International Conference FunChaPTA-2

On July 1 was the end of the 2nd International Conference "Functional Chalcogenides: Physics, Technology and Applications" (FunChaPTA-2). The large‑scale scientific event brought together more than 250 leading researchers and specialists from Russia, China, Belarus, India, Uzbekistan, Israel, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and other countries. Over three days, the conference’s programme included oral and poster presentations, a Young Scientists' School "Microwave Photonics," as well as a number of events organised by the Russian Science Foundation.

A key milestone was the signing of an agreement to establish an international research laboratory between MIET and East China Normal University (ECNU, Shanghai). The laboratory will conduct research on phase‑change chalcogenide materials for the development of microelectronics and photonics devices, including next‑generation neuromorphic computing systems. As noted by Shi Guoye, permanent member of the ECNU Party Committee and Vice‑Rector, combining the complementary strengths of China and Russia will make a significant contribution to the advancement of optoelectronic technologies.

The business part of the conference covered 8 themes, ranging from chalcogenide glasses and phase‑change materials to thermoelectricity, solar energy, and integrated photonics. In total, over 120 oral and 74 poster presentations were delivered.

Conference Chair and MIET Rector Sergey Gavrilov emphasised that Russia possesses a substantial fundamental research and technological foundation in this field. The conference's mission, he added, is to broaden research horizons by integrating young scientists and strengthening international cooperation.

The closing ceremony took place on July 1. Vice‑Rector for Research Alexey Dronov congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the sessions, thanked them for their active involvement, and—together with Conference Co‑Chair Alexander Kolobov, Director of the Institute of Physics at Herzen State Pedagogical University—presented the newly established V. M. Glazov Prize for the best poster presentation. The prize winners were:

1st place and 25,000 RUB — Munir Kuvatov, for his study of the WS₂/MoS₂ heterojunction;

2nd place and 15,000 RUB — Ilya Shmatkov, for his work on the switching performance of GST films in photonic devices;

3rd place and 10,000 RUB — Alexander Pavlov, for his novel synthesis method for metal ditellurides.

Memorable gifts for the best oral presentations were awarded to: Alexander Velmuzhov, Olga Kushenko, Zheng Yonghui, Alexey Polevik, Ildar Sayarov, Diana Shimlovskaya, Alexander Kuchmizhak, Ilya Gavrilin, and Leonid Orlov.