Research Projects

Quantum dot (QD) solids are mainly prepared by deposition of nanocrystal suspensions onto flat substrates, typically after a lengthy ligand exchange procedure, needed to achieve the dot-to-dot charge transport required in an optoelectronic device. While this process has been optimized to yield high absorption coefficient and luminescence quantum yield together with good carrier mobility, which has allowed the fabrication of efficient solar cells and light emitting diodes, QD films built in this way usually present imperfections (inhomogeneities, aggregates, thickness variations, surface roughness…), whose main fingerprint is the presence of diffuse light scattering that gives rise to partial opacity. One of the deleterious consequences of this scattering is that it hinders the implementation of a photonic design that could maximize light absorption and/or emission through a rational, deterministic, spatial distribution of the in-coupled or out-coupled electromagnetic fields. Recent advances made by the applicant group in (i) the development of transparent (i.e., scattering free) lead halide perovskite quantum dot (PQD) based solids, (ii) the realization of the first optoelectronic materials based on these transparent PQD solids and (iii) the analysis of charge transport through them by advanced spectroscopic techniques, allow foreseeing a credible solution to this limitation. In this context, the PQD-Photonics project aims at realizing improved configurations in which both the optical and charge transport properties are optimized, giving rise to more energy efficient, versatile, stable and functional PQD solid-based optoelectronic devices. Enhanced performance of solar cells, color converting layers, light emitting diodes, lasers, and photodetectors, is targeted by integrating a variety of device processing-compatible photonic designs. Although all materials and devices that will be studied are halide perovskite based, the results of this project could be straightforwardly extended to any kind of solution processed semiconductor QD, which widely broadens the range of materials and devices that can benefit from the results achieved in the PQD-Photonics project.

Current rechargeable energy storage devices face important drawbacks, including long-term raw materials availability, life-cycle, high prices, and safety issues. Due to their fast discharge capabilities and long-term life cycle, supercapacitors are potential candidates for future energy storage. However, supercapacitors must overcome technical problems with designing electrodes and electrolytes, stability, energy density, and attaining industry standards.
ANGSTROM proposes an environmentally friendly plasma-enabled approach for developing advanced materials for supercapacitors, comprising vertical nanocarbon and highly porous active materials, the latter consisting of covalent organic frameworks or a new type of “a la carte” conformal porous metal oxides. The multidisciplinary and ambitious methodology and unique expertise will make it possible to surpass the state-of-the-art supercapacitors with superior capacitive storage, high energy density, and potential for reusability.
The ANGSTROM consortium includes three international academic and one industrial partner. The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain, coordinates the consortium. The other academic partners are the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia, and The Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), and the industrial company is IQS nano, these two latter from Czechia.

Programa Internacional: M-ERA Net COFUND

https://angstrom-meranet.eu/

Photon counting detectors have the potential to transform how we obtain CT scans to achieve low dose, high resolution images for medical diagnosis and monitoring. However, the materials currently used to manufacture these detectors require extremely high purity and are, therefore, economically expensive to achieve, limiting their widespread adoption. This project will employ perovskite composites to considerably reduce production costs and facilitate the scalability of direct X-ray detectors, thus opening avenues to making them universal in CT imaging.

Currently, the number of musculoskeletal injuries that require the replacement of both bone and cartilage tissue is drastically increasing. These conditions, referred as to osteochondral defects (OCD), are derived from different diseases. The Lancet Commission estimated that, in 2020, more than 500 million people were affected only by osteoarthritis, with an associated medical cost between 1% and 2.5% of the gross domestic product in high-income countries. Most treatments applied for OCD just address the cartilage tissue, so the use of biphasic implants to simultaneously treat both tissues is under investigation nowadays. These implants are formed by a rigid section that substitutes the subchondral bone tissue and a soft section that mimics que cartilage. In this project, the novel fabrication of bespoke biphasic implants is proposed for the OCD treatment in articular regions. The use of Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D printing for both tissues will allow a complete implant personalization. On the one hand, DIW will be optimized for the 3D printing of a β-Ti alloy to obtain a 3D part with an improved biomechanical and biofunctional balance, according to the previous experience of our group in the fabrication of Tibased implants by different methodologies. This technology allows control of the objects porosity whose optimization, together with the use of β-Ti alloy, will lead to a bone substitute with a Youngs modulus very close to the host bone tissue, reducing the stress-shielding problem without compromising mechanical performance. The DIW printer used will include two reservoirs, to simultaneously print two different inks, and a rotary axis for the printing on top of the implants curved surface. In addition, the inclusion of a chitosan-based composite containing bioglasses in the metallic section will enhance the osseointegration and will reduce the bacterial proliferation due to the antimicrobial activity of the polymer. The most promising printed parts will be evaluated in vitro, using hOB, and in vivo in New Zealand White Rabbits. The results obtained with the printed β-Ti alloy will be compared with the results obtained from commercially pure Ti and different Ti alloys substrates previously prepared by the research group using the space-holder technique to select the bone substitute with the best performance. On the other hand, a novel Interpenetrated Polymer Network (IPN) will be optimized to generate a hydrogel with the required properties to be printed and perform as the cartilage tissue. This IPN will contain 2 different polymeric materials. The main one will be based on polymers with previously demonstrated antibiofouling capacity, in which some researchers of the team have experience, and a home-synthetized crosslinker based on hydrophilic carbohydrates to improve biocompatibility. The second polymer will be hyaluronic acid crosslinked with a sugar-derived hydrophilic diamine to enhance the chondrocytes adhesion and proliferation. The proportion of each
component and the porosity obtained with the printing strategy will be evaluated to maintain the antibiofouling behavior but offering the required performance in terms of viscoelasticity and wear resistance to mimic the cartilage. In addition, their cell and gene behavior will be evaluated in vitro. Finally, the final biphasic implant will be fabricated using the most promising tissue substitutes and tested in vivo in New Zealand White Rabbits.

The development of energy storage technologies is essential for the transition to a climate-neutral economy. All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs) are promising candidates to solve the functional problems of convectional lithium-ion batteries that are currently dominating the technological market. ASSBs replace the flammable organic liquid electrolyte of traditional devices with a non-flammable solid, which improves the safety of this devices, among many other advantages. Thus, solid electrolytes have experienced great development in the last decades, where oxide and phosphate-types solid electrolytes are emerging as a very important group due to their high ionic conductivities, wide electrochemical window, and good compatibility with lithium metal. However, the high temperatures (for long periods of time) required for their synthesis and processing consume a large amount of energy, which considerably limit their economic competitiveness and also deteriorate their physical properties due to lithium volatilization. Furthermore, the co-sintering process with the other active materials of the cells (anode and cathode) is extremely complicated, as the high temperatures promote the appearance of secondary phases and high interfacial resistances that, unfortunately, limit the lifespan of ASSBs. This is precisely one of the major challenges facing the development of these devices. INNOBEC proposes an innovative approach to address the aforementioned problem by implementing the Flash Sintering (FS) to ASSBs. FS consists in simultaneously applying an electric field and heat to a ceramic sample, so that the densification of the material is achieved almost instantaneously and at much lower temperatures than those used in conventional methodologies. FS not only reduces the energy cost, but also enables the processing of materials with limited thermal stability, such as solid electrolytes. Additionally, since FS are considered as "non-equilibrium" techniques, some materials have been granted with exceptional properties, such as suplerplasticity in ceramics and improved ionic conductivities, which has been attributed to the generation of a large number of defects. Furthermore, FS is a highly versatile technique and, very recently, it has been demonstrated the Reaction Flash Sintering (RFS), where not only the sintering but also the chemical reaction are merged in a single step, boosting the efficiency of the process and amplifying the possibilities offered by FS.
INNOBEC aims to take advantages of the competitiveness offered by FS and RFS of reduced processing times and temperatures to prepare materials with optimized properties for ASSBs, specifically, oxide-types and phosphate-type ceramic solid electrolytes as well as ceramic composites with mixed ionic-electronic conduction to be used as cathodes or anodes. The ultimate goal of INNOBEC is the co-sintering in a single step of ASSB-type multilayer structures and the evaluation of their electrochemical performance. INNOBEC is an innovative project, which merges the previous experience of the PI in both fields ASSBs and FS, proposing a new energy efficient methodology to facilitate the preparation and processing of solid electrolytes so that the serious interfacial problems, arising from the co-sintering and that are slowing down the development of ASSBs, can be alleviated.

The main objective of the HIPERTES project is the development of a new concept of high-temperature thermochemical energy storage based on a hybrid system of carbonates and molten salts in a single reactor. Subproject 2 focuses mainly on aspects related to the development of materials suitable for these new operating conditions, as well as their optimization and the study of the behavior of the materials during thermochemical cycles.

Although there are proposals based on the use of solid additives to try to improve the cyclability and performance of thermochemical processes based on carbonation/calcination reactions, these solutions have a limit, since a decay of the activity is always observed with the number of cycles, which becomes more evident as the number of cycles increases. In this project, a novel solution based on hybrid systems of carbonates with molten salts is proposed. The salts will provide an increase in the reactivity of both calcination and carbonation, especially improving the kinetics of the diffusive processes.

Thus, the salts are expected to provide (i) fast calcination and carbonation kinetics to make the loading and unloading processes as fast as possible and (ii) high multicyclic stability avoiding deactivation processes by sintering and pore blocking. Two types of systems are proposed, one based on porous pellets that would be impregnated with the salts and the other based on molten salt baths where the carbonate particles would be dispersed. For the first solution, pelletizing techniques will be used to obtain porous pellets from aqueous suspensions of both mineral and synthetic carbonate particles. The pellets obtained will be impregnated with high-temperature salts. In the second solution, mixtures of salts of high thermal stability will be selected in which carbonate particles or pellets will be dispersed. For the preparation of the porous pellets, freeze granulation techniques will be used to obtain porous and stable pellets from particle suspensions. All prepared materials will be characterized in terms of thermophysical properties and multicyclic behavior. Optimal operating conditions as well as maximum working ranges will be established. These results will be used as parameters for subproject 1.

Subproject 2 has the participation of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in chemistry, solid reactivity, heterogeneous kinetics, physics, and materials science to complete the proposed objectives. They have experience and solvency guaranteed in the execution of national and international projects, in addition to industrial projects, in the field of design and characterization of materials for thermal energy storage.

PVSkite is a multidisciplinary project whose main objective is to exploit advanced vacuum and plasma techniques for the development of materials, nanostructures, and devices based on halide perovskites. In the case of plasma techniques, we seek to explore proprietary approaches, such as the RPAVD (remote plasma-assisted vacuum deposition) technique, for the development of encapsulation systems, electrode passivation, interfacial engineering, and new electrode formulations for perovskite solar cells. This approach is supported by some very promising recent results of the group on perovskite cell encapsulation and passivation of inorganic electrodes with ultra-thin conformal polymeric films. In the case of vacuum processes, the project will focus on applying the glancing angle deposition technique (GLAD) to the design of anisotropic crystalline perovskites for light polarization control and the structuring of charge transport electrodes.

We also start from some very recent initial results that demonstrate the enormous potential of this approach. The proposed approaches have not been addressed in the current literature, but we believe can have a very important impact on the development of halide perovskite-based materials and devices. The group has more than two decades of internationally recognized experience in the fabrication of functional materials by these techniques and their application in very diverse fields including the development of functional devices (photonics, sensors, energy sensors, etc.).

The project encompasses activities at different levels, combining fundamental and applied research, growth process and materials simulations, synthesis of new materials under design, advanced functional characterization, and device interrogation. The development of a series of laboratory-scale prototypes is a fundamental aspect of the proposal, which will validate the feasibility of the approach. To this end, appropriate platforms and measurement protocols will be designed. The first type of device to be developed will be perovskite cells, stable against water and humidity incorporating all the modifications of interfaces, novel electrodes, and encapsulation elements developed in the project. The second type of device will be polarization-sensitive perovskite optoelectronic devices, also incorporating selected plasma layers to increase their stability. Two types of polarization-sensitive devices will be studied a) polarized light emitting devices and b) polarized light detectors. The project is completed with a preliminary evaluation of the stability in vacuum and in the presence of ionization sources of some selected devices.

For the achievement of PVskites objectives, we count on the collaboration and the express interest of four companies that are directly related to each of the aspects of the proposal. These companies are Arquimea, through its energy division, Lasing SA with a wide experience in the use and development of photonic elements and devices, and Fluxim, a world leader in the study of the environmental stability of solar cells. The fourth company, ALTER TÜV NORD, is interested in the potential application of stable perovskite cells in space.

The FOMAG project focuses on the application of innovative fast sintering techniques, such as Flash Sintering (FS), Reactive Flash Sintering (RFS), and Multifaceted Flash Sintering (MPFS), for the synthesis of high-entropy oxides (HEOs) with technologically relevant magnetic properties. Despite FS being first proposed in 2010, SFR in 2018, and MPFS in 2022, interest in this process has grown significantly in various scientific fields due to its considerable scientific and technological potential

These techniques enable the fabrication of ceramic materials at significantly lower temperatures and times compared to conventional sintering methods, achieved by applying a small electric current through the sample. Furthermore, the specific experimental conditions of Flash techniques allow the production of dense and nanostructured ceramic materials, which can be challenging using conventional methods. Importantly, Flash sintering not only drastically reduces the energy consumption required for ceramic material processing but also extends its applications to new materials for technological purposes. In this context, HEOs represent an emerging class of ceramic materials with equimolar compositions containing five or more cations. The uniqueness of these systems, first proposed in 2015, lies in their extreme chemical complexity coupled with simple crystallography, where atoms arrange in a relatively straightforward crystal structure, overcoming phase separations typical in heavily doped systems. In terms of the local structure, these materials consist of an unusually high number of distinct combinations of metal-oxygen-metal bonds, inherently affecting magnetic interactions based on factors such as coordination geometry, valence, and the types of surrounding metal cations. This results in a wide range of intriguing magnetic responses.

FOMAG proposes the utilization of FS, RFS, and MPFS techniques in producing HEOs with magnetic properties, capitalizing on the inherent advantages of these techniques, particularly in achieving high density in systems where this is particularly challenging.

