Welcome
Join us in Edinburgh in July 2026 for this edition of the Faraday Discussion series. The Faraday Discussions are unique international discussion meetings that address current and emerging topics at the forefront of the physical sciences.This Discussion will focus on the development of new optoelectronic materials, addressing topics ranging from computational design and synthesis to advanced characterization and data-driven innovation. Researchers from diverse backgrounds, including material design, computational modeling, experimental synthesis, and data science, are invited to join this exciting forum. Oral and poster presentation are available for both established and early-career scientists.
We look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh.
On behalf of the organizing committee,
Mirjana Dimitrievska
Why attend?
Find out more about Faraday Discussions in the video and FAQs – see Useful links on the right.A unique conference format that prioritises discussion
At a Faraday Discussion, the primary research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting – ensuring that most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the latest research.
This provides a genuinely collaborative environment, where discussion and debate are at the foreground. All delegates, not just speakers, are invited to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations.
An exciting programme of talks – and more
Take part in a well-balanced mix of talks, discussion, poster sessions and informal networking, delivered by our expert events team. You can explore the full programme in the downloadable files on the right – whether you’re attending in-person or online, every minute provides an opportunity.
The conference dinner, included in the registration fee, contains the Marlow Cup ceremony: a unique commemoration of past Faraday Discussion organisers that is sure to encourage further discussions over dinner.
In-depth discussion with leaders in the field
World-leading and established researchers connect with each other and early-career scientists and postgraduate students to discuss the latest research and drive science forwards. It’s a unique atmosphere – and challenging others to get to the heart of the problem is encouraged!
Your contributions, published and citable
A citable record of the discussion is published in the Faraday Discussions journal, alongside the research papers. Questions, comments and remarks become a valuable part of the published scientific conversation, and every delegate can make a major contribution.
Themes
This Discussion will focus on advancing the understanding and development of novel materials for optoelectronics, emphasizing how structural, electronic, and optical properties influence device performance. By integrating expertise in material design, computational modeling, advanced characterization, and device engineering, the event aims to foster innovation in light-based technologies. Contributions are welcome on a range of materials, including chalcogenides, pnictides, chalcohalides, oxides, and carbon-based systems, with a particular focus on defect-tolerant and tunable semiconductors.The Faraday Discussion will be organised into the following themes:
Computational design and modelling of next generation optoelectronic materials
This session will explore the guiding principles for screening, discovering, and understanding new materials for optoelectronic applications, focusing on properties critical for device performance, such as high optical absorption, efficient charge transport, and long-term stability. Key challenges, including reliable descriptors for defect tolerance, bulk versus surface electronic structure, synthetic feasibility, sustainability, and life cycle considerations, will be addressed.
Advances in experimental design and synthesis of optoelectronic materials
This session will highlight cutting-edge experimental techniques and methodologies for designing and synthesizing advanced optoelectronic materials. Discussions will address challenges such as reproducibility, synthesis-property correlations, and defect engineering, focusing on innovative approaches like combinatorial synthesis, crystal growth, thin-film deposition, and unconventional methods such as solvothermal reactions, vapor deposition, and template-assisted growth. Emphasis will be placed on how these techniques enable the fabrication and characterization of complex materials with tailored properties, driving progress in next-generation optoelectronic devices.
Advanced characterization techniques of optoelectronic materials
This session will explore advanced characterization methods that reveal the nanoscale structural and defect characteristics of optoelectronic materials, providing vital insights into their properties and performance. Key challenges, including high-resolution analysis, visualization of bulk and surface defects, and probing interfacial effects on device performance, will be addressed. Dynamic insights into charge carrier behavior using pump-probe and time-domain spectroscopy will also be highlighted.
Accelerating materials design with data science
This session focuses on establishing protocols for data generation, storage, and sharing to accelerate the discovery and development of optoelectronic materials. Addressing challenges in data interoperability, standardization, and the integration of FAIR principles, the discussion will explore frameworks for managing diverse, complex datasets and incorporating AI/ML methodologies into research workflows. The session will also showcase applications where community-driven data efforts have propelled materials research, highlighting AI's transformative role in predictive modeling, experimentation, and advancing open-science collaboration.
