Participate
Submit Abstract
Late abstracts for poster presentation are still being accepted.
Conference topics
Surface science of catalysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis
Surface engineering and functionalization
Functional surfaces and coatings
Surface science applied to energy conversion and storage
Surface nanotechnology and devices
Biointerfaces
Electrochemistry at surfaces and interfaces
Advances in surface characterization tools
Environmentally-friendly materials
Semiconductors – surface and interface
2D layered materials and assembling
A copy of the abstract template and instructions on how to complete and submit your abstract will be provided after registration on the abstract submission site.
You can submit as many abstracts to the conference for review as you would like. If, after the review by the committee, you have more than one paper accepted for the conference, you will need to register to attend and pay an additional paper fee for each additional paper (i.e., for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th papers – not the 1st). Please note this is for papers that you are the presenting author of, not papers that you are co-author of.
Successfully submitted abstracts will be acknowledged with an electronic receipt including an abstract reference number, which should be quoted in all correspondence. Allow at least 2 hours for your receipt to be returned to you. Once the paper is accepted, at least one of the authors must register for the conference and present the paper at the conference.
Abstracts of all accepted contributions will be included within the online abstract system which will be distributed to all registered conference participants.
Generative AI policy
We support the responsible use of generative AI Tools in the preparation of conference abstracts, posters, and presentations. Any use of such tools must be transparently disclosed, including the tool used and how it was applied. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their work.
Please see our full author policy, which also applies to conference submissions: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/generative-ai-policies-for-journals
For revisions or queries regarding papers already submitted
If you do not receive acknowledgement for your abstract submission or you wish to make any essential revisions to an abstract already submitted, please DO NOT RESUBMIT your abstract, as this may lead to duplication. Please contact the Conference Content Executive (Please do not email credit card information under any circumstances) with details of any revisions or queries. Please quote your reference number if you have one.
Workshops
On the afternoon of the first day of the conference, prior to its official commencement, four workshops will be presented by editors from the Applied Surface Science journal. The topics include current issues in surface science such as nano-tribology, nanomechanical testing, DFT calculations, and a session on scientific paper writing. These workshops are intended for graduate students and early-career researchers and are offered free of charge.
Workshop 1: Density Functional Theory & Simulation Modelling for Experimentalists, 10:30-13:00
Workshop 2: Nanomechanical Testing of Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Advanced Techniques, 10:30-13:00
Workshop 3: Generative AI in scientific writing and scholarly publishing, 14:00-16:30
Workshop 4: Tribology: from macroscale to nanoscale, 14:00-16:30
Full details below.
Workshop 1: Density Functional Theory & Simulation Modelling for Experimentalists, 10:30-13:00
Coordinated by: Prof. dr. Alfredo Juan, Departamento de Fisica and IFISUR, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) & CONICET, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
This workshop on theoretical calculations and molecular modelling is intended for experimentalists in the field of surface science. The most frequently used theoretical methods in the discipline will be presented, including those based on density functional theory (DFT), Molecular Dynamics (MD) and the application of modern artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.
The emphasis of the workshop will be the conceptual understanding of the computational techniques, without going into details of theoretical or numerical implementation.
The main motivation is that an experimentalist can know the limits of the simulations and what data are essential to build a realistic model that can answer some of the unresolved questions or in situations where the experimental measurement still leaves unanswered questions. It is intended that they can dialogue with theoretical groups to develop joint work and have analysis elements to understand how adsorption and reaction geometries, surface chemical bonding, electronic structure, vibration frequencies and various calculated physical and chemical properties are obtained. Specific cases of application of theoretical calculations in the simulation and interpretation of results of ultra-high vacuum (UHV), thermal, magnetic and optical spectroscopic techniques will also be presented.
Workshop 2: Nanomechanical Testing of Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Advanced Techniques, 10:30-13:00
Presented by Dr. Rainer Hahn, Institute of Materials Science and Technology, Technische Universität Wien, Austria and Prof. dr. Alejandro Borroto Ramírez, GREMI, Université d'Orléans, France
This workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to nanomechanical testing methods with a focus on thin film materials. The first part will cover the fundamentals of instrumented nanoindentation, including measurement principles, data interpretation, and strategies to avoid common pitfalls when testing coatings and thin films. Building on these foundations, the second part will introduce advanced micromechanical approaches, such as micropillar compression, microcantilever bending, high-temperature nanoindentation, and AFM-based nanomechanical measurements. The workshop is designed to give both newcomers and experienced users practical insights into best practices and recent developments in the field.