Water is one of the natural resources that, due to its limited and variable nature, both in quantity and quality, should be protected with special intensity, in line with the Environmental Objectives that support the ecological transition: sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, circular economy, pollution prevention and control, and protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. Studies realized in collaboration with the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, the urban point sources are the pressures that in most cases are the cause of non-compliance
with the environmental quality objectives established by the DMA. This non-compliance are mainly related to microbiological contamination in the receiving waters of these discharges.
Generally, as there is no legal requirement, wastewater treatment facilities do not include disinfection processes that reduce the microbiological load of effluents and, consequently, these agents are incorporated into natural waters, limiting the usemade of them, especially in supplying populations and recreational use (bathing and others). Likewise, such contamination in wastewater limits the possibility of its subsequent reuse, reducing the capacity to increase the availability of water resources. It is important to remark that, water reuse for agricultural irrigation can also contribute to circular economy by recovering nutrients from the reclaimed water and applying them to crops, by means of fertigation techniques. Thus, water reuse could potentially reduce the need for supplemental applications of mineral fertilizer.
Therefore, it is necessary to intensify the wastewater treatment efficiency by non-conventional processes that improve the treated water quality with the final objective of allowing a safe reuse of effluents, taking into account the regulation (EU) 2020/741. On the other hand, the control of more microbiological parameters is essential for a correct analysis of the technologies application. Aware of this need, the AySA group has been developing research projects for many years focus on the research about conventional and non-conventional processes, based on photocatalytic processes, applied for disinfection waters and about the microbiological control in urban wastewater treatment plants. The main objective of this project is to select the best technology for disinfection of treated urban wastewater for full-scale application by the improvement of previously studied advanced oxidation processes in the disinfection of these type of waters. Furthermore, the microbiological control, not only by bacterial indicators conventionally used but also protozoa and endosymbiotic bacteria that are inside amoebae, is consider very relevant in this project since to our knowledge, there are no studies investigating such a wide range of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. This realistic approach is expected to minimise the impact on the receiving waters and increase the possibility of reuse, reducing the the health and environmental risk.

CO2 emissions currently represent the 77% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin. It provokes a gradual increase in global warming of our planet with catastrophic environmental consequences. There is no doubt about the need to promote a transition toward an economy avoiding the intensive use of fossil fuels, i.e., using the electricity generated from renewable sources as primary source of energy, and favoring alternative and more sustainable chemical processes. The project "Development of intermittent plasmas ignited by renewable electricity for the CO2 splitting and revalorization processes", RENOVACO2, aims at developing atmospheric plasma technologies that use electricity as a direct energy vector to induce chemical processes that are currently carried out through catalytic techniques (i.e., at high pressures and temperatures, using harmful and non-recyclable catalysts). RENOVACO2 is a multidisciplinary project that pursuits the development of novel physical processes for the elimination and revalorization of CO2, especially designed and optimized for their activation by means of renovably energy sources. The proposed technology consist of using atmospheric pressure plasmas to induce chemical reactions in non-equilibrium conditions at atmospheric pressure and in a distributed way.

The main objective of the MOTHERESE project is the development of a new concept of thermochemical energy storage based on the "Calcium-Looping" process. The novelty of the concept lies in scaling down the storage component and making it modular, easily integrated in power generation plants of different nature, storable and mobile. Subproject 2 focuses on aspects related to the development of materials suitable for these new operating conditions, as well as their optimization at this new scale.
The aim is to address the development of these materials with emphasis on preparation techniques that favor morphologies and microstructures that optimize (i) the kinetics of solid-gas reactions, in order to reduce residence times, (ii) multicyclic stability, minimizing deactivation by sintering and pore blocking, and (iii) active surface area, maximizing the amount of reagent available for conversion in each cycle. This will be achieved by using freeze casting and freeze granulation techniques, particularly suitable for the fabrication of ceramic structures with open porosity and directed morphology. The use of additives to improve the performance of the material is also considered. Finally, the integration of the active material and additives of high thermal conductivity in stable three-dimensional structures is contemplated, which not only improve the cyclability and efficiency of the active material but also ensure fast and efficient heat transfer, necessary for the modular system. Finally, new operating conditions compatible with the new scale will be explored, from low pressures to high pressures of up to 5 bar, always maintaining a closed cycle that avoids the need for gas separation.
MOTHERESE is committed to the circular economy, and therefore aims to use by-products and waste from other industries as a source of additives and even of the active material itself, CaO, favoring the use of waste. These include steel mill slag, biogenic carbonates (mollusks), cellulosic materials and rice husks (source of SiO₂).
To address these objectives, the subproject has a multidisciplinary team of chemists, engineers, physicists and materials specialists with experience in the management and participation in national and international research projects, including relevant projects focused on thermochemical energy storage. In addition, the team has an international network of academic and industrial collaborators that would allow in the exploitation of the results obtained and the proposal of new international projects in this same line.

DropEner aims to develop rain panels, that is, energy collectors from drops that, based on the principle of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), work in outdoor conditions and can be manufactured through scalable and high-performance technologies. The project will demonstrate the application of an innovative concept recently patented by the group Nanotechnology on Surfaces and Plasma (CSIC-US), "Tixel", on the collection of kinetic energy from drops in instant contact with a triboelectric surface integrated into a condenser-like architecture. Therefore, the main objective is to develop a drop energy harvesting panel based on the first TENG of nano and microstructured architectures capable of generating high power density by implementing triboelectric nanogenerator arrays at the microscale, where each nanogenerator produces hundreds of microwatts of power when a high-velocity, high-energy raindrop strikes its surface. The total power output would be equivalent to the sum of the power produced by the individual systems and could potentially reach hundreds of watts per square meter when a well-designed high density array is manufactured. In addition, in a step further in the state of the art for the exploitation of solid-liquid drop energy harvesters, DropEner pursues the development of durable and transparent Tixels fully compatible with solar cells, including Silicon and Third Generation technologies. (such as dye solar cells and perovskite solar cells). The expected advances cover aspects such as the development of surfaces with super-wettability, the exploitation of scalable production routes and processing of materials, the manufacture of transparent drop energy harvesters, the proof of concept of novel designs of triboelectric nanogenerators and the management of energy in multi-source intermittent energy collection systems.

Following the directions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), it is mandatory to take action on this by pursuing affordable and clean energy alternatives (goal 7) to favour sustainable cities and communities (goal 11) while mitigating climate change (goal 13). Indeed, Horizon Europe prioritises low and zero carbon technologies as key objectives for next generation Europe. Based on these premises, biomass, and in particular biomass residues, represent a promising substitute for fossil fuels and an excellent feedstock for low-carbon fuels manufacturing. During its short life cycle, all carbon in biomass comes from the atmosphere and soil and is liberated into the environment when it is burned. Therefore, biomass is considered a carbon-neutral fuel. In addition, biomass-derived fuels are high energy density hydrocarbons which are ideal for aviation, maritime and heavy-duty vehicles in contrast to batteries and electrochemical devices which are suitable for lighter applications and hence complementary to biofuels. In plain words we cannot fly an aircraft on batteries for long distances, but we can power it with sustainable biofuels. Hence biofuels from biomass are meant to play a key role in decarbonising the transport sector. Furthermore, offering a second life to bio-residues is crucial for some communities (i.e. farming and agri-sector) whose market horizons can be expanded by turning a problem “waste” into a profitable “biofuel precursors”. Herein, SMART-FTS is bringing disruptive concepts on biofuel production from bio-syngas to push forward transport decarbonisation in harmony with the circular economy strategy

The overall objective of this project is the development of new contrast agents (CAs) to improve medical diagnostics using two advanced imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and persistent luminescence (PersL) imaging. Specifically, it is planned to develop dual MRI (T1-T2) CAs and PersL bioprobes. The advantage of dual MRI CAs over classical MRI CAs is that they allow two types of resonance images (T1-and T2 weighted images) to be obtained with a single agent. Obtaining both images is very useful as it allows avoiding false positives by cross-validation of both images. On the other hand, the use of probes with PersL significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the luminescence image since, by irradiating the probe outside the organism, autofluorescence of the tissues is avoided. An additional advantage of this type of luminescent probes is that they avoid direct irradiation of living tissues with harmful ultraviolet light. Both types of CAs (MRI and PersL CAs) will consist of uniform nanoparticles (NPs) based on various carefully selected inorganic matrices containing lanthanide ions, whose excellent magnetic and luminescent properties make them ideal candidates for the pursued applications. For MRI CAs, two types of architectures will be addressed, consisting of single-phase nanoparticles (NPs), where the T2 (Dy3+) and T1 (Gd3+ or Mn2+) active cations are in solid solution, and NPs with core-shell architecture, where the T2 ions will be located in the core while the active ions for T1 imaging will be located in the shell. In both cases, phosphate, vanadate and molybdate matrices will be tested, which have been shown to be suitable in the case of T1 or T2 single MRI CAs. In the case of PersL probes, several compounds that have shown excellent luminescence properties in terms of both intensity and persistence duration as bulk materials, will be synthesized as uniform NPs. Specifically, various germanate and gallate matrices doped with lanthanide ions (Pr3+, Yb3+), that emit infrared light within the biological windows, where the radiation is not absorbed by biological tissues or fluids thus improving the penetration depth, will be addressed. Both types of CAs (MRI and PersL CAs) will be submitted to functionalization and bioconjugation processes to provide them with colloidal stability and tumor-specific recognition capabilities. Their biocompatibility will also be tested by studying their cytotoxicity in specific cell lines. Finally, the optimal probes obtained will be applied to MRI and PersL imaging, both in vitro and in vivo, using mice as a model. The research team has extensive experience in the synthesis of lanthanide-based inorganic NPs and has most of the necessary means for their morphological, structural and chemical characterization, as well as for the study of their luminescent properties. In addition, this team has the support of researchers from other institutions who will collaborate in the development of some of the tasks, mainly with regard to bioconjugation, biocompatibility and image recording studies, which guarantees the correct development of the project.

Water resources, global warming and the decline of fossil fuels are three of the main challenges that we as a society will have to address in the next decade. Solutions to these challenges rely on the development of new technologies that allow the efficient use and reuse of water resources, as well as on new, high power and high energy density storage systems to be coupled with renewable sources. These two seemingly unrelated topics currently rely on one technology: carbon adsorbents and electrodes. Both desalination and purification systems as well as supercapacitors and batteries use materials that are based on carbon, their structure modified through physical and/or chemical processes.  Biomass is a cheap, widely available precursor for carbon materials, which can be obtained by pyrolysis. Both the choice of biomass as well as the actual process will determine the final properties of the carbon electrode, which can be tailored for targeted applications.
Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging desalination technology with tunable salt removal levels, that uses a small voltage applied across two carbon electrodes to remove ions from solution by means of Electrosorption. The small amount of energy required means that such a system can be powered by a solar panel, making this technology useful in portable and deployable systems.  Supercapacitors and batteries also rely on adsorption and/or intercalation mechanisms to store electric charge, in a process that is essentially the same but with a different final target as CDI. Both technologies rely on the use of carbon electrodes, with properties and structure tailored to each of the applications.
This proposal’s main objective is to use biomass residue as a precursor to develop tailored carbon electrodes for electrochemical applications related to energy and environmental technologies, with a focus on two main applications: energy storage in supercapacitor systems and batteries, and desalination via CDI. The main proposed synthesis approach for this electrodes will be the pyrolysis of biomass precursors, with a focus on biomass waste products such as grain husks, peels, pits and stones and other organic waste. In the case of monolithic electrodes, wood and wood-derived fiberboards will be the main focus. Chemical methods will be developed to functionalize the resulting carbons, to improve their capacitance or ion selectivity.
We will build a CDI testing rig to determine desalination behavior, and to correlate this with microscopic information obtained from advanced techniques such as electron microscopy, total scattering diffraction experiments, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, and others. We will test the electrochemical energy storage behavior and correlate it with structural properties and processing conditions. Our goal will be to optimize carbon electrodes derived from biomass for targeted applications, and to develop a menu of biomass derived carbon materials.

Biomass derived carbon materials will play a key role in several energy conversion and storage technologies in the future, with application in supercapacitors and batteries, power-to-X systems (fuel cells and electrolyzers), CO2 and H2 storage. Large amounts of biomass waste are generated in local agrofood industries. Among these wastes, the overall estimated production of olive stones in Spain is approximately 1,050,000–1,400,000 tons per year (campaign of 2017). The main use of this byproduct has been as solid biofuel for domestic applications, but given its abundance and low cost, this project presents an opportunity to convert what is considered waste into an added value product.

This proposal’s main objective is to develop tailored carbon materials for applications related to energy and environmental technologies, with a focus on three main applications: i) electrochemical energy storage; ii) catalyst supports in fuel cells and electrolyzers; iii) and gas storage and capture, with a focus on both hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage and separation processes. The main proposed synthesis approach for these materials will be the pyrolysis of biomass precursors, with a focus on biomass waste products such as grain husks, peels, pits and stones and other organic waste. A first objective will be to perform a survey of readily available biomass waste materials from regional agrofood industries. A second objective will be the investigation and optimization of pyrolysis and activation routes to obtain carbon materials with tailored properties for each of the applications targeted in this project. Lastly, a third objective is to assess the applicability and the potential for the application of these materials at commercial scale.

Extensive physical and chemical characterization of the obtained carbon materials will be performed and testing of the resulting materials for the targeted applications will allow us to tailor the processing parameters. A scale-up analysis, with definition of materials integration and systems configurations will be performed by means of simulations, as well as technological and industrial applicability evaluation and assessment of the feasibility of the proposed approach in the large scale. BioMatStor develops R&D at different levels of application: fundamental for materials science characterization and manufacturing, and applied science for energy storage systems modeling and characterization. This Project combines Materials Science and Energy Engineering with the goal of obtaining highly performing materials for a wide range of applications in energy production and storage. Such a proposal requires a multidisciplinary approach, as evidenced in the research team and collaborators. We propose a multidisciplinary approach which has its foundation in scientific excellence, responds to societal challenges and may result in a significant technology transfer to the industry. This project also addresses the socio-strategic goals of Horizon 2020 as it aims to contribute to the improvement of our environment through advanced science and multidisciplinary research. It is fully aligned with the objectives and policies of European Union, the Energy Union Energy, H2020, SET Plan and Andalucía region RIS3 objectives.

