Emergent functional materials with respect to extreme conditions

The functional materials with quantum emergent phenomena manifest profound phenomena, defining the current frontiers of condensed mattes. They cover the multiple spin, charge, and/or orbital interactions in the matrix of crystal lattices and display properties such as superconductivity, diluted magnetic semiconductor properties, and topological quantum phenomena, promising for applications.

Scope:

The main scope will be focused on recent new emergent materials including superconductors, diluted magnetic semiconductors, topological ordered materials with respect to extreme conditions such as high pressure, low temperature or high magnetic fields, etc. The extreme conditions can be very effective in changing atomic distance, enhancing orbital overlap, and consequently modifying crystalline structures and tuning interactions or multiple couplings. One can thus realize novel materials states.

It is very well established that each material will usually undergo tens of phase transitions over the Mbar pressure range, strongly implying that high pressure could generate plenty of new states of materials. Hence high pressure is considered to be a powerful tool to develop novel condensed states. Pressure provides a new dimension for the study of quantum emergent compounds. Quantum emergent phenomena will have totally new critical relationships if one investigates the pressure dimension together with the usual temperature and composition parameters. More recently it has been shown that pressure variations stimulate dramatic enhancements of the Tc of superconductors. Pressure generally can drive the insulator-metal transition due to the band widening, overlapping effects, and the redistribution and transformation of outer shell electrons upon shortening the atomic distance. More important is that high pressure tends to stabilize novel compounds or states that otherwise could hardly obtained by conventional means. Using high pressure advantages to synthesize and study hydrides, borides or nitrides etc. is not only of industrial interest but also important for developing high pressure science itself since those low Z compounds are theoretically easier to analyse. Nevertheless pressure is a unique and irreplaceable probe to check and develop theoretical model. For instance, pressure can substantially modify the electron correlation and e-p interaction, the spin orientation, giving rise to superconductivity in conventional materials such as theoretically predicated metallic hydrogen. The delocalization tendency under pressure leads many insulators, semiconductors and molecular crystals to become metals that cover huge scope of emergent materials.

Hot topics to be covered by the symposium:

• Novel technologies to fabricate nano-materials
• Multifunctional materials
• Interface-based new or enhanced properties
• Materials for flexible electronics
• Proximity effects
• Interfaces between 2D materials
• Interfaces involving topologically protected states
• High-temperature superconductors
• Diluted magnetic semiconductors
• Topological ordered materials