The PhD thesis was supervised by Ángel Pérez del Pino and Enikö György from the Laser Processing Group at ICMAB-CSIC.

The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Anna Paola Caricato, University of Salento, Italy, (President), Gerard Tobias Rossell, ICMAB-CSIC (Secretary) and Daniel Carriazo Martín, CIC energiGUNE, Spain (Vocal).

Doctor Pablo García Lebière's PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Materials Science from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Doctor Pablo García Lebière with the PhD Committee and supervisor | ICMAB, CSIC

Why did you choose ICMAB for your PhD?

I found the PhD position within the Severo Ochoa programme at ICMAB that fitted my background experience and research interests.

How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience?

Supercapacitors are devices that fill the gap between batteries and capacitors. These devices can increase the energy storage of capacitors and deliver more power and tolerate larger charge-discharge cycles as compared to batteries. Using laser deposition techniques, we have developed new electrodes for supercapacitors to improve their performance.

What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?

The composites fabricated can be used as electrodes in supercapacitors. Such devices are used for high power applications as in seaport cranes, wireless power tools, heavy hybrid vehicles or emergency systems.

From the lessons learnt here, which one do you value the most?

I value the most the working methodology I learnt during these years, specially how to develop a complete investigation process, from the raw materials to the final device, analysing each step.

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

What I will miss the most is the amazing working environment that I have, my colleagues and supervisors.

How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future?

All the experience acquired working with different equipment and analysing the data will contribute largely for any research investigation I could perform in the future.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

I would like to continue my career path in academia, so I will search for a postdoc position

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD, that you can recommend to the ones who are starting?

I think it is essential to learn how to cope with failure, as through the years there will be many times where the experiments will not succeed, and that's okay. Also, I wish I had known how difficult and time-consuming it is to actually write something and being able to capture all your research on an article or your thesis.

Why did you become a scientist? Who have been your role models?

During my degree I begin to be interested about the research world. All the professors I met during my studies have contributed to increase that enthusiasm.

Let us know who are your favourite scientists (man and woman). Why?

Richard Feynman, for their talks and books about science and, specially, in the nanotechnology field as “there’s plenty of room at the bottom”. And Marie Curie for dedicating their life to science and being not only the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, but the first person to win a second Nobel prize.

Pablo García with family and friends before the PhD Thesis Defense | ICMAB, CSIC

Congratulations, Doctor Pablo García Lebière!

More information and photos.