News

Welcome Shima Fasahat at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Shima Fasahat

Hello everyone!

I am Shima and am going to do my PhD studies here at ICMAB. I will work under supervision of Prof. Alejandro Goni in "Nanostructured Materials for Optoelectronics and Energy Harvesting" group. We will study 2D,1D and 0D nanomaterials based on hybrid perovskites by means of combined optical spectroscopy investigations as a function of pressure and temperature to develop next generation optoelectronic materials. During my master, I worked on integration of photovoltaics with roadways at university of Bologna and Italian national research council. In my free time, I like to travel and read psychological-motivational books. Regarding sports, I do fitness regularly. My other interests are cooking, painting and playing musical instruments.

See you at ICMAB :-)"

Iran

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Measuring the viscosity of films by thermomechanical analysis: application to metal organic precursor films of functional oxides

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Título : Measuring the viscosity of films by thermomechanical analysis: application to metal organic precursor films of functional oxides
Autores:

Pere Roura-Grabulosa, Jordi Farjas, Joan Pere López-Olmedo, Bohores Villarejo, Susagna Ricart, Xavier Obradors, Teresa Puig
Citation and DOI:  J Therm Anal Calorim (2023).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-11964-1
PlumX: Measuring the viscosity of films by thermomechanical analysis: application to metal organic precursor films of functional oxides
We have developed a new method to measure the viscosity of micrometric films by thermomechanical analysis with a hemispherical probe of millimetric diameter. The loading curve (displacement vs. time) recorded as the probe tip crosses the whole film at constant load until it touches the substrate is fitted to a theoretical curve shape that has been obtained after solving the problem of liquid flow under the probe tip. The method has been validated by measuring the viscosity of rosin films. It has been applied to analyze the thermal evolution of unstable liquid films that appear on Ba propionate, Ce(III) propionate and a low-fluorine precursor film of YBa2Cu3O6+x. During pyrolysis of the last two films, viscosity first diminishes due to heating and then it increases as solid oxide particles are formed inside the liquid.

Superconductors

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Frequency Splitting of Chiral Phonons from Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry in CrI 3

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Título : Frequency Splitting of Chiral Phonons from Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry in CrI3
Autores: John Bonini, Shang Ren, David Vanderbilt, Massimiliano Stengel, Cyrus E. Dreyer, and Sinisa Coh
Citation and DOI:

Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 086701 – Published 21 February 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.086701

 
PlumX: Frequency Splitting of Chiral Phonons from Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry in CrI3
Conventional approaches for lattice dynamics based on static interatomic forces do not fully account for the effects of time-reversal-symmetry breaking in magnetic systems. Recent approaches to rectify this involve incorporating the first-order change in forces with atomic velocities under the assumption of adiabatic separation of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom.

Oxides

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RAINBOW Organic Solar Cells: Implementing Spectral Splitting in Lateral Multi-Junction Architectures

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Título : RAINBOW Organic Solar Cells: Implementing Spectral Splitting in Lateral Multi-Junction Architectures
Autores: Martí­ Gibert-Roca, Miquel Casademont-Viñas, Quan Liu, Koen Vandewal, Alejandro R. Goñi, Mariano Campoy-Quiles
Citation and DOI: Adv. Mater.. Accepted Author Manuscript 2212226. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202212226
PlumX: RAINBOW Organic Solar Cells: Implementing Spectral Splitting in Lateral Multi-Junction Architectures
While multi-junction geometries have the potential to boost the efficiency of organic solar cells, the experimental gains yet obtained are still very modest. This work proposes an alternative spectral splitting device concept in which various individual semiconducting junctions with cascading band gaps are laid side by side, thus the name RAINBOW. Each lateral sub-cell receives a fraction of the spectrum that closely matches the main absorption band of the given semiconductor. Here, simulations are used to identify the important material and device properties of each RAINBOW sub-cell.

