Crystallography of Magnetic and Electronic Oxides and Surfaces
Addressed to explore, understand and develop new strongly correlated materials of interest in fundamental condensed matter research and as novel materials for the Information technologies. The activities of the group are based on the application of chemical and magnetic crystallography methods to the investigation of emergent functional oxides. Combining an intensive use of Large Scale Facilities (such as neutron and synchrotron sources) with symmetry analysis methodologies, we investigate the symmetry-properties relationship associated to structural, magnetic or electronic orders in functional oxides
Prof. José Luis García-Muñoz
He has a wide expertise on strongly correlated functional oxides, their preparation, fabrication and advanced characterization with emphasis on the application of scattering methods. Group leader of CMEOS, its current scientific interests include spin-charge-orbital order phenomena and instabilities in frustrated magnetic and electronic materials, the study at atomic-scale of physico-chemical mechanisms in materials for oxide electronics, and the symmetry phenomena in commensurate and incommensurate novel magnetoelectric multiferroics with strong coupling of the ferroic orders.
Dr. Xavier Torrelles
He is graduated in Physics with a PhD in Physical Sciences. His scientific interest are focused on the design of switchable ferroelectric buffer films as support of TiO2 catalysts for water splitting and gas-liquid-solid-molecular interfaces with oxide-metal crystals to deepen in the knowledge of fundamental surface interactions.
Crystallograph Group
Addressed to explore, understand and develop new strongly correlated materials of interest in fundamental science, such as studies of intermolecular interactions, and in the improvement of methods for crystal structure determination from electron diffraction data. The group has developed the new through-the-substrate (tts) X-ray microdiffraction technique, integrated now at ALBA Synchrotron, and has a great expertise in nanocomposite porous materials, applied to different catalysis reactions
Prof. Carles Miravitlles
Prof. Carles Miravitlles has always combined his research in crystallography and characterization of materials with multiple responsibilities during his career, such ad Director and Founder of ICMAB (1986-2008). He is now Ad honorem Research Professor at ICMAB.
Prof. Elies Molins
PhD in Physics, is interested in how the microscopic structure of materials influences its macroscopic behavior. He is specialist on single crystal X-ray diffraction, Môssbauer spectroscopy and aerogels and related porous materials.
Prof. Jordi Rius Palleiro
Graduated in Geology and holds a PhD in Natural Sciences from the Philipps-Univeristät (Marburg). His main research area is Crystallography, more precisely the design and subsequent implementation of X-ray diffraction phasing algorithms for the non-routine determination of relevant crystal structures in Chemistry and Mineralogy. Currently, he is involved, in collaboration with the ALBA synchrotron, in the development of the synchrotron tts-microdiffraction technique and its application to Materials Science and Cultural Heritage problems.
Dr. Xabier Mikel Turrillas
PhD in physics and Materials Science, is interested in material characterization by X-ray diffraction, to discover the microstructure of the materials and their properties. He is detached at ALBA Synchrotron, in the Experiments Division.
Dr. Monica Benito
PhD in Chemistry, is interested in the synthesis and characterization of aerogels, and their functionalization.
Dr. Ignasi Matas
Dr. Ignasi Mata’s research interests are Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction on pharmaceutical products, preparation of nanoporous materials for thermal insulation and catalysis, computational chemistry studies of intermolecular interactions in molecular crystals, and synthesis and characterization of co-crystals.
Inorganic Materials & Catalysis Laboratory
The focus of the group’s scientific activity is in the chemistry and applications of boron cages. Their geometric forms and the fact that they are made of a semi-metal, boron, give them unique properties largely unexplored. Today, the chemistry of boron clusters, has achieved a sufficient degree of maturity that has led to new applications, in many cases not attainable with conventional organic compounds. For instance boron clusters readily offer structural hollow spheres, something that is utterly difficult with organic compounds. Boron clusters are applied in this group in energy, environmental science, molecular electronics and medicine. At present, the LMI group is formed by four research staff members, three post-doc, eleven PhD candidates and one technician. The group is sustained by Regional, National and EU funding
Prof. Francesc Teixidor
Prof. Francesc Teixidor graduated in Chemistry and got the PhD in the same area. He became interested in the boron clusters during his postdoctoral stay. Since then, he has contributed to their development understanding their bonding, developing methods of synthesis and its applications. His current interests are in the electron transfer of metallacarboranes and their applications in energy and molecular electronics.