A pesar del drástico cambio que la ingeniería de tejidos o las terapias con células madre han introducido en las estrategias terapéuticas actuales, todavía existe una falta de funcionalidades en los biomateriales disponibles para el desarrollo de scaffolds para diversas patologías (grandes defectos osteocondrales, osteoporosis, etc.) que afectan a una gran parte de la población. PIZAM aborda este reto aportando scaffolds piezoeléctricos innovadores mediante Fabricación Aditiva (FA) basada en extrusión de material para mejorar la regeneración ósea. Los scaffolds con piezoelectricidad apropiada son capaces de influir positivamente en el proceso de proliferación y diferenciación de células mesenquimales para la regeneración de hueso, ya que existe evidencia científica de la relevancia que tienen las cargas eléctricas superficiales en el proceso de mecanotransducción por el cual las cargas mecánicas influyen sobre la respuesta biomolecular en el tejido óseo (material piezoeléctrico).

Para ello, PIZAM desarrollará materiales innovadores basados en compuestos nanoestructurados conteniendo Ba(Ti,Zr)O3-(Ba,Ca)TiO3 (nanopartículas de óxido cerámico sin plomo con estructura de perovskita). Estos materiales piezoeléctricos se suelen sintetizar mediante una reacción de estado sólido a alta temperatura o métodos basados en disoluciones, que son complejos, costosos y poco respetuosos con el medio ambiente. En PIZAM, la cerámica piezoeléctrica nanoestructurada se obtendrá por mecanosíntesis, una alternativa ecológica con menores costos de producción, desechos y consumo de energía. Las nanopartículas producidas se dispersarán en dos matrices poliméricas: PVDF (biocompatible y con elevada piezoelectricidad) y PLA (biocompatible, biorreabsorbible, baja toxicidad, alto rendimiento mecánico y con cristalinidad/piezoelectricidad ajustable).

Los materiales desarrollados serán procesados para obtener pellets/polvos que se utilizarán como materia prima para la producción de filamentos por extrusión. Estos filamentos se someterán a pruebas de procesabilidad en un equipo de FA de extrusión de material para optimizar los parámetros del proceso mediante algoritmos genéticos e interpolación Kriging. Durante las etapas de fabricación, se llevarán a cabo diferentes caracterizaciones para analizar el efecto de estos procesos en las propiedades fisicoquímicas/piezoeléctricas.

A continuación, se llevará a cabo un proceso de optimización del diseño de los scaffolds para la regeneración del tejido óseo mediante análisis por elementos finitos y algoritmos genéticos. Las estructuras óptimas se producirán por FA y se caracterizarán (propiedades mecánicas y piezoeléctricas). En el caso de scaffolds basados en PLA, se evaluará la evolución de estas propiedades a lo largo del tiempo de degradación. Aprovechando el efecto piezoeléctrico, se realizará una evaluación de las capacidades de los scaffolds para la monitorización en tiempo real.

Por último, el rendimiento biológico de los scaffolds se confirmará mediante un modelo in vitro con células mesenquimales y diferentes estímulos mecánicos para activar el efecto piezoeléctrico: una evaluación inicial sin estimulación (control); estimulación por ultrasonidos; y estimulación en un biorreactor de perfusión. Se analizará la proliferación, viabilidad y diferenciación de las células madre para comprender la relación en el proceso de mecanotransducción y su efecto en la respuesta biológica de los scaffolds.

GENIUS proposes an innovative approach to transform biogenic residues into a valuable bioenergy carrier. The proposal is based on the combination of modified mature technologies, e.g. gasification, with first-time approached solutions as the continuous aqueous-phase reforming of tars that compromises downstream processes, usually the bottlenecks for upgrading catalytic processes.
The combination of microchannel reactor technologies with state-of-the-art multifunctional catalysts will provide a path to increase the wealth of rural communities on proposing a decentralized approach allowing territory-based solutions for agricultural residues or marginal lands production.
ENIUS focus in the system perspective demanded in HORIZON EUROPE keeping in mind the Objectives for Sustainable Development and industry decarbonisation. GENIUS will be delivered in 24 months under a comprehensive research program with strong international cooperation and social-scientific impact

The project aims to design multimodal contrast agents (CAs) for medical diagnostic imaging. The CAs will consist of lanthanide-based inorganic nanoparticles with properties suitable for different bioimaging techniques. The CAs developed will allow obtaining a more rigorous medical diagnosis without the need to inject the patient with several technique-specific CAs. An additional advantage of the proposed probes over commercial CAs is that they allow control of the residence time in the body and their biodistribution, and thus reduce the doses needed, resulting in a clear benefit for the patient. Specifically, dual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) CAs will be developed with additional functionality as contrast agents for X-ray computed tomography (CT) and luminescence imaging in the near-infrared (NIR) region known as the biological window (650-1800 nm), where radiation is not harmful to tissues and has high tissue penetration power. Several compositions will be tested: phosphates, vanadates, molybdates, and volframates of lanthanide elements such as Gd, Dy, and Ho, which will provide the magnetic functionality and whose high atomic number is optimal for CT. Doping all of them with Nd3+ will allow luminescent imaging in the NIR. The applicability of these probes to medical imaging will be explored by in vivo imaging in mice.

Spain is one the European countries with the largest solar irradiation and world leader in concentrated solar power (CSP). A significant advantage of CSP technology is its ability to store thermal energy to be used when there is no irradiation. Last generation CSP plants include a storage system based on molten salts (Sensible Heat Storage) that show certain limitations: maximum temperature limited by thermal degradation, storage at high temperature to prevent solidification, corrosion, costs. In our CTQ2017 project we investigated on thermochemical energy storage by calcination (carbonation reactions, calcium looping (CaL) process, using limestone, which is abundant, cheap, non-corrosive, and allows high temperature operation, increasing the thermoelectric efficiency of the plant. Its energy density (~1 MWhr/m3) is larger than that of salts (0.25-0.40 MWhr/m3). A limitation of CaLfor energy storage is the deactivation of CaO with the increasing number of cycles. In our project CTQ20, we proposed several imporvement strategies for achiving high performance: (i) change of calcination/carbonation conditions (calcination temperature decrease and carbonation temperature increase) and (ii) proposal of other carbonates different from limestone, use of additives, use of wastematerials (slags) and low-cost synthetic materials. These lab results are of great interest for its application in CSP, but it requires of validation in a relevant environment. In this project we propose the scale up of the lab results by tests in a pilot plant, the test of a new solar calcinator and the evaluation of the technical-economic feasibility of the technology on an industrial scale. Furthermore, a proof of concept of a novel solar power based cyclone type heat exchanger/reactor will be achive within the project. The concentrated solar radiation will reach the cyclone-type solar calciner through a beam-down system (secondary solar concentrator) from the solar field, made up of 14 heliostats with a total area of 30 m2 from the pilot plant built within the framework of the H2020 SOCRATCES project, in which most of the members of the research team of the coordinated project have participated. The study and development of this proof of concept will make it possible to establish the viability of the design and demonstrate their interest to companies in the energy and cement sectors with a view to a future integration of solar energy in search of a reduction in costs and CO2 emissions. It is based on studies at the concept level developed in the CTQ2017 project with a level of technological maturity TRL 4, and it is estimated that it will advance to levels TRL 5-6. An analysis of the economic viability of the implementation of the new concepts proposed in the framework of the CTQ2017 project will be carried out and a transfer plan will be drawn up. This plan will include the actions to be carried out to favor an effective transfer to the industrial sector. In addition, given the potential for patentability of the technology object of the project, once tested on a relevant scale (proof of concept), a plan for the exploitation and protection of intellectual rights will be developed

This project will carry out various studies and developments related to the CO2 hydrogenation reaction for Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and light hydrocarbons production. Thus, methanation and the so-called modified Fischer-Tropsch to olefins (FTO) reactions are becoming very interesting processes under an economic, energy and environmental point of view. Furthermore, the use of green hydrogen as a reducing agent, obtained in turn from renewable sources, represents, in addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, a way of storing energy from renewable sources, many of which are intermittent and therefore difficult to match with consumption needs.
With all this in mind, this project pursues a multi-catalytic approach comprising thermal-catalysis and thermal photocatalysis in order to achieve high performances, high sustainability and with the lowest costs of production, oriented in all case to a final industrial application. On the other hand, development and optimization of the catalytic materials, considering new heterogeneous catalytic systems based on Ni, Fe, Co, Ru, Au, Pd among other metals, which have shown great potential for this hydrogenation reactions in recent years. Regarding to the catalytic materials, micro and mesoporous supports of variable composition (zeolites, SBA-15, etc.) will be selected, as well as others based on oxides and ABO3 perovskites. For this purpose, a series of recently described preparation techniques will be used (microwave crystallization, autocombustion process, mesostructuring by nanocasting and hierarchical porosity) that allow to obtain high specific surface systems and controlled nanostructure. The combination of different elements in positions A and B of the perovskite structure, which act both as promoters of catalytic systems and as precursors of metal alloys in reduced catalytic systems, will make it possible to obtain materials with tunable, highly varied and versatile catalytic properties.

This project is part of the ENERCATH2 coordinated project that aims to integrate a multi reaction catalytic strategy for green-hydrogen and energy related vectors production and use from biomass in order to contribute to the development of sustainable energy technologies that replace current ones derived from fossil sources. Specifically, ICMS project focuses on the production of formic acid as hydrogen related vector Formic acid is a liquid chemical compound with a high gravimetric energy density, which can be safely stored, transported and manipulated using existing hydrocarbon distribution infrastructure.

The main objective of the project is formic acid generation from lignocellulosic biomass and its subsequent dehydrogenation to green hydrogen. For this purpose, it will be intended to develop a series of novel catalysts, preferably based on biomass-derived carbons and/or on non-noble transition metals (V, Ni, Cu, Co etc), active, selective and stable for i) direct and selective oxidation of lignocellulosic biomass, using glucose as representing molecule, either towards the massive production of formic acid, or towards the production of a mixture of formic and co-product levulinic acid, which serves as a starting point for the generation of intermediate platform products and commodities of industrial interest in the production of fuels and polymers and for ii) the dehydrogenation of formic acid, both in liquid and gas phase, for the production of CO-free hydrogen streams.

After the stages of preparation-functionalization and reaction, the catalysts will be structurally and chemically characterized using a wide variety of techniques available by the whole consortium (XRD, XPS, SEM, HRTEM, Raman, DRIFTS, TPR/TPD, TGA, UV-Vis, Textural Analysis). These results, in addition to the in-situ/operando DRIFTS and ATR spectroscopic ones will give us fundamental information of the reaction mechanisms, allowing to establish structure-activity relationships for the studied reactions. The knowledge of these relationships will contribute to the understanding and optimization of the designed catalysts, and the catalytic process involved on the production of sustainable energy vectors proposed in the project.

The motivation of the FreeDot project is three-fold. First, to propose solutions to the specific drawbacks hindering further development of perovskite optoelectronic technology (instability, durability, environmental sensitivity, etc.) by developing nanostructured solar cells and LEDs based on novel porous scaffolds that permit the synthesis of ligand-free nanocrystal assemblies, which show dot-to-dot charge transport while, simultaneously, minimizing their exposure to degrading environments. Second, to prove that improved power conversion efficiency, in the case of solar cells, and enhanced outcoupling and control over the spectral and directional properties of the emitted light, in the case of LEDs, are achievable through the optimization of the optical design also for quantum dot based devices. Finally, the synthesis of ligand-free nanocrystals opens the possibility to study fundamental photophysical properties of quantum dots, which are hindered by the presence of organic cappings in colloidal nanocrystals.

Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, PERSEPHONe is a coordinated training network that aims to equip young researchers with new skills and knowledge regarding the development of a novel photonics technological platform based on metal-halide perovskite semiconductors. These materials present unrivalled optoelectronic properties and can be engineered to achieve a large set of desirable functionalities which may change the roadmap of currently established photonic technologies. They also show great promise for their integration with silicon photonics and silicon-oxynitride-based photonics. The programme will expose 14 early-stage researchers to a wide spectrum of research activities including material synthesis, photonic (and optoelectronic) device and integrated circuit fabrication, characterisation, modelling, upscaling and manufacturing. PERSEPHONe will lay the foundation for a novel photonic technology, strengthening Europe’s position in the field.

The CeramFLASH project proposes the novel ceramic processing techniques Flash Sintering (FS) and Reaction Flash Sintering (RFS) for the synthesis and preparation of ceramics with technological interest such as solid electrolytes, piezoelectric or hard ceramics. These techniques allow the preparation of ceramic materials in mere seconds at significantly lower temperatures than required by conventional sintering techniques simply by circulating a small electric current under moderate electric fields. This advantage makes it possible to reduce the considerable energy consumption required current ceramic processing techniques. Additionally, it facilitates the preparation of ceramics difficult to obatin in dense and nanostructured form by conventional methods, such as compounds of low thermal stability or compounds that require very high sintering temperatures.
Finally, CeramFLASH aims to use alternating fields with oscillation frequency as well as intelligent control methods based on the sample response to improve the control of microstructural characteristics of resulting ceramics. Although the FS technique was first discovered only 8 years ago, and the RFS was first proposed in 2018 by our group, there is rising interest in this process due to its great scientific and technological potential.

ADVENTURE represents a new concept to convert biogas from organic waste into high-value industrial chemicals such as acetic acid (AA) in an environmentally and economically viable manner. AA is a precursor for many fine chemical compounds with a wide range of applications including paints and coatings manufacturing, plastics and water-based adhesives production among many others, representing a very versatile platform molecule for the chemical industry. Traditionally, AA is produced at a commercial scale through an indirect route with a considerable global CO2 footprint. In this regard, the main target of ADVENTURE is to re-design the AA production route introducing biogas as initial feedstock - a completely new approach that synergises CO2 utilisation with fine chemicals synthesis.

