News

Inaguration of JEMCA at ALBA Synchrotron | Photo by Pepo Segura

New electron microscope centre to advance in research into structural biology and new materials

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  • This cutting-edge facility will house two high-end electron microscopes: one to determine the structure of large protein complexes and another to study materials at atomic level.
  • Created thanks to the joint effort of several research institutes, the centre is located at the ALBA Synchrotron and will be open to the entire scientific community.
  • Catalan Research and Universities Minister Joaquim Nadal inaugurates the centre, which has received funding from the Catalan Government’s ERDF programme, on 24 February.

New Projects, Breaking News, timeline

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Band Alignment and Photoresponse of La Fe O3-Based Heterojunctions

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Título : Band Alignment and Photoresponse of La Fe O3-Based Heterojunctions
Autores: Yunwei Sheng, Mathieu Mirjolet, Mario Villa, Jaume Gàzquez, José Santiso, Andreas Klein, Jordi Fraxedas, and Josep Fontcuberta
Citation and DOI: Phys. Rev. Applied 19, 024001 – Published 1 February 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.19.024001
PlumX: Band Alignment and Photoresponse of LaFeO3-Based Heterojunctions
Epitaxial LaFeO3 (LFO)-based photocells, of different thicknesses (50–200 nm) have been grown on cubic LSAT (001) [(LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2TaAlO6)0.7] single-crystal substrates, using a La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO) bottom electrode and different top electrodes [Pt,Ba0.95La0.05SnO3 (BLSO)], to determine their photoresponse. The measured short-circuit photocurrent first increases with LFO thickness and then decreases, and it is larger or smaller, when Pt or BLSO electrodes are used, respectively.

Oxides

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Welcome Josep Amorós Armenté at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Josep Amorós Armenté
Heyy! I'm Josep and i'm finishing my degree on Chemical Engineering. I will be working in the crystallography department as part of my Bachelor's Thesis. I really enjoy working out and doing any kind of sport basically, listening to music (classical music recently) and learning stuff about new random topics. I'm looking forward to working here and getting to know the facilities as well as all the people working around!

Spain

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Adsorptive Separation of CO2 by a Hydrophobic Carborane-Based Metal–Organic Framework under Humid Conditions

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Título : Adsorptive Separation of CO2 by a Hydrophobic Carborane-Based Metal–Organic Framework under Humid Conditions
Autores: Lei Gan, Eduardo Andres-Garcia, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas*, and José Giner Planas*
Citation and DOI: ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 4, 5309–5316
Publication Date:January 24, 2023
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c20373
PlumX: Adsorptive Separation of CO2 by a Hydrophobic Carborane-Based Metal–Organic Framework under Humid Conditions
We report that the carborane-based metal–organic framework (MOF) mCB-MOF-1 can achieve high adsorptive selectivity for CO2:N2 mixtures. This hydrophobic MOF presenting open metal sites shows high CO2 adsorption capacity and remarkable selectivity values that are maintained even under extremely humid conditions. The comparison of mCB-MOF-1' with MOF-74(Ni) demonstrates the superior performance of the former under challenging moisture operation conditions.

Molecular

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Open Position: Science Communicator at the ICMAB

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Deadline: 2023-03-10

We are looking for a Science Communicator to be part of the Unit of Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC+i) at the ICMAB. You will join a diverse and inclusive team working directly with the Head of Communication and Outreach. 

Closed Jobs

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Martí Gich at Foro Transfiere presenting the sensor to detect water pollutants

Two innovations from ICMAB at Foro Transfiere 2023: hydrogels for cell culture and sensor to measure water pollutants

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The forum for Science, Technology and Innovation took place on 15-17 February 2023in Málaga.

Transifere is a professional, multisector forum aimed at knowledge transfer, with a focus on business opportunities and networking. It is one of the biggest events in the south of Europe.

Themed panels and conferences afford attendees the chance to get information from relevant sources in science, technology and business. The topic of this year's Transfiere is "Boosting Innovation". 

TT News, Breaking News

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Roser Valentí, member of our Scientific Advisory Board, awarded with the Rosa Argelaguet in Manresa

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 The awards ceremony took place on Friday, 10 February 2023 at the Library of the University Campus in Manresa. Xavier Obradors made the speech presenting the awardee and highlighting the merits of her career.