Prof. Clara Viñas
Prof. Clara Viñas graduate in Chemistry and in Pharmacy and got the PhD in Pharmacy. Her career has been developed in industry, institutional laboratories involved in food science analysis as well as environmental control and research laboratories. Her interest is in the development of new methods of synthesis and derivatization of boron clusters to be applied in medicine, biosensors, sustainable environment and energy.
Dr. Rosario Núñez
Dr. Rosario Núñez, PhD in Chemistry, is interested in the chemistry of boron and silicon, including the design, preparation and characterization of boron cluster derivatives and new materials of interest in biomedicine especially in BNCT for cancer treatment, and electronics.
Dr. José Giner
Dr. José Giner interests are focused on the synthesis, characterization and application of inorganic (boron based) and inorganic-organic hybrid solids. His focus for several years have been on the development of new carborane-based ligands or linkers for preparing a variety of molecular, supramolecular and polymeric materials. His areas of interest are new concepts in Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Chemistry, multifunctional molecular materials and crystal engineering.
Functional Nanomaterials and Surfaces
The group interests relate to the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology, particularly the areas of molecular electronics, molecular magnetism and biology. We design molecular systems capable of providing inputs at the nano-scale and focus our efforts in the control and organization of such species on different surfaces/nanodevices. The main areas of expertise are (i) synthesis of functional molecules/polymers & supramolecular aggregates, (ii) characterization of our molecular-based materials and (iii) surface studies
Dr. Núria Aliaga-Alcalde
Dr. Núria Aliaga-Alcalde´s work focuses on the relevance and necessity of molecular design in nanoscience, where functional molecules play a key role since they provide homogeneous tunable nanometer-size units and properties ready to be exploited (as reliable sensors, switches, quantum computing materials or molecular electronics). Toward this main idea, key factors are the design of specific molecules (CCMoids, porphyrins and diketone systems) and their control and organization on surfaces/nanodevices where their properties can be tuned. So far, the results accomplished have shown the advantages of these systems as biomarkers (luminescent properties), molecular transistors (gateable molecular junctions) and as single-molecule magnets (SMMs).
Dr. Arántzazu González-Campo
Dr. Arántzazu González-Campo interests focus on the preparation of multifunctional responsive materials for biomedical and energy applications using supramolecular and surface chemistry. With this aim, she is currently involved in three different projects: i) the development of (bio)chemical functionalization of surfaces; ii) development of supramolecular-based responsive polymers and MOFs and ii) development of biocompatible sensors o biosensors.
Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites Group
This group has quite diverse research interests but with a focus in the rational synthesis of nanoparticles and nanocomposites and the study of their structural-functional properties including those related to the nano/bio interfaces. At present, the interdisciplinary NN team is formed by three principal investigators, two post-docs and eight PhD candidates that have secured competitive grants. NN has a running portfolio of seven projects. We envisage the integration of our materials in devices and products for nanomedicine, information technologies or energy and environment. The NN members participate actively of science outreach and gender equality initiatives.
Prof. Anna Roig
Prof. Anna Roig, graduated in Physics with a PhD in Materials Science. She is currently involved in two main research lines: i) nanoparticle synthesis and their validation for medical applications as drug delivery vehicles, contrast agents or in cell therapies and ii) bacterial cellulose-based materials.
Dr. Martí Gich
Dr. Martí Gich, is a materials scientist with a background in industrial R&D. His current activities are focused in i) understanding functional properties in oxides and their applications in information technologies, ii) preparing nanostructured materials by soft chemistry and iii) integrating thin films on technological substrates by physical and chemical methods.
Dr. Anna Laromaine
Dr. Anna Laromaine holds a Chemistry PhD and her scientific work encompasses chemistry, materials science and biology. She currently focuses in the production of bacterial cellulose and their composites for bio-applications and the evaluation of materials using approaches such as cell cultures and the nematode C. elegans.