In this context, ADVENTURE will tackle three main challenges: (i) A global challenge the environmental concerns associated with the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG); (ii) An industrial opportunity the problem of economic sustainability of the biogas industry by offering viable pathways for conversion of low-value feedstock into added-value biochemicals at industrial scale; and (iii) A fundamental scientific challenge the inexistence of AA production from biogas, by introducing two new revolutionary routes for AA production: an intensified indirect route using microchannel reactors and a direct route enabled by plasma catalysis. In order to accomplish these ambitious goals, a new generation of advanced multifunctional catalysts able to deliver the targeted products with high activity, selectivity and long-term durability will be designed to guarantee the success ADVENTURE.

Solar cells – devices that transform sunlight into electricity – are of vital interest for the sustainable future of the planet. During the last years and aware of this fact, the scientific community has made a great effort to improve the efficiency of these devices. A particular example of a solar cell that contains an organometallic halide perovskite as light absorber has focused the attention of the scientific community during the last decade due, above all, to its high efficiency and low cost. This solar cell technology is a promising alternative to currently existing ones (based on Si and chalcogenides), although they face a scientific and technological challenge that has not been solved in 10 years since its discovery: for the commercial realization of the perovskite cells possible, they need to achieve higher stability, durability and reproducibility. The main problem lies in the high sensitivity of these perovskites to oxygen and environmental humidity, which produce a rapid degradation of the cell’s behaviour in an extremely short time, making commercialization unfeasible.

DuraSol seeks to address this great scientific and technological challenge by manufacturing cell components using vacuum and plasma technology. These methodologies are industrially scalable and present great advantages over solution methods (the most used), among which are: their high versatility, control of composition and microstructure, low cost, environmentally friendly since they do not require solvents, do not produce pollutant emissions and are compatible with current semiconductor technology.
The main objective of DuraSol is the fabrication of waterproof perovskite solar cells by integrating components manufactured by vacuum and plasma methodologies in the form of thin films and nanostructures, which act as hydrophobic sealants. The viability of DuraSol is based on recent results that demonstrate that plasma-assisted synthesis of different components of the solar cell can be one of the most promising ways to increase its stability and durability, which is today the bottleneck that prevents their commercialization. It is worth to highlight that there is no example in the literature about this synthetic approach, and this opportunity is expected to demonstrate the advantages and versatility of this innovative methodology in a field of very high impact. The research proposed in DuraSol falls within the priority areas of the European Union Horizon 2021-2027 program and responds to several of the challenges proposed in this call for “Energía segura, eficiente y limpia” (Challenge 3) and “Cambio climático y utilización de recursos y materias primas” (Challenge 5).

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are one of the most promising and environmentally friendly technologies for the efficient generation of electricity from natural gas and other fossil fuels (hydrocarbons). SOFCs prevent direct fuel combustion, resulting in much higher conversion efficiencies than those obtained by thermomechanical methods. However, various technical difficulties such as the poisoning of the anodes by hydrocarbons, the chemical stability and mechanical integrity of the electrolytes and the high operating temperature, which reduces the selection of materials and makes the technology more expensive, have prevented their large-scale exploitation. A vital component in SOFCs is the anode, where the electrocatalytic reactions that convert the chemical energy of the fuel into electrical current take place. The main problems faced by anodes are related to (i) their durability, (ii) gas diffusion and electrical transport and (iii) resistance to chemical poisoning by carbon and sulfur present in hydrocarbons. Another critical component is the electrolyte, which allows the diffusion of oxide ions from the cathode to the anode. The main characteristics that the electrolyte must present are (i) high ionic conductivity, but negligible electronic conductivity, (ii) good mechanical properties and (iii) stability in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres. Therefore, the wide application and use of this clean technology requires the use of materials for anodes and electrolytes with physicochemical and mechanical properties that allow overcoming the current limitations. The present project aims to address some of the problems discussed above through the development of new anodes resistant to poisoning in the presence of hydrocarbons and the use of electrolytes with improved mechanical properties thanks to the design of new architectures. In this context, the cheap, versatile and simple synthesis by mechanochemical methods of new anodes based on double perovskites of composition PrBaMn2-jXjO5+δ (PBMXO), with X = Mn, Co, Ni, or Fe and 0 < j <0.5, and the design and manufacture of laminated electrolytes with mechanical reliability, without compromising their ionic conductivity, are proposed.

Icing on surfaces is commonplace in nature and industry and too often causes catastrophic events. SOUNDofICE ultimate goal is to overcome costly and environmentally harmful de-icing methods with a pioneering strategy based on the surface engineering of MHz Acoustic Waves for a smart and sustainable removal of ice. This technology encompasses the autonomous detection and low-energy-consuming removal of accreted ice on any material and geometry. For the first time, both detection and de-icing will share the same operating principle. The visionary research program covers the modeling of surface wave atom excitation of ice aggregates, integration of acoustic transducers on large areas, and the development of surface engineering solutions to stack micron-size interdigitated electrodes together with different layers providing efficient wave propagation, anti-icing capacity, and aging resistance. We will demonstrate that this de-icing strategy surpasses existing methods in performance, multifunctionality, and capacity of integration on industrially relevant substrates as validated with proof of concept devices suited for the aeronautic and wind power industries. SOUNDofICE high-risks will be confronted by a strongly interdisciplinary team from five academic centers covering both the fundamental and applied aspects. Two SMEs with first-hand experience in icing will be in charge of testing this technology and its future transfer to key EU players in aeronautics, renewable energy, and household appliances. An Advisory Board incorporating relevant companies will contribute to effective dissemination and benchmarking. The flexibility of the R&D plan, multidisciplinarity, and assistance of the AdB guarantee the success of this proposal, bringing up a unique opportunity for young academia leaders and SMEs from five different countries to strengthen the EU position on a high fundamental and technological impact field, just on the moment when the climate issues are of maxima importance.

*Participantes
- INMA: Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, Spain
-UNIZAR: Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
-TECPAR: Fundacja Partnerstwa Technologicznego Technology Partners;  Poland
- IFW: Leibniz-Institut Fuer Festkoerper- Und Werkstoffforschung Dresden E.V.;  Germany
-TAU: Tampereen Korkeakoulusaatio SR;  Finland
- INTA: Instituto Nacional De Tecnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas; Spain
- Villinger: VILLINGER GMBH,  Austria
- EnerOcean: EnerOcean S.L.,  Spain

PROCEX is aimed at the Social Challenge 3 “Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy”. It aims to open a new pathway for high-efficiency reversible electrolyzers for intermediate temperatures (around 500ºC). Its successful development would open a very promising pathway for energy storage systems in PV and Wind facilities with outstanding characteristics, round-trip efficiencies (75% or higher), and Energy Returned On Investment (>10). These values are much higher than those that can be reached with state of art of thermal energy storage systems. Besides, such a high efficiency concept electrolyzer would have a huge field of application for H2 production and application in the chemical industry. To develop such systems, several materials challenges need to be solved. In particular, novel electrolytes formulations with reduced electronic conductivities are needed.  

The project is aimed at the identification and demonstration of new proton conducting ceramic materials that will have reduced electronic leakages in electrolysis operation, based on doping and co-doping strategies in barium cerate and zirconate systems. Emphasis will be placed not only in improving the efficiency but also the durability of such materials. The project will demonstrate the manufacturing of material and electrolyte at laboratory level and it will study the main reaction mechanisms developing models for their understanding and to support the pathways for concept application and scaling up. The project departs from results presented in literature this year that are fully aligned with capacities and previous experience of the participating R&D teams. The project will go further from these results extending the material compositions to develop, tailoring them to specific applications, widening the understanding of the reactions mechanisms and the effects of materials as well to the operation in the materials (i.e. degradation and aging effects). From this approach, within the project new models are expected to be developed and validated and the integration of the concept in different applications will be assessed. The ambition of the project requires a multidisciplinary approach that is developed by two R&D teams, from Material Science and Energy Engineering areas with all the capacities required for the successful development of the project: manufacturing, testing modelling and develop the new concepts and with expertise in materials processing and characterization, electrochemical models, and energy storage systems. 

This project will carry out several studies and developments related to the reduction of CO2 to valuable products, such as methane, light olefins, gasolines and other functionalized hydrocarbons, of economic, energetic and environmental interest. The use of hydrogen as a reducing agent, obtained from renewable sources, in addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, is a way to store energy from renewable sources, many of which are intermittent and therefore difficult to match with consumption needs.
    Therefore, this project proposes the development of new heterogeneous catalytic systems based on Ni, Fe, Co, Ru and In, among other metals, which have shown in recent years a great potential for this hydrogenation reaction. Given the bifunctional character of the reaction mechanisms involved in these reactions, micro and mesoporous supports of variable composition (zeolites, SBA-15, etc.) will be selected, as well as others based on ABO3 perovskite structure. For this purpose, a series of recently described preparation techniques (Microwave Crystallization, Self-Combustion Process, Mesostructuring by Nanocasting and Hierarchical Porosity) will be used to obtain systems with high specific surface area and controlled nanostructure. The combination of different elements in the A and B positions of the perovskite structure, acting both as promoting agents of the catalytic systems and as precursors of metallic alloys in the reduced catalytic systems, will allow obtaining materials with modulable, varied and versatile catalytic properties.

http://matproner.icms.us-csic.es/projects/

This project is focused on the performance of new CaO-based materials during calcination/carbonation cycles (Ca-Looping) under realistic energy storage conditions in concentrated solar power plants (CSP).

In order to simulate realistic conditions, thermogravimetric instruments are used, which are able of employing high heating and cooling rates and different atmospheres of gases. In this way, the results obtained are truly representative and can be extrapolated to practical operating conditions in CSP plants. The multicycle reactivity of limestone and dolomite samples is studied. These samples are modified by mechanical and acetic acid treatments that can improve their reactivity. Moreover, it has been shown that the presence of MgO in calcined dolomite thermally stabilizes CaO. Synthetic dolomites with different MgO content are prepared by mechanical treatments and co-precipitation in order to find the optimal amount of MgO that improves the multicycle activity of CaO. Other materials in which the carbonation temperature can be increased, such as SrCO3 and BaCO3, are also studied, which would further increase the thermoelectric efficiency of CSP plants with thermochemical energy storage.

A relevant aspect of SOLACAL is that the results obtained will be transferred directly to the CSP-CaL demonstration plant that is being built in Seville within the H2020 SOCRATCES project, started in 2018 and coordinated by the University of Seville.

This project is part of the current trend for future technologies of Carbon dioxide Capture and Utilization (CCU). His interest lies in a direct use of atmospheric CO2 to store green hydrogen (produced with the help of renewable energies) as formic acid directly used as an energy vector. From an environmental point of view, the development of this technology would make possible the preservation of the CO2 footprint during the complete cycle of energy generation, storage and release, without generating more greenhouse gases. The possibility of storing hydrogen in this way would facilitate its transport and its use in diverse applications, both mobile and stationary. Indirectly, this technology would rationalize the storage of renewable energies, making them independent of climatic conditions. This project aims to study the feasibility of the technology based on the development of one unique stable and selective catalyst for both, hydrogen charge and discharge cycles (CO2 / HCOOH).

The International Energy Agency considers that the systematic use of autonomous procedures for environmental control is one of the best technological approaches to minimize the energy employed to cool down buildings and other urban structures (it represents more than 40% of the global energy use in developed countries, much above the use in transportation, for instance), thus reducing the environmental impact and improving human comfort. TOLERANCE aims at introducing and developing a technology based on thermochromic materials in Andalusia as a smart and autonomous element to control the penetration of solar radiation in buildings.  This project focusses on various applications such as smart windows in buildings and urban furniture, improvement of sanitary water systems or environmental control in greenhouses. While at low temperatures, a thermochromic coating transmits most solar spectrum, it selectively filters out the infrared region of this spectrum at high temperatures. In this research, TOLERANCE proposes several R+D actions to grow thin films with composition VO2, a thermochromic oxide with transition temperature near room temperature, on glass and plastic by means of industrial scalable techniques, as well as its nanostructuration, doping and integration in multilayer systems to improve its features and multifunctional properties.

The project pursues the preparation of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) with improved properties and suitable characteristics (size, colloidal stability and toxicity) that can be used to get images of cells, tissues and organs by means of more than one bioimaging technique, thus providing complementary information essential for a more reliable medical diagnosis. Specifically, we shall study
bifunctional probes for both, luminescence and magnetic resonance (MRI) or luminescence and X-ray computed tomography (CT), and trifunctional probes that are useful for the three imaging techniques.Two types of luminescent probes will be addressed. On the one hand, luminescent NPs will be designed consisting of single matrices doped with lanthanide cations (Nd3+ or Er3+lYb3+ or Tm3+lYb3+), whose excitation and emission takes place in the near-infrared (NIR) region known as the biological window (650-1800 nm), in which radiation is not harmful to tissues and has a high penetration power. On the other hand, nanoprobes whose luminescence persists after ceasing the excitation will be also developed, thus avoiding the possible undesirable effects of the excitation radiation on the tissues. In the first case, our aim is to achieve greater chemical and thermal stability of the pro bes by selecting oxifluoride-type matrices, more stable than the
fluoride-type matrices proposed so far. In the second case, the aim of the project resides in the exploration of new synthetic routes to obtain nanoparticulated ZnGa204:Cr3+ and Y3AI2Ga3012:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+, with uniform size and shape, which are essential for bioapplications. Regarding MRI technique, this project aims at developing NPs made up of Dy- and Ho-based oxifluorides, vanadates and phosphates in response to the need of new contrast agents that work at high magnetic fields, which are increasingly being used in clinics to improve image resolution. Finally, due to the high atomic number of the constituent elements of the selected probes, it is expected that they show a high X-ray attenuation capacity, being therefore also useful as CT contrast agents. The advantage of the NPs proposed in this research with respect to the CT CAs currently used in clinics is the longer circulation time of the former, which will allow decreasing considerably the dosage to be given to the patient. The project contemplates both the manufacture of optimised probes and the exploration of their applicability to the field of medical diagnosis by obtaining "in vivo" images in mice. The research team has long experience in the synthesis of rare earths-based inorganic NPs and has most of the necessary equipment for their characterisation. The participation in the work plan of researchers from other institutions, with long expertise on various aspects of the project, who have successfully collaborated with the research team, gives further support to the viability of the proposal.