Energy

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Electroactive substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on overgrown gold-nanoparticle arrays by electrodeposition on indium tin oxide

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Título : Electroactive substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on overgrown gold-nanoparticle arrays by electrodeposition on indium tin oxide
Autores: Nerea González-Pato, Xavier Rodriguez Rodriguez, Nicola Pellizzi, Claudia Fasolato, Judith Guasch, Paolo Postorino, Jaume Veciana, Alejandro R. Goñi * and  Imma Ratera *
Citation and DOI: Mater. Adv., 2023,4, 1378-1388
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00914E
PlumX: Electroactive substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on overgrown gold-nanoparticle arrays by electrodeposition on indium tin oxide
We report an easy and low-cost method for the preparation of highly homogeneous electroactive substrates that can be used simultaneously for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and electrochemical measurements. The choice of conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) as a substrate is based on its excellent electrical conductivity and transparency. However, its typically high roughness makes the subsequent metal deposition with traditional methods very challenging, making them time-consuming and costly.

Molecular

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Happy Sant Jordi 2023! What books have ICMABers read and recommend this year?

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Sant Jordi is here and, like every year, we give you some ideas of books recommended by our staff.

This year the recommended books are the ones that they just read and liked. The list is very diverse, you will find graphic novels, science fiction, travel books, science fiction and much more.

Enjoy the read and happy Sant Jordi!

By the way, do you know why is Sant Jordi the saint patron of Catalunya? And what do we do in this special day? Read below for more info! 

Outreach publications, Breaking News, Outreach & Dissemination

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Amanda Muñoz using an optical microscope | ICMAB, CSIC

Amanda Muñoz-Juan visits the President of La Rioja and is interviewed in the radio about her research

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Amanda Muñoz, PhD researcher at the Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites (NN) group was intervied by La Cope Logroño. During the interview, she talks about her reseach and about her experience and future challenges.

Radio, Newspapers, Press Review

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Tuning of Ultra-Thin Gold Films by Photoreduction

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Título : Tuning of Ultra-Thin Gold Films by Photoreduction
Autores: Daniel Martínez-Cercós*, Bruno Paulillo, Jessica Barrantes, Jose Mendoza-Carreño, Agustín Mihi, Todd St. Clair, Prantik Mazumder, and Valerio Pruneri*
Citation and DOI:
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, XXXX, XXX, XXX-XXX
Publication Date:March 20, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c22149
PlumX: Tuning of Ultra-Thin Gold Films by Photoreduction
Ultrathin metal films (UTMFs) are used in a wide range of applications, from transparent electrodes to infrared mirrors and metasurfaces. Due to their small thickness (<5 nm), the electrical and optical properties of UTMFs can be changed by external stimuli, for example, by applying an electric field through an ion gel. It is also known that oxidized thin films and nanostructures of Au can be reduced by irradiating with short-wavelength light. Here we show that the resistance, reflectance, and resonant optical response of Au UTMFs is changed significantly by ultraviolet light.

Energy

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InCAEM workshop at ALBA Synchrotron

The InCAEM project is presented to the Catalan scientific community

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InCAEM, In Situ Correlative Facility for Advanced Energy Materials, is a new facility, now in construction at the ALBA Synchrotron premises, open to all the scientific community for studying advanced materials.

On Friday, 14 April 2023, more than 70 members from different Catalan research institutions attended a workshop where the facility was presented, and explored collaboration opportunities.

Courses and Workshops, Project Meetings, Breaking News

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Welcome Fernando Sá at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Fernando Sá
Hello everyone, I am Fernando Sá, a PhD student from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. I am 28 years old and have a background on biotechnology, while currently working with nanomaterials. I am at ICMAB to work with Dra. Anna Laromaine trying to develop piezoelectric cellulose films. I see myself as a very outgoing person, I enjoy spending time with friends, visiting new places and people, but also enjoy some alone time for gaming.

Portugal

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Carles Miravitlles | ICMAB, CSIC

En Carles Miravitlles, director-fundador de l'ICMAB, ens ha deixat

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Lamentem profundament la mort del nostre benvolgut amic i company, el Prof. Carles Miravitlles, fundador de l'ICMAB l'any 1986 i director del centre durant 21 anys, del 1986 al 2008. En Carles ens ha deixat el dia 16 d'abril de 2023, a l'edat de 80 anys. 

