Dr. María Jesús Ortiz successfully defended her PhD thesis on "Organic Transistors Integrated into Lateral-Flow Assays for Point-Of-Care Diagnostics" on Friday, 18 September 2026. Congratulations, María Jesús!
On the 12th and 13th of November 2026, the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), ubicated at the UAB Campus, will host the Workshop on Experimental Methods for Thermal Transport
The Government recognises the career of the Director of the ALBA Synchrotron and her contribution to science and to the international visibility of research carried out in Catalonia with its highest distinction.
The Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) is recruiting a highly motivated professional as an International Research Project Manager (pre-award).
The vibrations are localized at the interface between two materials and could be involved in the mechanism that allows electricity to flow without losses
Título : Molecular solar thermal storage integration for domestic hot water co-heating: experimental discharge characterization and numerical feasibility assessment
A new paper has been published in the Journal of Energy Storage:
Molecular solar thermal storage (MOST) systems represent an emerging closed-loop technology with energy storage densities up to 1.6 MJ/kg, more than double that of typical phase change materials. MOST systems store solar energy in the chemical bonds of photoswitchable molecules via photoisomerization, releasing heat on demand during molecular reversion. Despite extensive research, their potential for domestic hot water co-heating remains unexplored. This study investigates the potential integration of MOST systems into a conceptual laboratory-scale co-heating device by combining experimental discharge characterization with numerical thermal simulations. Laboratory experiments evaluated the discharge characteristics of a norbornadiene-quadricyclane MOST system, demonstrating thermal activation for the first time under varying activation temperatures and residence times. A numerical thermal simulation model was developed to assess the performance of two norbornadiene-quadricyclane systems designed for short- and long-term storage. Parametric studies analyzed the impact of molecular properties and device design parameters on discharge and water heating performance. Laboratory results demonstrated 95–100% back conversion of quadricyclane to norbornadiene at a molecular concentration of 1.3 mol/L (290.2 g/L) in toluene. Simulations indicated activation-normalized water-heating ratios of 43–86% for the long-term system and 106–204% for the short-term system, assuming perfect insulation and current molecular and device constraints, representing idealized upper-bound estimates. Among the MOST molecular properties evaluated, thermal enthalpy had the strongest sensitivity effect on discharge and water-heating performance. Additional gains were achieved through increased energy storage capacity, optimized molecule concentration, and adjusted device operational temperatures. Future research should prioritize molecular enhancements, catalytic strategies to accelerate back-conversion, and device design optimization to minimize heat losses and improve scalability.
In this new recap post, we present the 10 most read news of our website showing the variety of activities and research that took place at ICMAB over the past academic year.
In this new recap post, we present a selection of recordings showcasing the variety of activities and seminars that took place at ICMAB over the past academic year.
Título : Morphologically Chiral Crystals From Achiral Dyes
Autores: Killalea, C. Elizabeth; Billon, Julien; Murphy, Alanna S.; Argent, Stephen P.; Lewis, William; Korolkov, Vladimir V.; Beton, Peter H.; Amabilino, David B.
We have selected 10 papers as a recap of some of the research carried out at ICMAB during the previous academic year, perfect for some summer holiday reading.
Título : Towards scalable high-performance molecular electronics devices based on diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives
Autores: Bonastre, Jose Maria; Giglio, Maria Elisabetta; Mas-Torrent, Marta; Davidson, Ross J.; Beeby, Andrew; Cea, Pilar; Crivillers, Nuria; Martin, Santiago
A technique developed by ICMAB-CSIC researchers makes it possible to observe electronic structure with a level of precision that was previously unattainable
In July, two Baccalaureate students were hosted at ICMAB. Their stay is part of the three-year Joves i Ciència programme, which aims to encourage students to pursue scientific careers.
Título : Quatsome nanovesicles as antibacterial platform: Mechanistic insights into their activity against planktonic and biofilm Staphylococcus aureus
Despite decades of research, scientists still did not fully understand why high-temperature superconductors work. Now, ICMAB researchers have found direct evidence of an interaction long thought to play little or no role in these materials.