Workshop 3: Generative AI in scientific writing and scholarly publishing, 14:00-16:30
Coordinated by: Franca Driessen, Publisher, Elsevier
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has a growing impact on scientific writing and scholarly publishing. Participants will learn how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used responsibly in research, aiding tasks such as manuscript drafting, language improvement, literature discovery, and peer review support. The session highlights both the benefits—such as increased efficiency, accessibility, and new research insights—and the challenges, including accuracy issues, ethical concerns, bias, and confidentiality. Attendees will be informed of current policies and best practices for responsible GenAI use, emphasizing the need for transparency and human oversight. Additionally, the workshop introduces Elsevier’s AI-powered tools that enhance research efficiency. This concise session equips researchers with practical knowledge to responsibly integrate GenAI technologies into scholarly communication.
Workshop 4: Tribology: from macroscale to nanoscale, 14:00-16:30
Prof. Dr. Carlos A. Figueroa - UCS (Brazil) Prof. Dr. Mario G. Sandoval - UNS (Argentina)
Tribology is an applied science that studies phenomena such as friction, wear, adhesion and lubrification, which are related to surface and interface events. One singularity of tribology is its multiscale range of operability. In this workshop, we will show the fundamentals for macrotribology, microtribology and nanotribology involving theory, experiments and computational simulations. Physical laws and chemical insights can be used to understand tribology, in particular friction forces and wear at multiscale. Moreover, adhesion of coatings can be predicted by Hertzian contact theory (microscale) and quantum computational simulations (nanoscale). Also, several technological applications will be introduced and discussed. Finally, a current frontier of knowledge in tribology is the active control of friction and/or wear. Generally, a tribological configuration of surface materials can be easily fixed, however, it is difficult to modify this configuration after technological implementation. The external and intelligent control of tribological parameters as friction in solid and liquid media may allow the modification of the friction forces during technological applications. Recently, electric and magnetic fields as well as light could be used to tune friction at the nanoscale.
Consequently, the objective of this workshop is to provide the fundamentals and applications of tribology at multiscale for undergraduate and graduate students and early career researchers.
Chengdu sightseeing tours
The following sightseeing tours are being organized by CR Solution, the only officially authorized Destination Management Company (DMC) to provide local services for ICASS 2026, and will be held on Friday 5th June.
Reserve your place here
Please note that ALL tours require a minimum of 10 attendees.
Half Day Tour Option - Half Day with the National Treasure | Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Chengdu is famous for its national treasure — the giant panda. Spend some time here to get close to these adorable creatures, and you’ll surely fall in love with them. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, you’ll have the rare chance to observe pandas at different ages — from playful cubs tumbling around in the nursery to adult pandas lazily munching on bamboo. You can learn about their living habits and conservation efforts through immersive exhibitions and educational displays. As you stroll along the shaded bamboo paths, the gentle rustle of leaves and the sight of pandas lounging or climbing create a truly heartwarming experience. Price: CNY 600.00 (USD 92.00) per person
Half Day Tour Option - Chengdu City Center Cultural Tour | Wuhou Temple & Jinli Street Wuhou Temple, dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the brilliant strategist of the Three Kingdoms era, whose wisdom and loyalty are legendary in Chinese history. End the day at Jinli Street, where Ming- and Qing-style architecture, teahouses, and artisan stalls bring Chengdu’s folk traditions to life. Enjoy local snacks, browse handicrafts, and feel the city’s easygoing charm. Price: CNY 575.00 (USD 88.00) per person
Full Day Tour Option - Harmony of Nature and Ancient Wisdom | Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding / Dujiangyan Chengdu is famous for its national treasure — the giant panda. Spend some time here to get close to these adorable creatures, and you’ll surely fall in love with them. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, you’ll have the rare chance to observe pandas at different ages — from playful cubs tumbling around in the nursery to adult pandas lazily munching on bamboo. You can learn about their living habits and conservation efforts through immersive exhibitions and educational displays. As you stroll along the shaded bamboo paths, the gentle rustle of leaves and the sight of pandas lounging or climbing create a truly heartwarming experience. The Dujiangyan Irrigation Project still irrigates fields today and is a great water conservancy project that benefits the people. It is characterized by its long history and damless water diversion, and is the originator of world water conservancy culture. Price: CNY 835.00 (USD 128.00) per person
Conference dinner
Join us for the Conference Dinner at the Grand Mercure Chengdu East on Wednesday 3rd June for the opportunity to network in a relaxed environment.
Tickets are priced at US$50 and include a sit-down meal with drinks.
Please make us aware of any dietary requirements upon registering.
Places are limited so please book early via the online registration system.