2025 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit

Symposium MQ03-Topological Materials—Growth, Theoretical Models, Exotic Properties and Applications

Topological matter is an emerging class of materials with extraordinary properties that could propel us into a post-CMOS era. The symposium will explore developments of topological materials, emphasising their synthesis, theoretical models, and applications. The first section will focus on the growth of these exotic materials, highlighting the development of new topological materials as a key factor in discovering new phenomena. We will address challenges in producing materials that resist environmental reactions, using appropriate protective measures without altering their properties, and their functionalization for band gap engineering. The second part will explore theoretical models explaining topological behavior. It will include discussions on the conditions for the Quantum Spin Hall effect (QSH) in 2D/3D topological insulators, and new topological features in Weyl semimetals. We will also highlight theoretical models linking QSH with other properties, such as the figure of merit (ZT) for thermoelectric (TE) materials. This session will point out methods to decouple phonons and charge in these materials through functionalization or defect introduction.
In the third part, early applications of these materials will be presented. Topological materials have the potential to revolutionize various fields, including TE with high ZT (e.g., avionics, space, and energy-efficient intelligent buildings), new quantum computing/memories at the subatomic level, and beyond-CMOS electronics using spin transport with minimal energy consumption. We will also explore their potential for Majorana Fermion detection with 3D topological insulators. Additionally, the symposium will cover topological superconductivity, an emerging field. Abstracts on potential applications and exploratory research in these fields are highly encouraged.

Topics will include:

Growth of topological materials, Chemical synthesis approach for topological materials, Ambient stability of topological materials
Surface functionalization, Theoretical modelling of topological materials, Quantum transport
Thermoelectric properties and devices, Sub-atomic quantum computing based on materials, topological quantum computing
Beyond CMOS electronics based on topological materials, Topological effects and strain
Topological insulators, Weyl semimetals, Computational materials predictive model
Exotic properties linked to topological materials (e.g. topological superconductivity)

Invited Speakers:

Pantelis Bampoulis (University of Twente, Netherlands)
Clement Barraud (Université Sorbonne, France)
Kwabena Bediako (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
Andrei Bernevig (Princeton University, USA)
Annica Black-Schaffer (Uppsala University, Sweden)
Sushimita Chandra (Max Planck Institute, Germany)
Yong Chen (Purdue University, USA)
Roberta Citro (Università degli Studi di Salerno, Italy)
Benedetta Flebus (Boston College, USA)
Satoshi Fujimoto (Osaka University, Japan)
Ferhat Katmis (Koç University, Turkey)
Jelena Klinovaja (Universität of Basel, Switzerland)
Mingda Li (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
Qiong Ma (Boston College, USA)
Marie Blandine Martin (Thales Group, France)
Alessandro Molle (CNR, Italy)
Jagadeesh Moodera (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
Petra Rudolf (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
Pierre Seneor (Laboratoire Albert Fert, France)
Benjamin Wieder (Institut de Physique Théorique, Université Paris-Saclay, France)
Su-Yang Xu (Harvard University, USA)
Zelia Zanolli (Utrecht University, Netherlands)