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Topics

Thin Films and Nanostructures for Modern Electronics

Topic chairperson:
Daniel MORARU, Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Japan

This topic will examine the nature of electrical properties and charge transport in a wide variety of modern electronic materials, offering comparison between many material systems. From a materials perspective, the focus will be on inorganic or organic semiconductors, metals and metal oxides, material simulations and device modelling, while from an application perspective the focus will be on production and study of thin films and nanoscale structures with electronic functionality, covering the full range from continued miniaturization of existing device designs and adaptation to new materials through to novel devices exploiting quantum, single-electron or spin effects or new nanoscale materials such as self-assembled nanowires.

Fundamentals of Plasma and Laser-Material Interactions and Processing

Topic chairperson:
Cristian FOCSA, University of Science and Technology of Lille, France
Ionut TOPALA, Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

The topic covers the fundamentals of plasma and laser processing to produce multiscale morphological and chemical changes to the surfaces of metals, semiconductors or biomaterials to allow optimized optical properties for emerging applications as high efficiency solar cells, security, microfluidics, or to enhance the adhesion of proteins and cells for applications such as biomedical implants and lab-on-a-chip type sensors.

Materials for Energy and Environment

Topic chairpersons:
Silviu COLIS, University of Strasbourg, France
Hoda HAFEZ, University of Sadat City, Egypt

This topic is certainly of paramount practical importance and will focus on batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells, hydrogen generation, catalytic materials and sensors for environmental protection and solar cells. The topic covers various materials aspects, a wide range of scientific fundamentals and technological aspects of materials- deposition technologies, the basic properties of amorphous/crystalline materials, various approaches of material tuning to increase efficiency, emerging technologies, etc.

Magnetic Materials, Spintronics and Related Devices

Topic chairperson:
Coriolan TIUSAN, Babes-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Aurelian ROTARU, Stefan cel Mare University, Suceava, Romania

The topic covers new scientific and technological developments in the field of nanomagnetism, magnetic materials spintronics and related devices. It includes magnetic nano and heterostructures, magnetism and superconductivity, diluted magnetic semiconductors, novel magnetic and spintronic materials and devices, low dimensional magnetism, sensors, spintronic devices and magnetotransport, giant magnetoresistance, magnetic tunnel junction, spin injection and detection, spin and charge conversion effects, spin-orbitronics, material simulations (ab-initio, atomistic, micro magnetism) and device modeling, etc. Next generation of quantum materials such as topological insulators, Weyl and Dirac semimetals, Rashba interfaces will be also addressed. The topic also focuses on novel issues related to magnetization manipulation in spintronic devices with enhanced energetic efficiency: spin-currents in spin orbitronic devices, electric field, polarized photons and combined strategies. New issues related to 2D spintronics and magnetism and spintronic applications in neuromorphic and stochastic computing will be also covered.

Nanostructures and Low Dimensional Systems

Topic chairperson:
Michele AMATO, Paris-Saclay University, Orsay, France

This topic covers fundamental and applied aspects of physics of nanostructures and low-dimensional systems, including semiconductor heterostructures, mesoscopic systems, quantum wells and superlattices, two-dimensional electron systems, quantum wires and dots, spin related phenomena, optical and transport properties, single electron effects and devices, and other novel phenomena.

Emerging Electronic Memory Materials and Devices

Topic chairperson:
Shashi PAUL, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom

Electronic memories are key elements of many electronic systems that take data storage (for example: mobile phones, iPads, computers, e-papers, etc.). There has been enormous interest in the use of organic materials, resistive memory devices, phase change materials, nanoparticles in hybrid organic & inorganic memory devices, molecules, quantised states, charge trapping ferroelectric materials. The session will capture such new developments in these fields.

Polymer Materials and Composites

Topic chairperson:
Valeria HARABAGIU, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romania

The topic „Polymer Materials and Composites” covers analysis, characterisation, processing, design, modelling, rapid prototyping, testing, repair, structural integrity evaluation, applications and knowledge transfer of thermoplastics, thermosets, coatings, elastomers, adhesives, polymer matrix composites, eco-composites and nanocomposites.

Biomaterials and Healthcare Applications

Topic chairperson:
Adriana ZELENAKOVA, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Košice, Slovakia

The topic „Biomaterials and Healthcare Applications” will serve as a platform to bring together a diverse group of researchers who are known for their innovation and high quality of research work. The topic covers processing and characterization of novel materials with enhanced functionalities, properties and behaviour for use in the body in applications such as biomaterials, controlled release of drugs, medical devices, imaging and diagnostics and, treatment.

Functional Materials. Processing and Characterization

Topic chairperson:
Abdullah YILDIZ, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Turkey

This topic will express the knowledge on the relationships between composition, microstructure, processing and macroscopic properties for a wide variety of functional materials involved in the future: hydrogen bonded systems, ionic crystals, narrow gap semiconductors, organic polymers, etc. The topic covers also developments for tuneable devices, size effects in functional materials, relationships between the nanoscale structure with the nano- and macroscale properties; fundamentals in processing and assembling of functional materials at micro, meso and nano length scales.