Molecular Nanoscience and Organic Materials
NANOMOL is a research group composed by several labs with wide expertise and recognized excellence in the synthesis, processing and study of molecular and polymeric materials with chemical, electronic, magnetic and biomedical properties. We continuously generate new knowledge in our basic and applied research projects regarding the micro and nano structuring of molecular materials. We offer this knowledge to improve the properties of products manufactured in diverse sectors, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics, thereby contributing to increasing their added value
Prof. Jaume Veciana and Prof. Concepció Rovira are the group leaders of NANOMOL.
Prof. Jaume Veciana
Prof. Jaume Veciana has a long expertise in the design, synthesis, and processing of functional ((poly)radicals, electroactive, redox, bioactive, etc.) organic molecules/polymers as advanced functional molecular materials and their applications in molecular electronics and spintronics and in molecular nanomedicina.
Prof. Concepció Rovira
Prof. Concepció Rovira’s interests are focused on the design, synthesis, and processing of functional organic molecules as advanced molecular materials and their applications in Molecular Electronics such as unimolecular electronics and spintronics and sensors based on conducting nanocomposite thin-films.
NANOMOL consists of four different labs devoted to a variety of research topics:
Dr. Jose Vidal-Gancedo
Dr. Jose Vidal-Gancedo’s Lab interests are focused in the design, synthesis and characterization of organic radicals and their application to study the radical behavior in different types of molecules, macromolecules or materials based on them mainly focused on biological applications.
Dr. Imma Ratera
Dr. Imma Ratera’s Lab interests are focused on the design and synthesis of novel multifunctional organic electroactive and radical molecules and their molecular and supramolecular chemistry. The group is interested in the properties of these molecules once nanostructured as self-assembled monolayer, organic nanoparticle or hydrogels towards applications in different fields such as molecular electronics and biology. Dr. Judith Guasch is in this team.
Dr. Marta Mas-Torrent
Dr. Marta Mas-Torrent’s Lab is focused on the design and synthesis/preparation of new functional molecular materials for their application in organic/molecular electronic devices. Our work ranges from fundamental studies in order to better understand materials properties to a more applied perspective aiming at developing proof-of-principle devices. Dr. Núria Crivillers is in this team @MMTgroupICMAB
Laboratory of Multifunctional Thin Films And Complex Structures
Research group focused on the development and integration of new materials, basically nanometric oxide thin films, and the exploration of their use in photovoltaics, electronics, spintronics, data storage and computing. These broad and scientifically challenging objectives are currently major social demands, as silicon-based electronics is reaching its limit in size, speed and efficiency, and radically new approaches, energy sustainable, are needed. Specifically, current activities include i) the search for disruptive approaches to materials and methods in photovoltaic conversion, ii) development of materials and devices that, based on polar materials, may allow us to contribute to develop more efficient data storage and brain-inspired computing schemes and iii) explore data storage and data manipulation alternatives to current methods, by using non-dissipative currents or efficient plasmonic signals
Prof. Josep Fontcuberta
Prof. Josep Fontcuberta, group leader, has an extensive expertise on functional oxide thin films and focuses his activities on exploiting their properties: magnetic, ferroelectric, electric, and optical properties. He is persuaded that oxides may play a very important role in future high-tech devices. Examples of ongoing projects include: ferroelectric materials for data storage and neuromorphic computing, oxide-based spintronic materials and devices, novel approaches to photoconversion and affordable and sustainable transparent conductors.
Dr.Lourdes Fàbrega
Dr.Lourdes Fàbrega research is focused on the development of cryogenic detectors made of superconductors, for applications in Space, materials analysis and quantum information. Her work involves design and fabrication of the devices, with special emphasis on the underlying physics of the superconducting state.
Dr. Florencio Sánchez
Dr. Florencio Sánchez holds a PhD in Physics and his research activities pivot around the development of functional oxides thin films, mainly ferroelectric, with emphasis in their epitaxial growth and incorporation into complex heterostructures. Currently he has interest in the integration of functional oxides with silicon, and particularly in the epitaxial stabilization of ferroelectric hafnium oxide.
Dr. Gervasi Herranz
Dr. Gervasi Herranz’s research is focused on functional oxide interfaces and photonics, especially in exploiting the optical properties of functional oxide interfaces, apart from their magnetic and transport properties. The celebrated phrase “the interface is the device” describes his research activity, which aims at uncovering new physical phenomena at the boundary of materials, for new concepts and applications.