Other External News, Institutional

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Open Position: SPM Technician at ICMAB

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Deadline: 2023-03-17

Join our inclusive and diverse team at the ICMAB as Head Technician of our Scanning Probe Microscopy service. If you have proven experience in SPM, please get in touch.

Closed Jobs

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Nanoimprinted 2D-chiral Perovskite Nanocrystal Metasurfaces for Circularly Polarized Photoluminescence

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Título : Nanoimprinted 2D-chiral Perovskite Nanocrystal Metasurfaces for Circularly Polarized Photoluminescence
Autores: Jose Mendoza-Carreño, Pau Molet, Clara Otero-Martínez, Maria Isabel Alonso, Lakshminarayana Polavarapu, Agustín Mihi
Citation and DOI: Adv. Mater.. Accepted Author Manuscript 2210477
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202210477
PlumX: Nanoimprinted 2D-chiral Perovskite Nanocrystal Metasurfaces for Circularly Polarized Photoluminescence
The versatile hybrid perovskite nanocrystals are one of the most promising materials for optoelectronics in virtue of their tunable bandgaps and high photoluminescence quantum yields. However, their inherent crystalline chemical structure limits the chiroptical properties achievable with the material. The production of chiral perovskites has become an active field of research for its promising applications in optics, chemistry or biology. Typically, chiral halide perovskites are obtained by the incorporation of different chiral moieties in the material. Unfortunately, these chemically modified perovskites have demonstrated moderate values of chiral photoluminescence so far.

Energy

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Magnetic order and magnetic properties of the oxygen deficient SmBaMn2O5 layered perovskite

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Título : Magnetic order and magnetic properties of the oxygen deficient SmBaMn2O5 layered perovskite
Autores: J. Blasco, J.A. Rodríguez-Velamazán, G. Subías, M.C. Sánchez, J.L. García-Muñoz 
Citation and DOI: Materials Research Bulletin, Volume 150, 2022, 111780, ISSN 0025-5408
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2022.111780
PlumX: Magnetic order and magnetic properties of the oxygen deficient SmBaMn2O5 layered perovskite
Magnetism in SmBaMn2O5 was investigated on a single crystal by magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements. This is an oxygen deficient perovskite with a layered ordering of Sm and Ba cations. Mn atoms are coordinated with five oxygens forming a square pyramid and they are ordered in a checkerboard pattern of expanded-compressed pyramids in the ab-plane. The neutron diffraction study revealed a ferrimagnetic ordering of Mn moments below TN=134 K. Macroscopic measurements reveal a very anisotropic behavior.

Oxides

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Highly electron deficient diketopyrrolopyrroles

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Título : Highly electron deficient diketopyrrolopyrroles
Autores: Joshua Humphreys, Ferdinando Malagreca, Paul A. Hume, E. Stephen Davies, Stephen P. Argent, Tracey D. Bradshaw and David B. Amabilino
Citation and DOI:

Chem. Commun., 2023,59, 1613-1616
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC06770F
PlumX: Highly electron deficient diketopyrrolopyrroles
The synthesis, spectroelectrochemical and structural characteristics of highly electron-accepting diketopyrrrolopyrrole (DPP) molecules with adjoining pyridinium rings is reported, along with an assessment of their toxicity, which is apparently low. The compounds show reversible electrochemistry and in one subfamily a massive increase in molar extinction coefficient upon electrochemical reduction.

Molecular

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Welcome José Luis Ortolá Yano at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: José Luis Ortolá Yano
Hi, I am a 22 years old Nanoscience and Nanotechnology student from UAB. During the following months, I will be doing my bachelor's thesis about electrical characterization of ferroelectric thin films at ICMAB. In my free time, I like studying music and doing sports. See you soon!

Spain

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"Dijous de ciència i tecnologia a l'IEC: Bateries i materials"

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Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaHFw3Dado0

In the next conference of the IEC "Dijous de ciència" the talk will be by M. Rosa Palacín on batteries.

The Science and Technology Section of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans invites you to the conference of the 2023 Science and Technology Thursday cycle—research at the service of society—, which will be given by M. Rosa Palacín, research professor at the 'Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB) of the CSIC, and which will be entitled "Batteries and materials: where do we come from and where are we going".