New Developments in Sensing Materials and Sensor Devices

Topic chairperson:
Jan LANCOK, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Advancements in material research have profound impacts on the development of sensors and enable the design of highly sensitive sensor and biosensor devices. This topic covers recent developments in materials with application in various types of sensors (optical and photonic sensors, chemical sensors, gas sensors, magnetic sensors, nano sensors, smart sensors) and transducer devices, sensing methods and technologies, sensing systems and their applications and new modelling and computational methods for sensors and transducers design. Recent advances in piezoelectric, magnetostrictive and shape memory alloys systems, emerging transducer materials such as magnetic nanoparticles, expandable micro spheres and conductive polymers are also discussed.

Trends in Condensed Matter Theory

Topic chairperson:
Liviu CHIONCEL, Augsburg University, Germany

The topic „Trends in Condensed Matter Theory” covers theories for condensed matter, spin quantum Hall effect, high temperature superconductivity, fractional quantum Hall states, Luttinger liquids, graphene, spin liquids, topological insulator materials, interactions in mesoscopic systems, etc.

Self-assembled and nanopatterned materials and their ion beam modification

Topic chairperson:
Jörg K. N. LINDNER, Paderborn University, Germany

The topic „Self-assembled and nanopatterned materials and their ion beam modification” is dedicated to novel fabrication process based on the self-assembly and patterning of micro and nanoparticles, assembly principles, nanoassembly and nanofabrication, design of nanostructures, self-assembly and patterning of thin films, patterning graphene, self-assembled circuit patterns, self-assembly works for superlattices, biomimetic nanostructures, etc.

Advanced photonic materials and devices

Topic chairperson:
Dana CRISTEA, National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, Romania
Mohamed SWILLAM, American University in Cairo, Egypt

Photonic materials and photonic devices have emerged as a new research and technological area that develops very fast. This topic is focused on recent advances and trends in developing advanced materials with new optical, photonic, and electrical properties for applications in photonics. The topic covers original research on synthesis, characterization and fundamental understanding of new structures and novel physical/chemical /optical properties, and their applications in optical fibers and waveguides, meta-materials, photonic crystals and gratings, micro-optics, passive and active photonic devices, integrated quantum photonics, optical sensing technologies, and innovative approaches that allow monolithic and heterogeneous integration of the photonic devices on silicon technology.

Waste materials and bioeconomy

Topic chairpersons:
Branko GLAMUZINA, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Simona PINZARU, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca

The research in sustainable production of bio-resources and their conversion into bio-based products, bioenergy and other goods, and circulation of biowaste and bioproducts at the end of their life cycles is developing continuously. The topic offers a platform for researchers involved in natural science, social science, engineering, agriculture, business, politics, and other fields to share their results, technologies, and solutions for a sustainable bioeconomy. The topic covers waste materials; bioenergy production, distribution, and use; circularity of bio-based materials and products; organic waste recycling and upcycling; biotechnologies for environmental health; bioeconomy in emerging economies and business models.

Materials in conservation-restauration of cultural heritage monuments and objects

Topic chairperson:
Joško BOGDANOVIĆ, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia

The successful conservation-restauration strategies of cultural heritage monuments and objects require an understanding of the chemical and biological degradation processes, an understanding of the mechanisms behind observed damages and advanced materials for cleaning, consolidation, and surface protection.
The topic covers formulation of advanced materials (bio- and natural materials for consolidation, coatings with optimal properties, natural compounds for pollutants absorbers, stimuli-responsive systems), new technologies, nanotechnologies, and strategies for conservation-restauration.

Advanced photocatalysts for industrial and environmental applications

Topic chairpersons:
Yasser MAHMOUD, National Research Centre, Egypt
El-Zahraa EL GOHARY, National Research Centre, Egypt

Photocatalysis using UV/visible/solar light has been widely regarded as a green and promising technology for pollutant elimination and organic transformation. Various strategies have been developed to improve the photoconversion efficiency of photocatalysts.

This topic includes recent advances in photocatalysts synthesis (nanomaterials, bio-inspired hybrid nanocomposites, photoactive heterostructures, etc.), modification (doping, doping with coupling, heterojunctions), characterization and new insides in photocatalysis processes for industrial and environmental applications (factors affecting the photocatalytic process, photo-catalytic degradation processes, developments and perspectives in environmental and energy photochemistry, etc.)

Art, Science and Technology

Topic chairperson:
Cris ORFESCU, NanoArt 21, Los Angeles, California, US

The topic intends to enhance the communication between scientists, artists, and engineers involved in visual arts and to create new opportunities for exploration, knowledge, and discovery of new digital virtual creativity by promoting the development of the current artistic movements and tools.