Dr. Ferran Macià
Dr. Ferran Macià holds a PhD in Physics and has a background in mathematics and telecommunication engineering. His work and interests are magnetism and spin-dependence electron transport (spintronics) in mesoscopic systems. He believes science and technology must connect with society so he collaborates with companies, teaches at universities and schools, and participates in social and cooperation projects.
Dr. Ignasi Fina
Dr. Ignasi Fina is focused on new materials for electronic applications, with two main research lines: the study of magnetoelectric coupling in antiferromagnetic materials and the study of ferroelectric materials for photovoltaic and neuromorphic computing applications.
Advanced Characterisation and Nanostructued Materials
The group’s main scientific goal is to generate both fundamental and applied knowledge for the implementation of functional oxide materials in novel technologies as spintronics. It focuses on functional properties, structural characterization of functional defects, nanodevices, complex oxide thin films, self-assembled materials and nanoparticles for life sciences
Prof. Benjamín Martínez
Prof. Benjamín Martínez, group leader, is an experimental physicist with broad interest in magnetism and magnetic materials. His current research interest is focused on the study of spin dependent phenomena in functional oxides covering both the preparation and characterization of complex oxide thin films and heterostructures and the analysis of their magnetotransport properties to foresee potential applications for new spintronic devices.
Dr. Lluís Balcells
Dr. Lluís Balcells interests are focused on magnetic materials, including thin films and nanoparticles, for applications in electronics and spintronics.
Dr. Felip Sandiumenge
Dr. Felip Sandiumenge scientific interest is focused on the correlation between structure and function in oxide epitaxial films, with emphasis on the atomic structure and defect chemistry of crystalline defects such as dislocations and domain walls.
Dr. Carlos Frontera
Dr. Carlos Frontera has a long experience in the structural characterization of materials using diffraction techniques (X-ray and neutrons). He has applied these techniques to a wide variety of systems in bulk, nanoparticles and thin films form.
Dr. Alberto Pomar
Dr. Alberto Pomar has a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics. He is an experimental researcher with a core expertise in the electronic and magnetic properties of perovskite-based complex oxides. He is devoted to the development and understanding of new routes to nanostructuration and their implications in the final functional properties of the oxide thin films and heterostructures.
Group of Physical Chemistry of Surfaces and Interfaces
Focused on unraveling and controlling the nanoscale structural and electronic properties of nanostructures and interfaces through surface engineering. Devoting special effort to organic materials, part of our investigation centers on organic semiconductors with relevance as active layers for electronic devices (such as organic solar cells and organic field effect transistors). Our research spans from fundamental issues in organic growth to the electronic response of metal-organic junctions within two main research activities: i) Design and growth of ultrathin organic layers and organic/organic heterojunctions and ii) Nanoscale properties of organic/electrode interfaces and devices
Prof. Carmen Ocal
Prof. Carmen Ocal’s main research field of interest is surface science: crystallography, growth, chemical functionalization as well as characterization including atomic structure, mechanical and frictional (nanotribology) and electronic properties at the nanoscale. Her group has been always involved in developing strategies using Scanning Probe Microscopies in combination with diffraction and spectroscopic techniques.
Dr. Esther Barrena
Dr. Esther Barrena´s research uncovers the structure-property relationships of organic semiconductors. Her research addresses fundamental interface properties at molecular-scale as well as the nanoscale characterization of organic films in devices (such organic-field transistors and photovoltaics). Her expertise includes real-time x-ray diffraction, organic growth, self-assembly and scanning probe microscopies.
Dr. Albert Verdaguer
Dr. Albert Verdaguer’s research is focused on the interaction of water with surfaces. The interest of the research includes studies of wetting at the nanoscale and the study and design of surfaces to control ice nucleation. He has been involved in the developing of new strategies in Scanning Probe Microscopies to study the solid/liquid interface and more recently in chemical recognition modes.