Outreach Videos, Breaking News, Outreach & Dissemination

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Boron clusters (ferrabisdicarbollides) shaping the future as radiosensitizers for multimodal (chemo/radio/PBFR) therapy of glioblastoma

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Título : Boron clusters (ferrabisdicarbollides) shaping the future as radiosensitizers for multimodal (chemo/radio/PBFR) therapy of glioblastoma
Autores: Miquel Nuez-Martínez, María Queralt-Martín, Amanda Muñoz-Juan, Vicente M. Aguilella, Anna Laromaine, Francesc Teixidor, Clara Viñas, * Catarina G. Pinto, Teresa Pinheiro, Joana F. Guerreiro, Filipa Mendes, Catarina Roma-Rodrigues, Pedro V. Baptista, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Srecko Valic and Fernanda Marques *
Citation and DOI: J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022,10, 9794-9815
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TB01818G
PlumX: Boron clusters (ferrabisdicarbollides) shaping the future as radiosensitizers for multimodal (chemo/radio/PBFR) therapy of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and fatal primary brain tumor, and is highly resistant to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, the development of multidrug resistance and tumor recurrence are frequent. Given the poor survival with the current treatments, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Radiotherapy (RT) is a common cancer treatment modality for GBM. However, there is still a need to improve RT efficiency, while reducing the severe side effects. Radiosensitizers can enhance the killing effect on tumor cells with less side effects on healthy tissues.

Biomaterials

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Laminated Organic Photovoltaic Modules for Agrivoltaics and Beyond: An Outdoor Stability Study of All-Polymer and Polymer: Small Molecule Blends

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Título : Laminated Organic Photovoltaic Modules for Agrivoltaics and Beyond: An Outdoor Stability Study of All-Polymer and Polymer: Small Molecule Blends
Autores: Xabier Rodríguez-Martínez, Sergi Riera-Galindo, Luis Ever Aguirre, Mariano Campoy-Quiles, Hans Arwin, Olle Inganäs
Citation and DOI: Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2213220. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202213220
PlumX: Laminated Organic Photovoltaic Modules for Agrivoltaics and Beyond: An Outdoor Stability Study of All-Polymer and Polymer: Small Molecule Blends
The integration of organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules on greenhouses is an encouraging practice to offset the energy demands of crop growth and provide extra functionality to dedicated farmland. Nevertheless, such OPV devices must meet certain optical and stability requirements to turn net zero energy greenhouse systems a reality. Here a donor:acceptor polymer blend is optimized for its use in laminated devices while matching the optical needs of crops. Optical modeling is performed and a greenhouse figure-of-merit is introduced to benchmark the trade-off between photovoltaic performance and transparency for both chloroplasts and humans. Balanced donor:acceptor ratios result in better-performing and more thermally stable devices than acceptor-enriched counterparts.

Energy

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Welcome Fernanda Piña at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Fernanda Piña
Hello! I am Fer Piña, a Nanotechnology Engineer student at ITESO in Mexico. With the JAE Intro program I am in the nanostructured materials department until June. During my stay I will be working in the laser processing group to fabricate high performance supercapacitors. About me, I really like swimming and I enjoy going to the beach.

México

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Welcome Marc Ramón Moreno at ICMAB!

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Nombre y apellidos: Marc Ramón Moreno
Hello everyone! My name is Marc and I'm currently enrolled in the Master's Programme in Modelling for Science and Engineering at UAB. During the first half of this year, I'll be doing my thesis research in the Soft Matter Theory group, under the supervision of Dr Jordi Faraudo. In my free time I like to keep active with sports and try out new recipes in the kitchen. Hope to see you all at ICMAB !

Spain

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Semitransparent organic photovoltaic module at ICMAB´s garden | ICMAB, CSIC

SYNATRA, new project on organic solar cells for transparent agrivoltaics

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Press Links:

RADIO:

The project is funded within the "Strategic Lines Projects 2022" call of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation - Agencia Estatal de Investigación's State Program for the Promotion of Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer.

Radio, Press Release, New Projects, timeline, Press Review

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The new Scientific Meeting of PhD candidates is back! #JPhD2023

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Date : 2023-06-07
The deadline for the registration and abstract submission is 28 April 2023. The meeting will take place on 7-8 June at ICMAB.