Two-dimensional nanomaterials are being increasingly used as fillers in ceramic composites in an effort to overcome the inherent fragility of ceramics and to provide them with new functionalities. There are open issues in the field of these composites regarding their strength and fracture toughness mechanisms, crack growth kinetics, tribological behavior, role of interfacial phases or suitability for electrical discharge machining, among others. Although graphene nanosheets (GNS) are excellent fillers, inorganic graphene analogues could extend the range of applicability of graphene ceramic composites. The use of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) as fillers in ceramic composites is promising and practically unexplored.

This proposal outlines a systematic study of composites intended for use in structural and functional applications, with two different ceramic matrices from the yttria-stabilized zirconia system incorporating two different 2D laminar nanomaterials -graphene or boron nitride nanosheets-, to deepen in the understanding of their mechanical and electrical behavior. To that end, composites with 3 mol% yttria tetragonal zirconia and 8 mol% yttria cubic zirconia matrices will be fabricated, pursuing an optimum microstructure with a homogeneous distribution of the 2D nanomaterials throughout both ceramic matrices. On the one hand, ceramic composites with graphene nanosheets will be investigated in depth to complete the gaps in the current knowledge of these materials. The distribution, size and structural integrity of the GNS will be characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy while the interfaces between the GNS and the matrix will be characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The strength, failure resistance, reinforcement mechanisms and crack growth kinetics of these composites will be thoroughly examined, and the best combination of processing route and GNS content in terms of reinforcement will be established. Electrical conductivity measurements of composites with different GNS contents will be carried out at room temperature and the response to electrical discharge machining of the electrically conductive composites will be evaluated. Conductivity measurements will be carried out also as a function of temperature in order to describe the possible variations of conduction type when increasing the GNS content. On the other hand, ceramic composites with boron nitride nanosheets will be investigated in order to get a first approach to the understanding of this system. For this purpose, after the synthesis of the BN nanosheets using a mixed-solvent strategy for liquid exfoliation of BNNS from h-BN powder, composites with different contents of BNNS will be prepared using wet powder processing techniques. The microstructural characterization of the spark plasma sintered composites will be carried out by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Mechanical properties as hardness, flexural strength and wear resistance will be studied at room temperature, whereas deformation tests at high temperatures will be also performed. The electrical conductivity as a function of temperature will be analyzed in order to clarify the effect of incorporating an insulating second phase at the grain boundaries on the electrical performance of an ionic conductor.

The ultimate goal of the VERSUS project is the first observation of repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz forces in macroscopic plane-parallel systems. To this end, it will focus on the design, fabrication, and characterization of optical materials that allow controlling the intensity and nature of the Casimir-Lifshitz force, so that levation phenomena can be observed and characterized due to the balance between the latter and gravity force. This radically new approcah makes use of optical spectroscopic techniques (based on optical interferometry between the partially reflected and transmitted light at the interfaces of the plane-parallel system) for characterizing the equilibrium distance at which the system levitates over a substrate. According to very recent results attained by the applicant group, it is possible to find materials whose optical constants and densities are such that when they are immersed in a fluid they can levitate over a substrate as a result of the aforementioned force balance. Our group has recently demonstrated theoretically that there is a number of materials that prepared in this films (<1 micrometer) can levitate several tens or hundreds of nanometers over a carefully selected substrate. Specifically, thin layers made of teflon, polystyrene or silicon dioxide immersed in glycorel are expected to levitate over a silicon  wafer, being possible to tune the equilibrium distances at which such layers will be suspended through their thicknesses and temperature of the system. The devised selft-standing thin films (in single layers or multilayer arrangements) must be compact, mechanically stable, of smooth surfaces, of controlled thickness, and chemically compatible with the fluid in which they are immersed. The macroscopic observation of repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz forces, never reported before, through optical spectroscopic measurements would constitute an unprecedented milestone in the field of fundamental matter interactions.

The main goal of ENERCARB, project coordinated among the U. of Zaragoza, the ICMS and the U. of Cádiz, is the development of multifunctional and structured catalysts based on carbonaceous catalytic materials of biomorphic and/or graphenic-graphitic character. These materials must be active, selective and stable in catalytic reactions related to i) the production and use of chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass, i.e. 5-HMF, levulinic acid, FDCA and g-valerolactone; ii) to sustainable energy vector production (H₂), and iii) to chemical and photochemical utilization of CO₂ (CO₂ hydrogenation), biogas decomposition, photo-reforming of bio-alcohols) using H₂ of renewable origin (“water splitting”). This project tries to improve currently implemented processes for energy production, and to propose other more innovative processes, such as use of sunlight, undoubtedly called to play an important role in this field. In fact, the use of solar energy would make more energy-efficient, the CO₂ methanation reaction by using H₂ of (photo)renewable origin produced by "water splitting". ENERCARB also intends to generatre high added value products by bio-refinery processes, as alternative to currently obtained chemicals from fossil sources. A set of carbonaceous solids with tunned structural properties (meso/micro hierarchical porosity), hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity, chemical functionalities, surface composition, etc., will be designed ad hoc for each of the reactions considered by the different subprojects. The implementation of continuous processes through the use of structured reactors is the next logical step to increase the efficiency of the the proposed proceses. The development and use of structured catalytic systems increases the viability and intensifies the processes, and therefore leads to higher energy and environmental efficiency. The complimentary nature of the three participating groups opens the possibility of addressing all these objectives in one single project. It will allow the application of different emerging methodologies for the synthesis of new carbonaceous materials, such as biomorphic mineralization, the expansion-functionalization of graphite intercalation compounds, special graphites (e.g. graphite nanolayers or nanoflakes), use of inorganic templates for the generation of mesoporous carbons, and also its advanced functionalization and its application in processes of high impact in the area of energy, chemical and environmental technologies

The proposal deals with the general social challenge of finding new cheap and environmentally friendly energy storage technologies to overcome the intermittency of energy generation from renewable sources. Particularly, in this project we propose integrating Ca-looping technology within a thermosolar concentration plant. Ca-Looping technology was originally proposed for CO2 capture and it is based on cycled carbonation-calcination of calcium oxide-calcium carbonate. Our research group has been working on this technology for several years with the objective of understanding the deactivation mechanisms as the number of cycles increases. Thus, we have studied the kinetic mechanisms of these processes and the microstructural changes that takes place during cycling. In a coordinated project that is about to finish this year (SOLARTEQH, Retos 2014) where we already proposed the integration of Ca-Looping for thermosolar energy storage. This project was the basis of a H2020 proposal (SOCRATCES) that has been recently approved and that will start by the beginning of 2018. The project CALSOLAR is a step forward in the integration to increase the efficiency of the plant. Subproject 1 will coordinate the new project. Moreover, subproject 1 will select, prepare and characterize all compounds investigated in the project. We will work with mining companies that will provide the raw materials (mainly limestone and dolomite) with different purities and crystallinity. Composite materials with nanostructured silica obtained from rice husk (provided by rice mills from the Guadalquivir area) will be prepared. Compounds obtained from steel slags (supplied by nearby steel mills) rich in calcium will be prepared. Within subproject 1, a new thermogravimetric instrument to perform thermal storage cycles under realistic conditions will be designed and constructed in our laboratories. This instrument should work under different controlled CO2 pressures and under superheated steam. The kinetic
mechanisms of carbonation and decarbonation and the microstructural changes will be investigated during cycling. The working team is experienced in the tasks of the project while some additional external scientists will participate. Thus, two foreign professors with solid backgrounds in solid-gas reactions and high resolution TEM are collaborating with us. Moreover, an industrial scientist from Abengoa with a very broad experience in thermal storage and thermosolar power plants is also included in the team. Both subprojects will work in a coordinated way with the aim of setting the optimum conditions for the final application. Finally, the results of the project will be directly applied to the pilot plant constructed within the H2020 SOCRATCES project.

Using the sun’s energy to generate hydrogen from water is probably the cleanest and most sustainable source of fuel that we can envisage. Unfortunately, catalysts that do this are currently too expensive to be commercially viable. The RATOCAT project aims to develop improved photocatalyst materials, along with the processes for their production. The catalytic performance of cheap TiO2 and C3N4 powders will be improved by tailoring their surface with nanostructured oxides as co-catalysts of highly-controlled composition, nanoarchitecture, size and chemical state. First principles simulations will be used to design the optimum nanostructures, which will then be deposited onto powders with the required precision using atomic layer deposition, again supported by simulation. Lab-scale tests of photocatalytic activity will provide feedback for the optimisation of the material and process, before the most promising materials are tested in the field on both pure water and wastewater.

NANOFlow is a multidisciplinary Project that aims the development of novel optofluidics sensing devices integrating advanced multifunctional nanostructured materials. The project is solidly grounded in the research group experience in the synthesis of nanoestructured functional thin films, advance surface treatments and development of planar photonic structures The main objective of the project is to combine and integrate the available synthetic and processing methodologies in the fabrication of optofluidic components capable of modifying their physical behavior when they are exposed to liquids. The integration of these optofluidic components together with accessory technologies based on new principles of photonic detection, large surface area microplasmas discharge as light sources or flexible substrates for the fabrication of sensing tags define an ambitious landscape of applications that will be explored in the project. Besides, the modeling of thin film growth in combination with advanced deposition diagnosis methodologies will be combined to adjust the thin film deposition processes to the desired functionalities.Therefore, NANOFlow aims to cover all the scientific-technological chain from the materials development to the final applications including advanced characterization, flexible synthetic routes, alternative low-cost and high throughput process (e.g. atmospheric plasma synthesis), device integration and testing of devices in real conditions.

The NANOFlow research activities will culminate in the development of three innovative devices, namely smart labels for sensing, traceability and anticounterfeiting applications (e.g. smart labels incorporated in food-packaging), a versatile optofluidic multisensing device and an optofluidic photocatalytic cleaning system that will integrate a large area microplasma source, liquid actuated UV/Visible optical switches and a photocatalytic nanostructured surface. All of these devices will operate under the basis of an optofluidic actuation and/or response and are designed to present clear potentialities for direct application in liquid sensing, manipulation and monitoring.

The NANOFlow research activities in the different work-packages and, particularly, the final devices are intended to have a direct impact in the Theme 2 (Seguridad and Calidad Alimentaria) of the “RETOS” defined in the call covering this project proposal.. Besides, some of the activities proposed, in particular the third device are also connected with the Theme 3 (Energía segura eficiente y limpia) of the call. It is very interesting to stress that these activities are of particular relevance in the geographical context of Andalucia where Agriculture,  Food production and Energy are three of the most relevant strategic sectors. 

The accretion of ice represents a severe problem for aircraft, as the presence of even a scarcely visible layer can severely limit the function of wings, propellers, windshields, antennas, vents, intakes and cowlings. The PHOBIC2ICE Project aims at developing technologies and predictive simulation tools for avoiding or mitigating this phenomenon.
The PHOBIC2ICE project, by applying an innovative approach to simulation and modelling, will enable the design and fabrication of icephobic surfaces with improved functionalities. Several types of polymeric, metallic and hybrid coatings using different deposition methods will be developed. Laser treated and anodized surfaces will be prepared. Consequently, the Project focuses on collecting fundamental knowledge of phenomena associated with icephobicity issues. This knowledge will give better understanding of the ice accretion process on different coatings and modified surfaces. Certified research infrastructure (ice wind tunnel) and flight tests planned will aid in developing comprehensive solutions to address ice formation issue and will raise the Project’s innovation level.
The proposed solution will be environment-friendly, will contribute to the reduction of energy consumption, and will help eliminate the need for frequent on-ground de-icing procedures. This in turn will contribute to the reduction of cost, pollution and flight delay.

http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/199478_en.html

Boron carbide and titanium nitride are among the most promising ceramic materials nowadays. In the first case, this is due to the outstandng mechanical properties (it is the third hardest material in nature) and its high resistance to chemical attack. In the case of Titanium nitride, its remarkable optical properties and electrical conductivity makes this a potential material for electronic devices. In both cases, sintering is a challenging issue due to the low diffusitivity. In this project, sintering of these materials by spark plasma sintering will be studied and the conditions for nanostructuration will be determined. Preliminary results show that average grain sizes as low as 100 nm can be achieved. In a second stage, plasticity will be studied. A previous model developed by the authors show that twinning is a key ingredient as a driving force of plasticity of boron carbide. The case of titanium nitride is mostly exciting because the stacking fault energy is the lowest ever known and it can make twinnin very favoured. The comparison between these two systems can be a clue about the basic mechanism for hardening in these ceramic materials.

The depletion of fossil fuels (in a short and long term) and the global warming derived from greenhouse effect are consequences of the extensive use of these fuels. In this context, hydrogen appears as an attractive, clean and abundant energy carrier in the context of a wider use of clean and removable energies. For the implementation of the “hydrogen economy” many technological challenges regarding hydrogen production (free from CO2), transport, storage (in a safe manner) and combustion (to produce heat or electricity) should be met first. New research will be conducted in this project on the basis of our previous results regarding the study of complex hydrides for hydrogen storage and the development of catalysts and processes for hydrogen generation and use in portable applications. In particular, new catalysts will be developed on porous structures such as polymeric, metallic and ceramic membranes and/or foams with high actual interest.  Catalysts will we developed and studied for hydrogen generation and combustion reactions according to the following research lines:

1) Development of new materials (catalysts and supports) with a high added value of the complete system catalyst + support. Porous Ni and SiC foams together with PTFE membranes will be selected as supports for the studies. The main objective is to design new catalysts on technologically interesting supports such as separating membranes, electrolytes, electrodes and/or hydrogen combustors. These new catalysts will be developed following the objective of reducing the amount of noble metals by combining or replacing with another non-noble metals (e.g. Pt-Cu and Ni-Fe) and/or with metalloids (e.g carbides, borides, etc). Wet impregnation methods will be used and special emphasis will be put on the use of the PVD methodology (magnetron sputtering) recently employed in our laboratory for the fabrication of Co thin films with very good results. The latter methodology opens a highly interesting research field because permits to tune microstructure and composition (i.e. Co, Co-B, Co-C) on demand.

