The PhD thesis was supervised by Mariano Campoy Quiles, from the Nanostructured Materials for Optoelectronics and Energy Harvesting (NANOPTO) Group at ICMAB-CSIC.

The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Henk J. Bolink, Universitat de València, (President), David Amabilino, ICMAB-CSIC, (Secretary) and Monica Della Pirriera, LEITAT, (Vocal).

Doctor Martí Gibert’s PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Materials Science from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Why did you choose ICMAB for your PhD?

Because it has great groups with very clever and nice people.

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

I try to make solar panels based on organic inks that can be printed just like a newspaper. These solar panels are light and flexible, so they can be rolled and unrolled just like a towel.

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

Organic panels are really useful for energy extraction on a large scale. Where we can print extremely long rolls of solar panels and unroll them basically anywhere without needing structural instalation. These panels can even be adapted to clothing to have energy generation capabilities on our own shirts.

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

Determination.

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

The people.

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

It has made me kinder, and has taught me how to focus on my goals.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

I am already working in KAUST, Saudi Arabia as a research scientist.

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

Talk to your supervisor about an approximate plan short and long term and try to plan the experiments accordingly. But do not be afraid to change course if things do not go according to plan.

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

I am extremely curious, and at some point the answers to my questions were still to be discovered. That is why, out of thirst for knowledge, I chose to find out myself.

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

Marie Curie, because she was dedicated, with her office being literally inside her lab. Albert Einstein, because he questioned what was established. Leonardo Da Vinci, because I want to be like him when I grow up.

Do you have any other comments you would like to say?

ICMAB has been like a home to me, thank you guys :)

Mariano Campoy-Quiles and Martí Gibert | ICMAB

More information and photos.