Category: News

Dr. Emil Božin, the ERA Chair of the HIP-2D-QM project supported through the Horizon Europe programme, explores the project’s objectives, the use of large-scale research facilities, and the scientific idea of hidden states in the new episode of “The Garden of Physics”, titled “Arrival of Hidden States.”

In the episode, Dr. Božin highlights how hidden states—though not always directly observable—play a crucial role in understanding the properties of advanced materials:

“These states are all around us, but we may not be aware that they are there — or how they are connected to the properties we aim to understand,” says Dr. Božin.

“The Garden of Physics” is a science communication series produced by the Institute of Physics Belgrade, with each episode focusing on one of the key themes of modern science and aiming to bring the latest research closer to the general public.

For the full article and video, please visit the original page at the Institute of Physics Belgrade

Contributions from the HIP-2D-QM project at IPB’s Center for Solid State physics and New Materials , as part of collaborative research led by FORTH’s Quantum Materials and Magnetism Lab , help revealing that strong electron correlations drive intertwined electronic and structural instabilities at the core of multiorbital superconducting pairing.

In a new series of complementary experiments [1], scientists from the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) at FORTH — Myrsini Kaitatzi, Alexandros Deltsidis, Izar Capel Berdiell, and Alexandros Lappas — working closely with collaborators from ALBA (Laura Simonelli, Alexander Missyul), DESY (Martin Etter), and IPB (Emil S. Bozin), explore a fundamental question at the forefront of condensed matter research: how strong must electron–electron interactions become to raise the temperature at which superconductivity appears?

By harnessing brilliant synchrotron light sources, the researchers reveal previously hidden phases that clarify the delicate interplay between electronic orders—an essential factor shaping the behavior of quantum materials, especially those where electrons move without resistance.

The team’s findings spotlight a novel two-dimensional (2D) iron-based material designed to conduct electricity without losses—paving the way for energy-efficient systems and next-generation electronics that demand far less cooling than today’s superconductors. By combining intercalation chemistry for precise property control, X-ray total scattering for detailed structural information, and high-resolution core-level spectroscopies (XAS, XES) with element-specific, femtosecond sensitivity, the researchers uncover site-local fluctuations that reveal an emerging electron-correlation–driven instability.

As the material cools, this instability emerges as an unconventional form of negative thermal expansion caused by intricate magnetic interactions. Under the Mott–Hund’s framework—which describes how electrons shift between mobile and localized behavior—orbital differentiation is found to temper electronic correlations and support spin-fluctuation–driven interactions. These combined effects point to new strategies for creating layered quantum materials where superconductivity and magnetism can coexist and possibly reach higher transition temperatures.

Reference

[1] A. Lappas, M. Kaitatzi, A. Deltsidis, I. Capel Berdiell, L. Simonelli, A. Missyul, M. Etter, and E.S. Bozin, “Orbital-Selective Instabilities and Spin Fluctuations at the Verge of Superconductivity in Interlayer-Expanded Iron Selenide”, Chemistry of Materials (2025).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5c01488.

Join us on October 6, 2025 at 12:00 in Tavan, Institute of Physics Belgrade for a workshop and public forum on understanding the challenges women face in science entitled: Workshop Focus: Understanding the Challenges Women Face in Science.

The workshop is open to IPB staff and students. External visitors must register via email: hip2dqm-admin[at]ipb.ac.rs

More info on the page of the workshop

A topical review, titled "2D materials: advances in regenerative medicine and human health sensing", was published by HIP-2D-QM Team member Bojana Višić, and our IPB coworker, Jasmina Lazarević. 2D materials show significant promise in regenerative medicine and noninvasive sensing due to their high surface area, conductivity, and tunable chemistry, but face challenges such as biocompatibility, safety, and scalable production. This review explores their interactions with biological systems, sensor development potential, and integration with polymers, while emphasizing the need for standardized protocols and comprehensive safety assessments for clinical use.

The work has been published in 2D Materials.

A collaborative team of scientists, including IPB’s ERA Chair Emil Bozin, has achieved a breakthrough in materials science by capturing ultra-fast, high-quality structural data using an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). Using just a single ~30 femtosecond pulse at the European XFEL’s HED instrument, the team resolved atomic-scale structures in materials ranging from crystals to liquids. This advancement breaks previous speed and resolution limits, opening new possibilities for studying rapid structural dynamics in real time. The work has been published in IUCrJ.

To celebrate 30 years of the Center for Solid State Physics and New Materials (CSSPNM), we are proud to launch our new website and visual identity. The updated logo and redesigned site reflect the Center’s growth, renewed focus, and continued commitment to cutting-edge research in quantum materials, condensed matter physics, and advanced characterization techniques.

The new website offers insights into our research activities, ongoing projects, collaboration opportunities, and upcoming events. Explore it here: Center for Solid State Physics and New Materials

This milestone marks a new chapter for CSSPNM as we continue to build on decades of excellence and look ahead to new scientific challenges and partnerships.