Laser Processing Group
The strategic research lines of the LPR group are focused on the manufacture of improved functional nanomaterials through innovative laser techniques, to be applied mainly in the fields of energy (batteries, supercapacitors, generation of H2) and environment (photocatalysis). The current areas of work are (i) Laser surface processing and (ii) Deposition and growth by MAPLE and LDW techniques, for fabricating supercapacitor electrodes and photocatalysts based on hybrid nanocomposites constituted by carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide and transition metal oxides nanostructures. The scientific and technical objectives in the medium / long term are oriented towards innovation in laser techniques for obtaining new materials with improved performance, as well as the implementation of these technologies in next generation devices and industrial processes
Dr. Angel Perez del Pino and Dr. Enikö György
Dr. Angel Perez del Pino and Dr. Enikö György are the managers of the group. They are specialists in
- Processing of functional nanomaterials by the laser techniques: pulsed laser deposition (PLD), surface processing, matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) and laser direct writing (LDW)
- Study of laser-matter interactions, and
- Advanced characterization of nanomaterials.
Nanostructures materials for optoelectronics and energy harvesting
the group focuses on producing and characterizing advanced semiconducting structures with the main objective of understanding their fundamental behavior in order to tailor and improve their functionalities and empower different applications in the areas of optoelectronics, energy-related, and sensing devices. The group is divided into 4 different research activities: i) Optoelectronics of group-IV semiconductor nanostructures; ii) Organic-Inorganic Thermoelectrics; iii) Photonic Architectures for Light Management and iv) Organic Solar Cells
Dr. M. Isabel Alonso
Dr. M. Isabel Alonso is senior scientist and department head. She is a materials physicist interested in semiconducting structures (inorganic, organic, and hybrid) that can contribute to expand the development of modern optoelectronic, energy-related, and sensing devices. Her core expertise is the MBE growth of SiGe structures and the use of optical spectroscopy, mainly ellipsometry, Raman scattering, and photoluminescence.
Dr. Mariano Campoy-Quiles
Dr. Mariano Campoy-Quiles is PhD in experimental physics from the Imperial College London and currently tenured scientist at ICMAB-CSIC. His group aims at producing breakthrough scientific advances that strongly contribute to the development of clean energy technologies based on organic and hybrid materials, including photovoltaics and thermoelectrics.
Dr. Alejandro R. Goñi
Dr. Alejandro R. Goñi is ICREA Research Professor. He is an experimental physicist with broad interests and expertise in solid-state physics, optical spectroscopy (Raman scattering, photoluminescence, etc.), nano-science and technology, thermoelectricity, low-dimensional materials (quantum wells, wires and dots), and highly correlated electron systems. He leads the group activities in high-pressure research and the physics of novel hybrid organic/inorganic perovskites.
Dr. Miquel Garriga
Dr. Miquel Garriga is research scientist. His main research is in spectroscopic ellipsometry of anisotropic and multilayered materials, optical characterization of bulk semiconductors, organic and inorganic semiconductor heterostructures and hight critical temperature superconductors.
Dr. Agustín Mihi
Dr. Agustín Mihi is an expert in large area and low cost photonic crystal and plasmonic structures via unconventional nanofabrication techniques. His research group investigates the design, fabrication and characterization of photonic architectures that enhance light mater interaction applied to emerging optoelectronic devices.
Dr. Sebastián Reparaz
Dr. Sebastián Reparaz is a tenured track researcher with a strong background in nanoscale thermal transport and optical spectroscopy. His research focuses on studying the thermal properties of inorganic/organic nanostructures through advanced characterization techniques. In recent years he focused in developing novel thermal experimental methodologies based on contactless optical techniques.
Solid State Chemistry
The research interests of the Solid State Chemistry group are centered in the areas of battery materials, inorganic and carbon nanomaterials, hybrid materials, biomaterials and nitride-based materials. The design of new inorganic phases, basing on crystal chemical criteria, mixed-valence character and their modification by chemical / electrochemical doping –cationic or anionic- and by changing the size and microstructure, are among our major objectives. The development of new synthetic methodologies, specific for each targeted phase, is also a defining feature of the group. The investigated materials include high power/high capacity electrodes for rechargeable batteries, electroactive materials for neural growth, drug delivery systems, inorganic nanowires, carbon nanotubes, luminescent and electronic materials and catalysts
Prof. Nieves Casañ-Pastor
Prof. Nieves Casañ-Pastor research focuses on intercalation reactions on mixed valence metal oxides conducting polymers, and nanostructured carbon hybrids. Room temperature electrochemical intercalation and deposition yield new materials and properties. A special focus on new large charge capacity biocompatible electrodes for electrostimulation and tissue repair.