2) Characterization of the prepared materials from a microstructural and chemical point of view. Modern nanoscopies will play a key role in the characterization, comprehension and further improvement of these highly nanostructured catalysts.

3) Catalytic studies on the prepared materials will be carried out in three catalytic tests: i) the hydrogen generation through hydrolysis reactions, ii) the photocatalytic water splitting, and iii) the catalytic hydrogen combustion. These reactions are of high interest in the context of the hydrogen economy.

--The interaction of these three research lines as proposed in this project will permit to achieve basic knowledge on the rational design of nanocatalysts supported on porous materials. Structure-composition-activity relationships will be established through catalytic and photo-catalytic studies in combination with characterization techniques based on high resolution analytical TEM and additional spectroscopic techniques.

The protection of surfaces from thermal, wear and oxidation phenomena has reached a substantial progress by developing new materials and coatings with improved properties as extreme hardness, low friction and wear rates, increased thermal and oxidation resistance. These improvements suppose a huge energy-saving and cost reduction due to the increased life-time of mechanical components without needs of replacement as well as a reduction in the environmental impact. This field of research has a deep impact in a large variety of industrial sectors (energy, machining tools, automotive, aeronautic, metallurgy, etc.). The challenge for most of these surface functionalization procedures is to get a strict control of the micro and nanostructure of the surface and interfaces that make possible the advent of new properties and applications that nanotechnology concept offers.

In this project, tailored nanostructured coatings for protection of components submitted to high temperature and aggressive environments are prepared seeking for an improved performance. This goal will be explored for three different applications that would contribute to an energy efficiency, renewable energies and solutions to decrease environmental impact. Based on the Cr-Al-N system, different coatings will be prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering technology changing chemical composition (metal content, incorporation of dopants like Y or Si); microstructure; phase distribution; architecture (multilayer/ nanocomposite) or more complex structures (tandem, multilayer gradient) on appropriated substrates depending on the foreseen application: a) oxidation resistance at high temperature (up to 1000ºC) for tool components; b) thermal stable solar selective absorber coating for mid (300-500ºC) and high temperature (>600ºC); c) corrosion resistant coating for supercritical turbine components (650ºC and 100% steam atmosphere).

The investigation of the oxidation mechanisms, phase transformations, structural modifications, etc. will be object of a careful study directly over the defined substrates for these applications to get fundamental knowledge on the degradation phenomena and protective effects. The establishment of the relationships between the initial properties and observed functional performance will enable the better understanding of the protection mechanisms and the optimization of such nanostructured coating systems for the selected application.

 

Keywords: Coating, high-temperature, oxidation-resistant, corrosion, nanostructured, energy, solar absorber, multilayer

The dependence of our current energy system on fossil fuels and their harmful effects on the environment are strengthen the development of renewable energy sources. This is the case of the second generation biofuels. The production of fuels from lignocellulosic biomass and wastes very often involve catalytic processes that are characterized by strong heat exchange requirements due to the high thermal effect of the chemical reactions involved, as well as by the difficulty for simultaneously minimizing transport limitations and pressure drop in conventional fixed-bed reactors. Sometimes, extremely short contact times are also required. As a result, the conventional catalytic technologies operate under non-optimal conditions. The structured catalytic systems, structured catalysts and microchannel reactors offer excellent opportunities for overcoming those limitations because they efficiently allow to minimize simultaneously both the transport limitations and pressure drop while improving the radial fluxes of mass and heat and allowing very short contact times. The monoliths with parallel channels, open cell foams and stacked wire meshes can be made of a variety of metallic alloys and cells or pore densities. They can be also coated with any convenient catalyst thus becoming appropriate for the process of interest. On the other hand, the microchannel reactors are capable of providing an incomparable intensification of the process with an excellent temperature control, and improved product quality and process safety. The objective of this project is the investigation of the application of structured catalytic systems for the production of renewable fuels. The reactions investigated will be the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the direct dimethyl ether synthesis and the production of the syngas that will be fed to these processes through the reforming of biogas and producer gas. The water-gas shift reaction will be investigated as well due to its important role for adjusting the H2/CO ratio of the syngas. Special attention will be paid to the study of the effect of the thermal properties of the structured systems on their catalytic performance. To this end, the effects of the cells density of monoliths, pore density of foams, mesh of metallic wire meshes, type of metal alloy, thickness of the catalytic coating and substrate geometry (including in some cases microchannel reactors) will be investigated. Catalyst close to the state-of-the-art will be considered as the active phases. The development of these investigations will be supported by three transversal tasks led by each of the three participating research groups but in which all the groups will be involved: preparation of the structured catalytic systems, characterization using advanced techniques and modeling and simulation studies. This proposal aims at generating knowledge that helps to expand the current range of applications of the structured catalytic systems towards the field of sustainable energy applications that will benefit from the advantages of these systems in line with the challenge Safe, efficient and clean energy

Key words: Structured catalysts; Monoliths; Foams; Wire meshes; Microreactors; Second generation biofuels

 

The transition to organic electronics requires new devices on the nanometer scale composed only by organic materials, providing small, flexible, transparent and cheap devices. Among electronic devices, the spin valves have stood out for their rapid transfer from the experimental phase to the general public products, but a reliable organic spin valve nanometric device is yet to be developed.
The scientific objective of this project is to fill that gap. By using advanced, industrially scalable nanotechnology methods, we intend to produce a hybrid organic-inorganic and a fully organic spin valve in the form of a supported nanowire of ~200 nm width and several microns length, with a concentric spin valve stack. Three main fabrication techniques will be used: organic Physical Vapor Deposition (O-PVD), plasma-enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PE-CVD) and remote plasma assisted vacuum deposition (RPAVD). Magnetoresistance measurements will be performed on single nanowires by conducting-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM), and will give the definite measurement of quality of the samples produced.
This project will be developed within the Nanotechnology on Surfaces research group (NanoOnSurf), at the Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC – University of Seville), located in the multidisciplinary CicCartuja research centre (Seville, Spain). State-of-the-art synthesis and characterisation techniques developed in the host research group will be the key for the success of this proposal..
This project is directly related with Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015, chapter 5.i, action ICT 3 – 2014: Advanced Thin, Organic and Large Area Electronics (TOLAE) technologies, and thus is expected to have a strong impact in the future European electronic industry.

This project is focus on the hydrogen generation and storage with the aim of producing hydrogen for clean and sustainable energies. It happens due to an exothermic reaction where a catalyst is required to do so safety. Catalysts based on noble metals are good candidates for this purpose such as, cobalt, cupper… Here, the complete catalysts systems and different supports are studied. They have been grown by magnetron sputtering technology. The structure and composition are studied, up to nano-scale, by advanced scanning-transmission electron microscopy techniques, (S)TEM, such as high-resolution (HRTEM), high-angle annular dark field (HAADF), energy dispersive X‑Ray (EDX), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), for chemical analysis. Furthermore, the use of the three-dimensional characterization technique electron-tomography provides a full understanding of the analysed material. The combination of structural and compositional analytical microscope techniques, in both STEM and TEM mode, allows a full nano-characterization of the systems. The (S)TEM analyses are the essential tool to determine the relationship among the microstructure, the growth conditions and the final behaviour and properties of the systems which will help to improve them and, therefore, to contribute to the production of clean energy.

This project has four main strategic objectives:

1. Nano-materials for sustainable energy applications. Materials for the production, use and storage of Hydrogen.
2. Development of sputtering technology for the fabrication of nanostructures (thin films, coatings and controlled microstructure multilayers).
3. Development of the potential capabilities of the Laboratory for Nanoscopies and Spectroscopies (LANE).
4. Use of advanced structural and analytical techniques for the nano-analysis of new nanomaterials.

Machining is an essential part of the manufacturing processes in many industries and has significant economic implications, as it represents an important proportion of the total manufacturing cost. The success of machining depends on many factors, among which the correct choice of the cutting tool. High-speed machining and difficult-to-cut materials, such as superalloys employed in the fabrication of aircraft engines, impose extreme working conditions to cutting-tools, which are characterized by high temperatures, pressures and tensions that can lead to the premature failure in service. Furthermore, the deterioration of the cutting-tool due to an excessive wear and deformation makes it difficult to maintain the tolerances and the surface integrity of the workpiece, severely compromising the fatigue properties and, therefore, its applicability and lifetime. The European industry has as a main objective to improve the productivity, accuracy and quality of these highly-demanding machining processes, stimulating the search for new cutting-tool materials that are better suited to these new requirements.
Cermets have properties, such as high wear resistance, high chemical stability and good mechanical strength at high temperature, well-adapted to the requirements of these machining processes. But for a realistic application, it is necessary to significantly increase the fracture toughness and damage tolerance to values close to those of cemented carbides. In the last few years, there has been an ongoing process of cermets optimization, mainly by modifying the microstructure and chemical composition of the ceramic phase. In a previous project (MAT2011-22981), we have shown that the so-called complete solid solution cermets, characterized by single phase ceramic particles consisting of a complex carbonitride, allow achieving a good combination of hardness and fracture toughness.
In this new project, which can be considered as complementary to MAT2011-22981, we propose to further improve the properties of cermets, also acting on the binder phase as it is ultimately responsible for the cohesion and toughness of the material. High entropy alloys (HEAs), which are composed of at least five major metal elements in equal or near equal atomic percent (as opposed to traditional alloy systems that are typically based on only one or two major elements), can be postulated as suitable to replace current binder phase in cermets. These alloys often exhibit superior properties than conventional alloys, including high strength and ductility at high temperature and good wear and corrosion resistances. The main goal of this project focuses on the development of complete solid solution cermets with HEAs as the binder phase. The cermets to be developed will have a simple microstructure; similar to cemented carbides, but high compositional complexity, since the two constituent phases (ceramic and binder) will be complex solid solutions with a high number of components (at least five). With these new cermets, we try to maintain their current optimal properties, while improving those limiting their potential use in the most demanding machining processes.

The present project intends to study and develop different methane activation and transformation processes to obtain high value added molecules.

For this scope we propose to study well established processes of indirect conversion, through reforming reactions (RM) for syngas production, as well as those direct conversion ones, particularly the direct oxidation to methanol (DOM) and aromatization of methane (DAM).  

Regarding to the methane reforming reaction, we propose the development of catalytic systems with improved resistance against deactivation processes. In this case, we would prepare and characterize new nanostructured bimetallic catalysts based on nickel supported on ceria, alumina, or alumina/ceria, as well as mesoporous SBA-15 supports, doped with ceria and alumina. As a second metal we would use cobalt or iron. At the same time, we would perform the study of the reforming reaction by a photocatalytic process using Cu, Pt and Ni doped photoactive systems such as titania or ceria, and others recently proposed as Ga2O3, carbon nitride or graphene. In this case, we propose to explore the possibility of the photochemical activation for the preferential oxidation of CO (photo-PROX) in the presence of hydrogen, a very usefulness process for hydrogen purification from syngas synthesis. We will focus our attention in the preparation of systems with the appropriate band structure for the control of the selective oxidation of CO.

Concerning to direct conversion processes, we would study the direct oxidation of methane (DOM) using O2, H2O2, or N2O as reaction activators, in combination with systems based on Au/Pd, Fe, Cu and/or Ni deposited on different supports as ZSM-5, graphene and TiO2. In this later case, using Au/Pd as the active metallic phase in the presence of H2O2, we propose the possibility to combine the synthesis of H2O2 in situ with the subsequent direct oxidation of methane.

Moreover, we would explore the photocatalytic oxidation of methane to methanol as a novel and highly attractive alternative. In this case, the use of new photocatalytic materials as BiVO4 and the presence of redox mediators would allow us to control the selective photo-oxidation to methanol.

Other catalytic systems closely related to above mentioned, and in particular those based on Mo supported on ZSM-5 and MCM-22 zeolites, would be used for the methane aromatization reaction study. The aluminiun ratio, Mo loading and its activation in the microporous structure of the suport, as well as the addition of certain promoters as Ga, Tl or Pb would be some of the parameters to be optimized for this reaction. At the same time, recently reported photoinduced aromatization process would be studied.

Harvesting energy from ambient sources in our environment has generated tremendous interest as it offers a fundamental energy solution for small-power applications including, but not limited to, ubiquitous wireless sensor nodes, portable, flexible and wearable electronics, biomedical implants and structural/environmental monitoring devices. As an example, consider that the number of smart devices linking everyday objects via the internet is estimated to grow to 50 billion by the year 2020. Most of these “Internet of Things” devices will be extraordinarily small and in many cases embedded, and will wirelessly provide useful data that will make our lives easier, better and more energy-efficient. The only sustainable way to power them is using ambient energy harvesting that lasts through the lifetime of the product, and hence the need for commercially viable small‑scale energy harvesters that can operate in any environment. In this context, energy harvesting from ambient vibrations is particularly attractive, as these are ubiquitously available and easily accessible, originating from ever-present sources such as the moving parts of devices and machines, fluid flow and even body movements. Nanoscale piezoelectric energy harvesters, also known as nanogenerators2, are capable of converting small-scale vibrations into electrical energy, thus offering a means of superseding batteries that require constant replacing/recharging, and that do not scale easily with size. Nanogenerators can thus pave the way for the realization of the next generation of self-powered electronic devices, with profound implications in disciplines as far-reaching as biomedicine, robotics, smart environmental monitoring and resource management, to name a few. Nano-piezoelectric energy harvesting is an emerging technology and this proposal is designed to tackle the challenge of developing novel materials with enhanced piezoelectric properties that are cheap, environment-friendly, bio-compatible and easily integrated as nanogenerators into electronic devices.

