New article

“Nanoimprinted and Anodized Templates for Large-Scale and Low-Cost Nanopatterning”

David Navas, David G. Trabada and Manuel Vázquez

Nanomaterials 11 (2021) 3430.

DOI: doi.org/10.3390/nano11123430

This work reports on an easy route for nanopatterning making use of ordered porous templates with geometries ranging from straight lines to square, triangular or rhombohedral lattices, for the designed growth of sputtered materials with engineered properties. The procedure is based on large-scale nanoimprinting using patterned low-cost commercial disks, as 1-D grating stamps, followed by a single electrochemical process that allows one to obtain 1-D ordered porous anodic templates. Multiple imprinting steps at different angles enable more complex 2-D patterned templates. Subsequent sputtering facilitates the growth of ferromagnetic antidote thin films (e.g., Co thin layers) with designed symmetries. This technique constitutes a non-expensive method for massive mold production and pattern generation avoiding standard lithographical techniques. It also overcomes current challenges of the two-stage electrochemical porous templates: (i) allowing the patterning of large areas with high ordering and/or complex antidot geometries, and (ii) being less-time consuming.

This work derives from the PhD thesis of David Gonzalez Trabada developed in our GNMP group

New Technological Project

“Microhilos Magnéticos para Sensores Magnetoelásticos”

A contract of Technological Support has been signed with the Universidad Pública de Navarra (Prof. J.I. Pérez de Landazábal) concerning the development of magnetic microwires as sensing elements for magnetoelastic sensors (2021). The project is supervised by M. Vazquez.

New technological project

Magnetic Microwire Research Project

A contract has been signed with the company Bartington Instrument Ltd., United Kingdom, to develop technologically advanced magnetic microwires (2021-2022). The project is supervised by M. Vazquez and R.P del Real.

New patent

“Magnetic microwires for energy-transporting biomedical applications”

US Patent Application Pub.No. US 2021/0101016 A1; Northeastern University, Boston and CSIC

Inventors: L.H. Lewis, R. P. del Real, M. Vazquez Villalabeitia and A.N. Koppes

Methods and devices including amorphous magnetic microwires are provided for biomedical energy transfer for diagnosis or therapy, to promote cellular growth, or to deliver pharmaceutical agents. Applications of the technology include sensors, actuators and therapeutic coatings and for increasing the amount, directionally, or length of nerve growth. The technology can also be utilized for nerve regeneration, hyperthermic treatment of tumors, vascular theranostics, probing and stimulating a nerve, sensing a biological condition, catheterization and micro-actuation.

This patent application is the result of a continuous collaboration of our GNMP group with the Northeastern University of Boston.