Prof. Concha Domingo
Prof. Concha Domingo is an expert in the use of supercritical CO2 technology for materials processing. Her current research focuses on the construction of graphene oxide aerogels with multiple applications ranging from CO2 capture to batteries.
Prof. Amparo Fuertes
Prof. Amparo Fuertes research interests focus on the design of new metal oxynitrides and nitrides as electronic materials, phosphors or photocatalysts. This is performed through the development of synthetic approaches and the understanding of correlations between chemical composition, bonding, crystal structure, anion order and physical properties.
Dr. Ana M. López-Periago
Dr. Ana M. López-Periago research involves the design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks using supercritical CO2, with applications in the area of gas separation and sustained drug release.
Prof. M. Rosa Palacín
Prof. M. Rosa Palacín is an expert in battery materials research, involving both fundamental studies on synthesis-structure-property relationships and also more technological aspects. Her activity has covered both commercial technologies such as nickel and lithium based and also innovative chemistries such as sodium or multivalent systems.
Dr. Alexandre Ponrouch
Dr. Alexandre Ponrouch scientific achievements stem from his solid background in electrochemistry and practical expertise in energy storage research (fuel cells, supercapacitors and batteries). His work is now mainly focusing on rechargeable post lithium batteries including electrolyte formulation and interfacial processes.
Dr. Gerard Tobias
Dr. Gerard Tobias main research interests focus on the development of nanomaterials for oncology applications. The targeted nanomaterials should allow not only ultrasensitive biomedical imaging, to achieve an early diagnosis of the disease, but also a localized treatment of cancer.
Dr. Dino Tonti
Dr. Dino Tonti is an expert on the preparation of thin films, nanoparticles, templated and porous materials for energy applications, in particular rechargeable batteries. His current activity is oriented to the understanding of the basic electrochemical processes and the improvement of the reversibility of metal-air batteries.
SUMAN Research Group
The SUMAN Research Group has a wide expertise in the preparation and advanced characterization of nanostructured materials, mainly thin films of oxides. We have a core activity in high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, particularly the cuprates, prepared with the thin film and coated conductor architectures and as nanocomposites. We continuously generate new approaches to process these materials with enhanced performances using chemical solution deposition (CSD) methodologies for low cost conductors. The correlation between physical properties and micro/nano structure is a distinguishing element of our research, evaluated by magnetic and transport properties at high magnetic fields and low temperatures and advanced TEM characterization. Power and electronic applications of HTS is a topic of general interest of the SUMAN group. More recently, other functional properties of thin film complex oxides have become also a relevant topic in the group, including oxides with metal – insulator transitions as elements for oxide electronics and ferroelectric oxide for photovoltaics. SUMAN is composed at present of 9 senior scientists having complementary profiles
Prof. Teresa Puig
Prof. Teresa Puig, group leader, is an expert in superconducting materials, involving fundamental understanding, preparation and micro/nano structure-property relationships of cuprates. Her main activity focuses on film and nanocomposites growth by chemical solution deposition for high current conductors and applications. Scientific interest also extends to other functional properties of complex oxides.
Prof. Xavier Obradors
Prof. Xavier Obradors scientific interests include materials preparation, particularly complex oxides, with controlled micro/nano structures and the comprehension of the physical mechanisms underlying their superconducting, magnetic and electronic properties. The development of high critical current conductors and their applications is one of the main focuses at present.
Dr. Narcís Mestres
Dr. Narcís Mestres research focuses on understanding the growth mechanisms and functional properties of new complex oxides nanostructures, thin films and nanocomposites synthesized from chemical solutions, with potential impact in electronics, energy saving and environmental science.
Dr. Xavier Granados
Dr. Xavier Granados contributes to the development of the new HTS engineering power devices, modelling, construction and testing, as well as instrumentation development for experimental research. He participates in Platforms as Futurred, GIA and EERA for energy storage, and Eurofusion.