It is the main goal of this project to bring to the host institution and the European Research Area the knowledge and technology to prepare current record flexible dye sensitized photovoltaic devices, previously developed by the candidate in South Korea and then the USA, in order to be able to further improve them, while endowing them with semi-transparency, using stretchable and bendable optical materials. The candidate has demonstrated that several key materials and processes provide better
performance of bendable dye solar cells, i.e., enhanced efficiency and flexibility, by allowing the preparation of electrodes in which the electron diffusion length is longer and charge collection efficiency is consequently enhanced. However, highly efficient dye solar cells are opaque as a consequence of the particular diffuse scattering design employed to improve light absorption, which limits their application in building or automotive integrated photovoltaics. This proposal seeks to solve such drawback by
introducing photonic nanostructures in different configurations, yielding both light harvesting enhancement and preserving transparency, hence placing Europe at the forefront of research in this specific area within the field of renewable energy. This final goal will be attempted through different approaches, each one challenging from the materials science perspective. Preparation of such highly efficient and transparent devices will combine the flexible solar cell processing tools previously developed by the candidate with the versatile optical material preparation techniques pioneered by the host institution. More specifically, integration of novel porous flexible photonic structures into the light harvesting layer, use of flexible mirrors attached to the back of the counter-electrode, and designed distribution of scatterers will be employed to
reach the target.

The focus of the project addresses the environmental technological requirement to develop advanced methods for removing pollutants. The interest and efforts to develop new technologies aimed at more efficient treatment in detention and revaluation of hazardous waste is increasing in R & D plans. It is in this scenario where this project should be framed and in particular in the framework of the management of heavy metal cations, issue of high public interest in this decade.

Since the second half of the twentieth century, humanity has faced a huge scientific and technological development that is responsible for increased environmental pollution. As an example, we can mention two problems that are currently of concern and action of the Andalusian: Andalusian coastal pollution and urban wastewater. Therefore, this is a complex problem that pollutants sources are varied of origin and routes followed by various pollutants are diverse and, frequently, it is beyond the control necessary to avoid urban undesirable effects on the natural environment and. Therefore, a basic level research is demaned to implement the necessary mechanisms for the immobilization of such harmful cations.

The objectives and scope of this project are based on advances made by other research groups in the management of these types of contaminants and the latest research conducted by the research team that allowed design expandable high-charged layered silicates with special properties as precursors for the retention of harmful residues. Therefore, it is proposed in this project the organofunzionalization of such synthetic micas with thiol groups or alkylammonium cations of varying chain length and evaluation of its adsorption capacity and irreversible retention of heavy metals.

The aim of the project is the design, development, prototyping and validation of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermosolar system that allows the storage and manageability of the generated solar energy. This integrated system will generate electricity at lower costs than standard thermosolar technology.

The hybrid system consists of a parabolic cylinder system and a low concentration photovoltaic solar receiver. Between these two components a dichroic filter is placed, which receives the reflected light from the parabolic cylinder primary mirror and allows the selective separation of the solar spectrum, letting pass a portion of the light to the photovoltaic receiver and reflecting the rest to the thermal tube receiver. Said dichroic filter sends to the photovoltaic receiver photons with wavelengths which are more efficiently absorbed by the solar cell. The thermal part of the system also shows the ability to controllably deliver power, allowing energy storage for its use in the most suitable moment of the day.

The importance of controlling particulate emissions from diesel engines is essential given its volume and the associated environmental and economic impact. Control systems based on modifications of the combustion process in the engine are not sufficient to meet the requirements of current regulations, less future ones, and therefore it must necessarily be employed post treatment systems such as filters. There is considerable scope for improving them both in reliability, degradation of control performance, durability, multifuel operation and cost reduction.

This project will assess the development and manufacturing of regenerative particulate filter for diesel engines to improve the current system specifications, based on a new generation of ceramic bio-derivated materials, with integrated systems for particle combustion. This objectives will be achieved integrating researchers synergies from: i ) Thermal Engines and Machines Group, GMTS , specialists in internal combustion engines ii ) Multifunctional Biomimetic Materials Group, MBM, specialists in obtaining bio-derivated porous ceramic as well as physical, chemical and microstructural characterization. In addition, the project is completed with the collaboration of companies in assessing technology and its industrial applicability.

The following research lines will be addressed:

- Determination of processing routes that enable the development of filter elements with suitable physical, and chemical properties, based on prior knowledge in bio-derivated materials and new technologies regarding the use of SiO2 gels.
- Identification of suitable catalysts and systems for its deposition.
- Manufacture of the filter elements consisting of porous support and catalyst.
- Thorough characterization of the physical, chemical and microstructural properties of interest for the application.
- Development of activation systems for the filter regeneration.
- Design and manufacturing of the filters with suitable geometry and prototype dimensions.
- Pilot unit design and study of the integration and operation of engine.
- Final design of the filter for industrial facility.

Previous studies developed by MBM in these bio-derivated materials have demonstrated their potential as gas filter elements at high temperatures in coal gasification plants, which supports the likelihood of success of this project, which will address the improvements needed to develop the technology in the combustion conditions of diesel engines, under dynamic conditions in vehicles and regenerative filters.

A reduction of pollutant emissions from diesel engines would have a great environmental impact, health and economic development, with about 100 million diesel vehicles circulating in Europe and a related industry with over 2 million direct jobs and growing trend in market. This project addresses the Social Challenge 3 Horizon 2020, Secure, clean and efficient energy. In addition, using bioceramics allows replacement of metal components used today, which also aligns with the Social Challenge 5 of the Horizon 2020 in search of alternatives to essential raw materials in existing applications by reducing dependence on imports and sustainability of applications.

This project aims at the development of a new generation of low dimensional responsive systems and sensors that integrate nanostructured layers with well-controlled electrical and optical properties which, prepared by innovative vacuum and plasma methods, present a tunable and high porosity and are able to actively interact with the environment. The basic principles of the oblique angle approach (OAD) during the physical vapor  deposition (PVD) of evaporated thin films will be extended to the fabrication of similar layers by plasma and magnetron sputtering techniques. Combination of these techniques along with other innovative plasma technologies, including atmospheric pressure plasma deposition or plasma-evaporation polymerization will be employed to achieve a strict control over the nanostructure and properties of  final films and complex systems . Supported metal and oxide  nanostructured thin films, stacked multilayers and hybrid and composite suported nanostructures will be prepared and thereafter characterized by advanced electron and proximity microscopies and other techniques. Process-control strategies will be implemented in order to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing the film structurations and to propose new synthetic routes scalable to industrial production so as to achieve tailored morphologies and properties for these porous thin film materials. Highly ordered and homogenous arrays of these nanostructures will be used  as ambient temperature gas and liquid sensors, microfluidic responsive devices and intelligent labelling tags. For these applications the supported porous thin films will be suitably functionalized with metal nanoparticles, grafted molecular chains or layers of other polymeric materials. They will be also stacked in the form of vertically ordered photonic structures. Innovative device integration approaches including the water removal of evaporated sacrificial layers of NaCl and their integration in the form of microdevices will be carried out to fabricate advanced sensors, microreactors  and responsive systems. Photonic, electrical and/or electrochemical principles of transduction will be implemented into the devices for detecting and/or fabricating  i) oxygen and chlorine in solutions, ii) glucose and organic matter in water  iii) gas and vapor sensors or iv)  inteligent labels. Specific applications are foressen for the control of the outside environment (air and waters), industrial and greenhouse locations, agroindustrial processes such as fermentation and the tracking and trazability of different kinds of goods and foods.

It is expected that the combination of scientific breakthroughs in thin film technology and new film engineering principles at the micro- and nano-scales will open new areas of research with a high impact in key enabling technologies such as photonics, nanotechnology, advanced materials and in other fields like plasma technology and microfluidics.

The objective of this Project is the development of new integrated and robust micro/nano- fluidic systems that enable the reliable incorporation of control tests, sensorization and rapid analysis of agrofood products, mainly liquids or soluble. The technology to be developed should be applied to final products, as well as during their different elaboration steps. IN particular, a niche of application that will be directly addressed in the project is the control of fermentation process with the development of new integrated fluidic transductors that permit the quantitative detection of glucose and/or other sugars by means of electrochemical and photonic developments integrated in microfluidic and similar devices.

This project is related with a technology to generate a cold plasma at atmospheric pressure with air flowing through a reactor. The specific objective of this activity is the development of a prototype air purification system for greenhouses, food processing centers, livestock enclosures, or other similar types of markets or enclosures where the concentration of gases harmful to the health of the workers can be very significant by the use of insecticides, fungicides, disinfectants or other compounds. The developed system should be able to purify the air in closed installations and where a large number of chemicals, mainly volatile organic compounds, accumulate in the air that is handled. The cold plasma reactor technology design follows the characteristics of packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge by using ferroelectric dielectric.

The objective of the LUMEN project is the development of luminescent devices incorporating as active layers rare earth containing thin films deposited by plasma CVD.  The thin films will be deposited by novel synthetic approaches that combined classic approaches as magnetron sputtering and plasma CVD with the sublimation of functional molecules. This methodology is very effective to introduce a controlled amount of functional elements (i.e., rare earth cations of functional organic groups) in the growing film. Due to the full compatibility of the proposed methodology with optoelectronics processes the active layers will be directly incorporated in photonic structures as Bragg reflectors and photonic crystals to fabricate prototype devices. Thus, the LUMEN projects start with the development of new materials but also intend to study the functionality of devices that integrates these novel materials in real life conditions. These devices are intelligent label structures, up-converters and ion detectors.

The main objective of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of scaling up a procedure to obtain fatty polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) bioplastics from a low-cost and abundant source like peels residues of commercial fruits. The strength of the proposal relies on the introduction of a new non-toxic and fully biodegradable polymeric material as a substitute for environmental-hostile petroleum-based plastics. The overall sustainability is extended to the use of a low-impact synthetic route and to the processing of a plant residue rather than crops intended for human or cattle feeding. The project is considered of additional interest in regions with an agricultural based economy like Andalusia and with an important environmental impact arising from the greenhouse activity. The proposal also covers the study of new and more specific applications of such bio-based fatty polyhydroxyalcanoates.

Hydrogen as a vector of transport and storage of energy is a very attractive candidate in the context of increased use of renewable and clean energies. This project will address the study of the different processes that lead to the final configuration of an integrated systems for hydrogen generation and use mainly in portable applications (and potentially scalable for stationary applications). In particular, work will be carried out in this project in the following lines:
a) Research on new lightweight compounds for use in hydrogen generation processes on a small scale by chemical routes (hydrolysis). Typically hydrolysis reactions of borohydrides (i.e. NaBH4) and compounds like ammonia borane, hydrazine borane or hydrazine. This line includes the development of catalysts at the nanoscale using wet chemical methods for their synthesis: Metal-metalloid nanostructures (i.e. Co-B, Co-B-P and similar ones) and bimetallic catalysts (including or not metalloid) of low cost which potentiate synergistic effects (i.e. CoRu, NiPt or Co-Ru-B). The topic also includes the development of portable reactors for these processes and the development of new substrates and monoliths, studies of adherence and durability of the catalyst.
b) Research on new host-guest systems containing hydrogen for reversible storage (loading / unloading). Mainly porous supports (host) like the so called "nanoscaffolds" (based on C or BN) infiltrated with borohydrides materials (guest) (i.e. titanium borohydride) typically used for reversible hydrogen storage. These new materials must present improved charging and de-charging kinetics.
c) Studies of coupling a hydrogen generator system with a low cost fuel cell. Typically a continuous reactor for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 with Co-B catalyst for providing H2 at constant flow rate conditions to directly feed a PEM fuel cell of 60 W.
d) Fundamental studies for the development of catalysts and supports for the controlled combustion of hydrogen. It's a new line in the research group based on wet chemical preparation of noble metal nanoparticle catalysts on commercial porous ceramic supports (i.e. SiC). The line also includes the design of a reactor for laboratory-scale study of heat production by controlled combustion of hydrogen.
e) Development of sputtering technology ("magnetron sputtering") for the preparation of catalysts and nano-structures on various substrates for use in the processes developed in the previous sections. The group has extensive experience in this technology to be applied in novel ways in this project leading to a great versatility regarding nanostructure, composition and addition of additives to improve catalytic activity, durability and selectivity of catalysts.
f) Microstructural and chemical characterization of new materials and catalysts developed in the project. We are dealing typically with materials of controlled nanostructure where modern nanoscopic techniques will play a key role in the custom manufacturing of these materials

 

The development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) operating on hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas, biofuel,LPG) is the key to their short to medium term broad commercialization. The development of direct HC SOFCs still meets lot of challenges and problems arising from the fact that the anode materials operate under severe conditions leading to low activity towards reforming and oxidation reactions, fast deactivation due to carbon formation and instability due to the presence of sulphur compounds. Although research on these issues is intensive, no major technological breakthroughs have been so far with respect to robust operation, sufficient lifetime and competitive cost.

T-CELL proposes a novel electrochemical approach aiming at tackling these problems by a comprehensive effort to define, explore, characterize, develop and realize a radically new triode approach to SOFC technology means of an integrated approach based both on materials development and on the deployment of an innovative cell design that permits the effective control of electrocatalytic activity under steam or dry reforming conditions.
The novelty of the proposed work lies in the pioneering effort to apply Ni-modified materials electrodes of proven advanced tolerance, as anodic electrodes in SOFCs and in the exploitation of our novel triode SOFC concept which introduces a new controllable variable into fuel cell operation.
In order to provide a proof of concept of the stackability of triode cells, a triode SOFC stack consisting of at least 4 repeating units will be developed and its performance will be evaluated under methane and steam co-feed, in presence of a small concentration of sulphur compound.
 

http://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/298300/es

In this project the modifications of both optical emission and absorption of nano-materials of different sort (rare earth doped nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, metallic nanoparticles, and films of organic dyes of nanometer dimensions) that occur when they are embedded in different types of photonic structures will be investigated. Both fundamental and applied aspects of the subject will be analysed. Efforts will be mainly focused on materials of current technological interest for solar cells, sensors and light emitting devices. From the applied point of view, this project finds its motivation in the possibility that photonic structures offer of modifying absorption and emission processes in a controlled manner so that they can be inhibited or amplified depending on the specific goal pursued. Particularly, we seek to put into practice these concepts to generate new designs of more efficient solar cells, capable of harvesting a larger amount of the incident radiation, and in the development of films for sensing devices responsive to modifications of different kind, such as presence of targeted molecules, variations of ambient gas pressure, etc... Also, more efficient or controlled light extraction from light emitting devices is sought after. The development of small prototype devices to prove the novel concepts under research is also an objective of this grant proposal.
In its more fundamental aspect, our project aims at deepening our knowledge of the interaction between light and matter in systems in which there exists a strong dispersion and anisotropy of the dielectric constant, and in which it is possible to attain very low photon propagation speeds. For this analysis, we will employ different types of porous photonic structures, such as one-dimensional and three-dimensional photonic crystals, as well as disordered assemblies of particles, as hosts in which a wide range of organic and inorganic nanomaterials will be integrated in different configurations and whose absorption and emission will be experimentally and theoretically studied.
Although this project has a fundamental character due to the nature of the prepara-tion techniques and complex optical properties we seek to analyze, it is our aim to continue generating and transferring intellectual property based on the novel concepts, properties and designs which are the subject of our research.