Press Review, Institutional

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Sol i Lluna school students at ICMAB | ICMAB, CSIC

The NanoInventum 2022 winner school visits the ICMAB and the ICN2

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On Friday, 14 April 2023, we received the visit of the "Sol i Lluna" school from Castellar del Vallès. The students aged 11-12 years old could experience some of the science at ICMAB and ICN2.

The students of the "Sol i Lluna" school in Castellar del Vallès participate in the project NanoInventum, in which they learn concepts of nanoscience and nanotechnology and have to create nanorobots with extraordinary properties to solve some of the problems of our live.

In last year's edition of the NanoInventum project, one of the prizes (the Technology Prize) was a visit to the ICMAB labs, to see how researchers work and to see some topics of nanoscience and nanotechnology. 

Visits and open doors, Breaking News, timeline

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Artificial Graphene Spin Polarized Electrode for Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

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Título : Artificial Graphene Spin Polarized Electrode for Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
Autores: Victor Zatko*, Regina Galceran, Marta Galbiati, Julian Peiro, Florian Godel, Lisa-Marie Kern, David Perconte, Fatima Ibrahim, Ali Hallal, Mairbek Chshiev, Benjamin Martinez, Carlos Frontera, Lluís Balcells, Piran R. Kidambi, John Robertson, Stephan Hofmann, Sophie Collin, Frédéric Petroff, Marie-Blandine Martin, Bruno Dlubak*, and Pierre Seneor*
Citation and DOI:
Nano Lett. 2023, 23, 1, 34–41
December 19, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03113
PlumX: Artificial Graphene Spin Polarized Electrode for Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
2D materials offer the ability to expose their electronic structure to manipulations by a proximity effect. This could be harnessed to craft properties of 2D interfaces and van der Waals heterostructures in devices and quantum materials. We explore the possibility to create an artificial spin polarized electrode from graphene through proximity interaction with a ferromagnetic insulator to be used in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Ferromagnetic insulator/graphene artificial electrodes were fabricated and integrated in MTJs based on spin analyzers.

Oxides

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Field quality and surface resistance studies of a superconducting REBa2Cu3O$_{7-x}$—Cu hybrid coating for the FCC beam screen

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Título : Field quality and surface resistance studies of a superconducting REBa2Cu3O7-x—Cu hybrid coating for the FCC beam screen
Autores: G T Telles, A Romanov, S Calatroni, X Granados, T Puig and J Gutierrez
Citation and DOI: Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36 045001
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6668/ac97c9
PlumX: Field quality and surface resistance studies of a superconducting REBa2Cu3O$_{7-x}$—Cu hybrid coating for the FCC beam screen
To ensure beam stability in the future circular collider study of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, RE(=Y, Gd, Eu)Ba2Cu3O$_{7-x}$ high-temperature superconductor was proposed as a low-surface impedance coating for its beam screen. Unfortunately, persistent currents in the superconductor will degrade the magnetic field homogeneity inside the beam chamber, endangering the stability of the beam trajectory. To counteract this effect, we have explored the possibility of using a highly conductive hybrid coating made of Cu and REBa2Cu3O$_{7-x}$.

Superconductors

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Dopant Diffusion Inhibition in Organic Field-Effect Transistors Using Organic Semiconductor/High-Molecular-Weight Polymer Blends

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Título : Dopant Diffusion Inhibition in Organic Field-Effect Transistors Using Organic Semiconductor/High-Molecular-Weight Polymer Blends
Autores: Jinghai Li Jinghai Li, Elisabetta Colantoni, Inés Temiño, Paolo Branchini, Luca Tortora*, and Marta Mas-Torrent*
Citation and DOI:
Chem. Mater. 2023, 35, 4, 1527–1536
Publication Date:February 13, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c02780
PlumX: Dopant Diffusion Inhibition in Organic Field-Effect Transistors Using Organic Semiconductor/High-Molecular-Weight Polymer Blends
Molecular contact doping in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) has been proved to be a very efficient strategy to reduce the device contact resistance. It consists of inserting a dopant layer between the organic semiconductor (OSC) and the top gold contacts to reduce the energy barrier required to inject/release charges. However, a main bottle-neck for its implementation is that the dopant diffuses toward the OFET channel with time, doping the OSC, and hampering the on/off switching device capability. In this work, we fabricated OFETs based on the benchmark OSC 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT-C8) by a solution shearing technique.