Dra. Sussagna Ricart
Dra. Sussagna Ricart scientific interests include study of chemical and thermal behavior of metalorganic salts in non-aqueous solutions for the CSD approach to superconducting layers. She is particularly expert on synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, mainly of complex oxide and rare earth fluorides for further applications in the CSD nanocomposite ceramics, biochemistry and catalysis.
Dra. Anna Palau
Dra. Anna Palau scientific interests are mainly focused on the study of the outstanding physical properties functional oxides and in particular vortex matter physics in high temperature superconductors. She has devoted much effort in the opportunities that hybrid superconductor/ferromagnetic structures and advanced nanofabrication technologies can bring to energy efficient electronic devices.
Dra. Mariona Coll
Dra. Mariona Coll scientific interests focus on the processing of functional oxide thin films and heterostructures by cost-effective chemical methods to give rise to novel and enhanced functionalities for energy applications ranging from photovoltaics to superconductivity. She is interested on the relevance of nanometer scale control of materials composition and structure on the device performance.
Dr. Jaume Gázquez
Dr. Jaume Gázquez research concentrates on establishing relations between the structure, chemistry and physical properties of transition-metal oxide nanostructures. In particular, he is interested in the role of reduced dimensionality at interfaces, and defects by sub-Angstrom resolution, and chemical mapping at atomic level with aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM- EELS).
Dr. Joffre Gutiérrez
Dr. Joffre Gutiérrez expertise is in the field of vortex matter and dynamics in high and low temperature superconductors. In particular, the interactions between microstructure and vortices and how they affect the macroscopic response of superconductors. One of the main focuses is the application of high temperature superconductors to new technologies.
Theory and Simulation
The strategic lines of the Theory and Simulation Group are the simulation of soft-matter, novel functionalities in oxide-based systems, flexoelectricity, thermal transport, electronic and vibrational instabilities in low-dimensional systems and the development and applications of ab-initio simulation codes
Prof. Enric Canadell
Prof. Enric Canadell is mostly interested in the development of ideas to relate the structure and properties of solids and more especially low-dimensional conductors, in which field he developed the hidden nesting concept and the idea of two-band molecular conductors. More recently he has also been interested on the analysis of results of new tunneling techniques concerning two-gap superconductors, hybrid solids containing both molecular conductors and molecular rotors, charge ordering transitions in both extended and molecular solids, low temperature magnetoresistance oscillations in molecular metals, single-component conductors, etc.
Dr. Riccardo Rurali
Dr. Riccardo Rurali has become an expert on the theoretical study of impurities, ballistic electronic transport, and nanoscale thermal transport. He has an outstanding reputation in the field of semiconductor nanowires by which he is often contacted by leading international groups to carry out theoretical calculations to help understand their experimental results.
Dr. Massimiliano Stengel
Dr. Massimiliano Stengel's research focuses on the development of frontier electronic-structure methods, and their application at tackling key fundamental and technological questions in ferroelectricity, magnetism, surface science and metal/oxide interfaces. In the past few years he has been particularly interested in perovskite thin films, and in particular in understanding how the reduced size affects their functional properties. Currently, his main thrust lies in the study of novel functionalities in oxide-based systems and in development of accurate modeling strategies to bridge the gap between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds.
Dr. Alberto García
Dr. Alberto García is the director of the "Theory and Simulation" department. He is a member of the development group of the SIESTA program and one of his most active contributors. He has a wide experience in the development of ab-initio simulation methods and their applications in physics, materials science, and geophysics and has participated in international initiatives in scientific data management and computational frameworks (including GRID computing and XML formats and tools).
Dr. Jordi Faraudo
Dr. Jordi Faraudo's research focuses on the theory of soft matter, including systems as diverse as magnetic fluids, vesicles, membranes, nanochannels, thermoresponsive polymers and many others. He develops novel simulation techniques (for example, "on the fly" coarse-graining techniques for the simulation of self-assembly) to bridge the gap between the atomistic, nano, micro and macroscopic worlds. He also applies theoretical methods to problems of particular interest for their experimental relevance in which an atomistic/molecular understanding is lacking.
