtrl-sci