2023 is the year of the 7th edition of the Scientific Meeting of PhD candidates! The registration and abstract submission for the annual conference JPhD are now open!

Please register for the event designed and conceived from and for PhD candidates that will take place on the 7th and 8th of June 2023 at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Campus, at ICMAB.

Courses and Workshops, Breaking News, timeline

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Helimagnets by disorder: Its role on the high-temperature magnetic spiral in the YBaCuFeO 5 perovskite

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Título : Helimagnets by disorder: Its role on the high-temperature magnetic spiral in the YBaCuFeO5 perovskite
Autores: Arnau Romaguera, Xiaodong Zhang, Oscar Fabelo, Francois Fauth, Javier Blasco, and José Luis García-Muñoz
Citation and DOI: Phys. Rev. Research 4, 043188 – Published 14 December 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043188
PlumX: Helimagnets by disorder: Its role on the high-temperature magnetic spiral in the YBaCuFeO5 perovskite
Most of the spiral magnetoelectric multiferroics investigated in recent years are geometrically or exchange-frustrated magnets, where the presence of triangular or other frustrated spin networks produce low magnetic transition temperatures. This critically limits their potential uses. The exceptional stability of the spiral magnetic order (at TS) in the layered structure of the YBaCuFeO5 double perovskite involves a nonconventional mechanism: spiral order by disorder. The model has been theoretically developed by Scaramucci et al. [Phys. Rev. Res. 2, 013273 (2020)] after the discovery of a huge impact of cation disorder on TS [M. Morin et al., Nat. Commun. 7, 13758 (2016)].

Oxides

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Key Parameters for the Rational Design, Synthesis, and Functionalization of Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

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Título : Key Parameters for the Rational Design, Synthesis, and Functionalization of Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Autores: Marta Florensa, Marina Llenas, Esperanza Medina-Gutiérrez, Stefania Sandoval * andGerard Tobías-Rossell *
Citation and DOI: Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(12), 2703; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14122703
PlumX: Key Parameters for the Rational Design, Synthesis, and Functionalization of Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Over the last few years, research on silica nanoparticles has rapidly increased. Particularly on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), as nanocarriers for the treatment of various diseases because of their physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The use of MSNs combined with therapeutic agents can provide better encapsulation and effective delivery. MSNs as nanocarriers might also be a promising tool to lower the therapeutic dosage levels and thereby to reduce undesired side effects. Researchers have explored several routes to conjugate both imaging and therapeutic agents onto MSNs, thus expanding their potential as theranostic platforms, in order to allow for the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Biomaterials

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New nanoarchitectonics to enhance cell-adhesion with quatsomes

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ICMAB researchers have participated in a study to create a versatile platform based on hierarchically nanostructured cell-adhesion peptides using quatsomes, which opens new possibilities for tissue engineering. The study, published in ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces is a collaboration of three CIBER-BBN groups at ICMAB, IQAC (both CSIC) and IBEC.

Top Science Results

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Synchrotron radiation based operando characterization of battery materials

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Título : Synchrotron radiation based operando characterization of battery materials
Autores: Ashley P. Black, Andrea Sorrentino, François Fauth, Ibraheem Yousef, Laura Simonelli, Carlos Frontera, Alexandre Ponrouch, Dino Tonti and  M. Rosa Palacín *
Citation and DOI: Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC04397A
PlumX: Synchrotron radiation based operando characterization of battery materials
Synchrotron radiation based techniques are powerful tools for battery research and allow probing a wide range of length scales, with different depth sensitivities and spatial/temporal resolutions. Operando experiments enable characterization during functioning of the cell and are thus a precious tool to elucidate the reaction mechanisms taking place. In this perspective, the current state of the art for the most relevant techniques (scattering, spectroscopy, and imaging) is discussed together with the bottlenecks to address, either specific for application in the battery field or more generic. The former includes the improvement of cell designs, multi-modal characterization and development of protocols for automated or at least semi-automated data analysis to quickly process the huge amount of data resulting from operando experiments. Given the recent evolution in these areas, accelerated progress is expected in the years to come, which should in turn foster battery performance improvements.

Energy

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