Molecular

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Welcome Lisa Ponsi at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Lisa Ponsi
Hi! My name is Lisa, I'm 22 years old from France. I'm joining ICMAB for 4 month for an internship. I'll be studying the crystallization from Cs halide melts at negative pressure. I enjoy : analog photographie, drawing, hiking, running and many other things since I change my passion every week .. See you!

France

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Welcome Mathis Desseaux at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Mathis Desseaux
Hello everyone, I’m Mathis. I'm from Montpellier, 19 years old, and I study Physical Measurements at the IUT of Montpellier. With Gervasi Herranz and his team, I’ll work on spectroscopic ellipsometry for transparent conductive oxides. About me: I enjoy football, going to the gym, or have fun with my friends. See you !

France

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Self-assembly of chiral diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophores giving supramolecular chains in monolayers and twisted microtapes

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Título : Self-assembly of chiral diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophores giving supramolecular chains in monolayers and twisted microtapes
Autores: Joshua Humphreys, C. Elizabeth Killalea, Flavia Pop, E. Stephen Davies, Giuliano Siligardi, David B. Amabilino
Citation and DOI:

Chirality. 2023; 1-17
DOI: 10.1002/chir.23539
PlumX: Self-assembly of chiral diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophores giving supramolecular chains in monolayers and twisted microtapes
Chiral diketopyrrolopyrroles appended with enantiomeric ethyl lactate functions through an ether linkage to the aryl backbone of the chromophore were synthesized via the Mitsunobu reaction. The molecules have good solubility and excellent optical properties, high molar absorption coefficients, and fluorescence quantum yields. Helical aggregates with circular dichroism arising from the supramolecular arrangement are seen in both solution and thin films, and the aggregates also display circularly polarized luminescence (glum ≈ ±0.1). The molecules assemble to give monolayers on graphite and precipitate from solution forming supramolecular twisted tapes hundreds of microns long

Molecular

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Welcome Mila Miroshnichenko at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Mila-Мирошниченко
My name Mila Miroshnichenko I am from Ukraine. I study at university Taras Shevchenko in Kiev and University Angers in France. After when I finished education I started worked in industry company Enamine I have experience in organic synthesis and purification. Now I am in Kasper team and very happy start working in my PHD

Ukraine

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Welcome Faizan Ali at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Faizan Ali
Hello, I am Faizan Ali. I am a new postdoc at ICMAB under the Juan de la Cierva-formación program. I obtained my Ph.D. certificate in China and worked as a lecturer at the University of Sanya, China. In ICMAB, I will work under the guidance of Dr. Florencio Sánchez and Dr. Ignasi Fina. During my stay at ICMAB, I will investigate the ferroelectric properties of fluorite-structured materials . I like photography, traveling, running, and walking in my free time. See you around.

Pakistan

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Xavier Obradors during the talk | CATPRESS

Talk in Manresa by Xavier Obradors on "Materials and sustainability"

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On  Monday, 27 March 2023, Obradors gave this talk in the framework of the 37th Edition of the Lacetània Days in Manresa.

