The symposium aims to investigate cutting-edge topics in phase-change materials (PCMs), heterostructures, and their nanofabrication, with the goal of addressing challenges in the advancement of practical photonics, in-memory, and neuromorphic computing devices. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive summary of current progress in design ideas, material platforms, manufacturing processes, and their potential applications. The ever-increasing demand for processing and data storage, driven by AI and other data-intensive applications, is posing a significant challenge to existing computing systems based on the von Neumann architecture. The sequential transfer of data sets between memory and storage units and processors results in approximately 45% power waste. PCMs made from antimonides or chalcogenides can overcome this limitation by creating non-volatile memory devices and neuromorphic computing devices that combine storage and processing in the same memory cells. PCMs can flip between crystalline and amorphous phases using optical and electrical pulses, establishing binary states “1” and “0” for memory applications. The gradual change in reflectivity and resistance during partial crystallization or amorphization can be used to simulate neuronal dynamics for brain-inspired computing. Other phase-change memory systems include two-dimensional materials and metal oxides such as MoTe₂ and VO_2, which enable transitions between logical states by switching between distinct crystalline phases. Besides, the recent identification of novel PCMs with advantageous characteristics such as compatibility with CMOS technology, reconfigurable optics, and minimal loss has the potential to facilitate significant advancements in the fields of optical metamaterials, nanophotonics, and their respective applications. Moreover, the manipulation of the structure of PCMs and heterostructures is essential in determining their physical properties, offering an exciting opportunity to discover unique features, enhance new functions, and create sustainable electronics. Additionally, the symposium will provide participants with an opportunity to explore the current cutting-edge research on PCM-based devices, covering the processes of nanofabrication, operation, and integration. The symposium also aims to investigate innovative phase-change phenomena as well as unique modelling methodologies for PCMs and cutting-edge designs that use machine-learning techniques.

amorphous Computing crystal crystalline glass heterostructure memory nanostructure neuromorphic photonic