Description:
The group is committed to explore, obtain, study and optimize new materials 2D materials (graphene and TMDCs), 0D nanostructures, thin films and heterostructures for optoelectronics, magnetoelectronics and, recently, quantum technologies.
Currently: development of materials for thermoelectric applications, new photovoltaic solar cells, biodetection and optical imaging and, recently, a disease diagnosis system based on Brillouin spectroscopy.
Studies of a fundamental nature, always with the focus on applications, but also with an applied aspect. The group has a portfolio of patents and has contracted with companies for many years.
The available techniques for the preparation of thin films by sputtering and 2D materials by CVD and advanced techniques for optical, electrical and magnetic characterization are complemented by experiments in large international synchrotron and neutron radiation facilities.
Goals:
1- Materials for Energy: New thermoelectric materials based on systems with Skuterudite-type structures or SnSe-type intermetallic structures with the intention of reducing thermal conductivity and optimizing the Seebeck effect. New materials and heterostructures for photovoltaics and LED lighting based on hybrid perovskites that will be extended to inorganic perovskites. New electrodes for hydrogen generation.
2- Materials for Information Technologies: Heterostructures for spintronics-superconductors through hybridization of ferromagnetic insulating materials, superconducting metals and 2D topology. Single photon emitters based on the creation of isolated defects in 2D dialcogenides with applications in quantum communications.
3- Materials for Health: Development of materials and systems for bio-sensing and optical imaging. Development of optical signal analysis systems (Raman, reflectance, etc.) through machine learning at the subcellular and tissue level. Disease diagnosis system based on Brillouin spectroscopy.
Time Resolved Spectroscopy in Biological and Chemical Catalysis
This research subgroup is focused on the development and application of advanced spectroscopic tools for the design of active catalysts for water oxidation, proton reduction, and methane to methanol production processes. Currently the development of artificial photosynthetic assemblies and biological mimics of naturally methane oxidizing enzymes is of great interest, and has drawn significant attention by exploring molecular catalysts based on 3d transition metal complexes. However in spite of emerging design principles, there is an urgent need to correlate the performance and stability of a catalyst to its geometric structure and electronic configuration for its rational development.
In this regard, we are interested in the development of static and time-resolved X-ray based spectroscopic approaches, including X-ray absorption (XAS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), to understand the critical electronic, energetic and geometric requirements of the water splitting and methane oxidation reactions necessary for achieving economically feasible catalysts. Our research is particularly oriented towards ultrafast pump (laser), X-ray (probe) studies of metal noble-free photosensitizers, and multimolecular photocatalytic systems for artificial photosynthesis in the femtosecond-microsecond time regime. Combined analysis of experimental data on structures, electronic configurations and spin states provide valuable information to understand the operation mechanism. Further selectivity is achieved through resonant XES or resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy.
Synchrotron-based techniques employed in our group are complemented with laboratory-based spectroscopic methods such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, Resonance Raman, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Optical transient absorption spectroscopy. Our studies involve the interplay of several disciplines including synthetic inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, kinetics, and spectroscopy.