Outreach Videos, Outreach & Dissemination

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Bioengineered extracellular vesicles: future of precision medicine for sepsis

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Título : Bioengineered extracellular vesicles: future of precision medicine for sepsis
Autores: Aina Areny-Balagueró, Anna Solé-Porta, Marta Camprubí-Rimblas, Elena Campaña-Duel, Adrián Ceccato, Anna Roig, Daniel Closa & Antonio Artigas
Citation and DOI: ICMx 11, 11 (2023)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-023-00491-w
PlumX: Bioengineered extracellular vesicles: future of precision medicine for sepsis
Sepsis is a syndromic response to infection and is frequently a final common pathway to death from many infectious diseases worldwide. The complexity and high heterogeneity of sepsis hinder the possibility to treat all patients with the same protocol, requiring personalized management. The versatility of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their contribution to sepsis progression bring along promises for one-to-one tailoring sepsis treatment and diagnosis.

Biomaterials

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Welcome Victor Lestriez-Légaut at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Victor Lestriez-Légaut
Hi everyone ! I am Victor, I am from Paris (France), 21 years old and I am in a chemistry engineering shool. I will stay here 4 months for an internship and I will work on enhancing the size of e-Fe2O3 crystals. I enjoy sports : playing tennis, climbing, running or biking. I also play trumpet since I am 6 years old. See you !

France

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Quatsomes Loaded with Squaraine Dye as an Effective Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy

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Título : Quatsomes Loaded with Squaraine Dye as an Effective Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy
Autores: Nicolò Bordignon, Mariana Köber, Giorgia Chinigò, Carlotta Pontremoli, Ettore Sansone, Guillem Vargas-Nadal, Maria Jesus Moran Plata, Alessandra Fiorio Pla, Nadia Barbero*, Judit Morla-Folch 1,*, andNora Ventosa,*
Citation and DOI: Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 902
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030902
PlumX: Quatsomes Loaded with Squaraine Dye as an Effective Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive therapeutic strategy that combines external light with a photosensitizer (PS) to destroy abnormal cells. Despite the great progress in the development of new photosensitizers with improved efficacy, the PS’s photosensitivity, high hydrophobicity, and tumor target avidity still represent the main challenges. Herein, newly synthesized brominated squaraine, exhibiting intense absorption in the red/near-infrared region, has been successfully incorporated into Quatsome (QS) nanovesicles at different loadings.

Biomaterials

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Arnau Romaguera with his PhD Thesis | ICMAB, CSIC

Congratulations Dr. Arnau Romaguera, new ICMAB PhD graduate!

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Doctor Arnau Romaguera from the Crystallography of Magnetic and Electronic Oxides and Surfaces (CMEOS) group at ICMAB, CSIC, defended his PhD thesis "High Tc Magnetic Spirals and Fe-based Frustrated Multiferroics" on Monday, 13 March 2023 at ICMAB. 

PhD Congrats

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Eulàlia Pujades, Sergi Riera and Miquel Casadement at the awards ceremony

New project on organic photovoltaics on Barcelona's bus stops

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Sergi Riera-Galindo, ICMAB researcher, is the IP of this project awarded by the Barcelona City Council to young and emerging research projects. 

The ceremony was held on Monday, 20 March at the Barcelona City Council (at the Saló de Cent) and a diploma was given to each researcher of the eighteen winning projects.  

Sergi Riera's project is titled "Bus stop integrated organic photovoltaics (TERRA)" and is granted with 60,000 €. The project aims to integrate stable organic photovoltaics mini-modules on bus stops to power light devices for a future smart city.  

New Projects, Breaking News, timeline

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Cocrystallization of Antifungal Compounds Mediated by Halogen Bonding

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Título : Cocrystallization of Antifungal Compounds Mediated by Halogen Bonding
Autores: Mónica Benito*, Antonio Frontera*, and Elies Molins
Citation and DOI: Cryst. Growth Des. 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.3c00067
PlumX: Cocrystallization of Antifungal Compounds Mediated by Halogen Bonding
The application of halogen bonding in pharmaceutical chemistry remains a challenge. In this work, novel halogen-bonded cocrystals based on azole antifungal active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and the ditopic molecule 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene are reported. Their crystal structural features, spectroscopic properties, and thermal stability were studied. The components are bound through I···N from the triazole moieties present in all of the compounds.

Biomaterials

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