 

In many industrial operations, the machines or tool components in contact are submitted to severe conditions of load, friction, temperature or variable atmosphere. The research efforts are directed towards the development of new multiphase coatings capable to increase their performance by protection of the surface against wear and oxidation that cause failure mechanisms. By appropriate control of the size and distribution of phases, chemical composition and microstructure in the nanometric regime it is possible to obtain multifunctionality as low friction, hardness and thermal stability. To achieve excel in this purpose it is necessary to correlate the macroscopic properties of these coated surfaces (mechanical, tribological, oxidation resistance) with these basic phenomena.

In this project, three types of nanostructured coatings will be prepared using a magnetron sputtering process for protection in running operations under extreme or singular conditions (pressure, temperature, oxidant atmospheres, vacuum, etc.). The chosen systems are constituted by crystals of hard materials (nitrides or carbides) in combination with a second element or phase that improves the practical performance. Thus, nanocomposite coatings consisting of WC nanocrystals dispersed in an amorphous dichalcogenide phase (WS2 or WSe2) are proposed as solid lubricant coatings to run under high vacuum conditions useful for spatial applications or inert environments. In the second case, Y or Zr will be tested as dopant elements in CrAlN coatings with the aim of increasing the corrosion and oxidation resistance and tribological behaviour useful for many industrial fields (machining tools, metallurgy, aeronautic, automotive, etc…). Finally, hard and transparent nanocomposite coatings based on the Al-Si-N system are suggested as protective coatings for optical systems.

In all cases, the project comprises their synthesis, chemical and structural characterization, and validation in tribological and oxidation under extreme condition tests that simulate the final operation conditions. In the case of the hard and transparent coatings, their optical properties will be also analysed. The establishment of the relationships between microstructure and measured properties will be an essential objective, since it enables the better understanding of the action mechanisms, and thus, the optimisation of such nanostructured multifunctional systems for an improved technological benefit.

 

Carbides, nitrides and borides of transition metals are essential components of a large number of composite materials used for structural and protective applications at high temperature because they show an excellent combination of physical and chemical properties, which confers good mechanical strength, and wear, oxidation and corrosion resistances. The materials based on these refractory compounds are designed by employing multiphasic systems, due to the high multi-functionality that are required and the inability to achieve the intended properties from a single phase material.

During the processing of these materials is common to observe important compositional gradients and interactions between the different constituent phases that hinder achieving the desired properties. In this project, we intend to undertake a new design for this type of material of incorporating most of its key components such as complex solid solutions. This will reduce the final number of phases in the material and obtain greater assurance of success with the preset properties for technological applications. To this end, we propose a new synthesis route based on the mechanochemical process called as mechanically-induced self-sustaining reaction (MSR). Our research group has shown that this method allows obtaining solid solutions belonging to M-B-C-N systems with a high control of the stoichiometry. The main objective of this project is to incorporate the method MSR to the methodology used for the development of materials consisting of solid solutions that can be used in high temperature applications. It is intended to adequately characterize the properties of the developed materials and to compare them with those made using the methods so far employed.

The POLIGHT project will focus on the integration of a series of inorganic nanostruc-tured materials possessing photonic or combined photonic and plasmonic properties into polymeric films, providing a significant advance with respect to current state of the art in flexible photonics. These highly adaptable films could act either as passive UV-Vis-NIR selective frequency mirrors or filters, or as matrices for light absorbing or optically active species capable of tailoring their optical response. The goal of this project is two-fold. In one aspect, the aim is to fill a currently existing hole in the field of materials for radiation protection, which is the absence of highly flexible and adaptable films in which selected ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths can be sharply blocked or allowed to pass depending on the different foreseen applications. In another, the POLIGHT project seeks to go one step beyond in the integration of absorbing and emitting nanomaterials into simple flexible polymeric matrices by including hierarchically structured photonic lattices that provide fine tuning of the optical properties of these hybrid ensembles. This will be achieved by means of enhanced matter-radiation interactions that result from field localization effects at specific resonant modes. The opportunity arises as a result of the recent development of a series of robust inorganic photonic structures that present interconnected porous networks susceptible of hosting polymers and thus inheriting their mechanical properties.
 

The AL-NANOFUNC project has been designed to install and fully develop at the Materials Science Institute of Seville (ICMS, CSIC-Univ.Seville, Spain) an advanced laboratory for the Nano-analysis of novel functional materials. Advanced Nanoscopy facilities, based on latest generation electron microscopy equipments, will be devoted to breakthrough research in specific topics of high interest: i) Nanomaterials for sustainable energy applications; ii) protective and multifunctional thin film and nanostructured coatings; iii) nanostructured photonic materials and sensors. To take the ICMS laboratories to a leading position that is competitive in a world-wide scenario, the AL-NANOFUNC project is contemplated to up-grade the actual research potential in several directions: i) improve equipment capabilities regarding the Analytical High Resolution Electron Microscopy facilities; ii) improve the impact and excellence of basic research through hiring of experienced researchers and transnational exchange with the reference centers in Europe; iii) develop and improve the innovation potential of the ICMS’s research by opening the new facilities to companies and stakeholders; iv) organize workshops and conferences, dissemination and take-up activities to improve research visibility. Close collaborations with reference centers and companies in Liège (Belgium), Graz (Austria), Jülich (Germany), Oxford (England), Cambridge (England), Dübendorf (Switzerland) and Rabat (Morocco), as well as with laboratories at Andalucian Universities, are foreseen in this project. Five companies in Andalusia will also collaborate in close synergies to promote the long-term strategic lines of interest for the region in the natural and artificial stone products and solar and renowable energy sectors.

The aim of this Project is to advance in the development of new biomaterials with im-proved bioactivity for their application in bone repair and regeneration. The goal is the prepa-ration of new coatings and scaffolds of ceramic materials using laser processing techniques from nanostructured ceramic particulates in the SiO2-CaO-P2O5 system which will be synthe-sised at the ICMS. The hypothesis is the compositional properties and the textural parameters of the particulates in combination with the laser source have potential for processing depositions with controlled macro-nanostructure. It is programmed to prepare two types of prototype pieces: i) Titanium metallic substrates with bioactive ceramic coatings and ii) monolith scaffolds of bioactive ceramic with controlled geometry. There are two milestones to highlight. The first one is the fabrication of prototype pieces (coatings and scaffolds) with reproducibility, homogeneity, micro-nanostructural features, and surface and mechanical properties requirements. A second milestone will be the evaluation of their in vitro an in vivo biological properties. The achievement of both mentioned milestones will lead to the final biomaterial prototype. Bone regeneration biologists and orthopaedic surgeons will study the bioactivity and biocompatibility of the coatings on titanium substrates provided by Synthes which is a leader Company in orthopaedic trauma devices for internal and external fixation and is included in the proposal as EPO. The application of the laser processing to the SiO2-CaO-P2O5 nanostructured ceramic materials is completely new and we believe that it could be optimised for obtaining coatings and reticulated scaffolds while keeping their nanostructural features. The Project integrates material scientist, laser engineers, biologists and orthopaedic surgeons. We believe that this multidisciplinary approach with work in the i) synthesis, processing and characterisation of materials, ii) regeneration biology and tissue engineering and iii) medical practise could achieve results with potential to be transferred to the industry to promote the orthopaedic products to improve Andalusian bone repair and regeneration therapies.

This Project aims at the development of a series of equipment and devices to monitor the working conditions of solar thermal plants based on light concentration with cylindrical parabolic mirrors. The role of ICMS in this project focusses on the application of plasma technology systems and the development of thin films able to determine the working conditions of these facilities.

Project PLASMATER aims at developing new plasma-based procedures to control the nanostructure, porosity and morphology of deposited thin films, and optimize the material functionalities and applications. From an experimental point of view, plasma-assisted thin film deposition techniques make use of various quantities to define the deposition conditions, such as the electromagnetic power, pressure in the reactor, etc. These quantities controls the plasma properties, which at the same time conditions the growth mechanism of the films. The complexity of the relation between experimentally controllable quantities and growth processes has produced the existence of empirical relations between experimental conditions and final film structure and composition, whose justification from a fundamental point of view is unclear. In PLASMATER we propose to analyze three related aspects of the deposition of TiO2 and ZnO thin films assisted by plasmas: i) complete diagnosis of the plasma bulk and sheath in connection with the material microstructure, ii) functionality of the material, and iii) the de-velopment of predictive numerical codes that calculate the final film microstructure as a func-tion of experimentally controllable quantities. This last part is of relevance because to our knowledge, i) it is the first time in the literature the deposition is fully characterized from a fundamental point of view, ii) this knowledge can be applied to suggest modifications in the deposition reactor in order to enhance different structural properties of the films. In order to carry out the PLASMATER project, we aim at following at mixed theoretical and experimental strategy in order to interactively develop numerical codes of the thin film growth in multiple conditions. All the spatial scales involved in the description must be studied, from the plasma bulk itself (typically of few tens cm), the plasma sheath (below 1 mm), and the surface of the material (tens nm). Advanced diagnosis techniques will be employed to understand the plasma behavior and the film growth. Finally, PLASMATER will focus on the experimental conditions that lead to an optimized performance of the studied materials for advance applications in technology and industry.

The general objective of the 'CERAMGLASS' project is to reduce the environment impact of thermal treatment of ceramics by the successful application of an innovative laser-furnace technology on planar ceramics and glass. The project plans to construct a pilot plant based on the innovative combination of a continuous furnace and a scanning laser. It aims at demonstrating a considerable reduction in energy consumption and the industrial scalability of the process.
The project primarily aims at showing that it is feasible to produce robust ceramic tile of only 4 mm thick. This would represent a 50% reduction in tile thickness, with consequent reduction in consumption of raw source materials. The project will adapt decoration compositions with more environmentally friendly materials by using the laser processing. Specifically it will adapt screen printing decorations to third-fire products with lustre and metallic effects and decoration inks for planar glass. The replacement of toxic starting materials will allow a minimisation of CO2 and other gas emissions, toxic residues and a reduction of the energy consumption of the process.

 

The aim of the proposed project is the development of highly active gold-based catalysts for selective oxidation processes. In these context, benzyl alcohol oxidation (and derivatives) under mild conditions and low temperature CO oxidation in connection with applications in Environment Catalysis as the air control (CO-removal from air) and applications in Catalysis for Energy as the purification of H2 produced by reforming (CO removal from H2) will be considered.

The outstanding properties of gold, a biocompatible non-toxic metal, can be exploited in catalysis when used in highly dispersed form. In order to get elevated yields and selectivities, doubly nanostructured (considering both the active phase and support) gold-based catalysts deposited onto CeO2 and TiO2 (Al2O3 and SiO2 as references) will be prepared. Monometallic gold catalysts will be prepared with control of size and shape of the Au particles, taking advantage of the observed “structure sensitivity” of the proposed reactions.  In the same context, it has been recently reported that bimetallic composition based on Gold (AuPd, AuCu, etc) may enhance the performance of these catalysts. Therefore bimetallic catalysts such as AuPt, AuCu and AuNi, will be explored and tested.

High-energy ball milling devices, such as planetary, vibratory and attritor mills, intro-duce into the starting powders increasing amounts of energy. Collisions and friction between the balls and between the balls and the wall of the vial result not only in a steadily reduction of particle size, but also induce solid state chemical reactions. During high-energy milling, inti-mate mixing of reactants takes place and fresh surfaces are continually created, which make possible that solid-state reactions progress gradually at room temperature. The new phase has frequently a nanometric character and a great amount of defects, which favours a subsequent sintering process. The mechanochemistry method represents an attractive and alternative route in the synthesis of nanocrystalline materials. Mechanochemical techniques are simple, flexible, and able to prepare a large variety of materials in a bulk-manner at room temperature. Mechanochemistry has been revealed as a practical way to obtain cost-effective materials and more convenient than other synthesis methods because of avoiding the use of heat and solvents can reduce environmental contamination. Due to an almost infinite compositional flexibility, mechanochemistry is suitable for the production of complex solid solutions and composites because of excellent powder homogeneity can be achieved at the same time as the nanostructure. In this project, the ability of mechanochemistry to produce easily and in a re-producible manner different materials that sometimes cannot be synthesized via conventional routes is explored. The following systems have been selected: (i) carbides, nitrides, and borides of transition metals, and (ii) oxides with a perovskite structure and general formula (A1-xA’x)(B1-yB’y)O3-z (A/A’=La, Sr; B/B’=Mn, Cr, Mg, Ga). In the first case, the aim is to develop composite materials based on complex solid solutions of the after-mentioned refractory compounds for structural applications. In the second case, the final goal is to design solid oxide fuel cells where all the components possess the same perovskite structure and similar chemical composition. In addition, the study and modelling of high-energy ball milling processes will be intended in order to permit more easily the scaling-up of the process.

The objective of the project is the development of thin films with adequate optical properties for their use as active elements in optical gas sensors capable of responding to the presence of gases and/or volatile products produced by the partial decomposition of explosives.

This project aims at developing radiation filters and screens in the shape of films and capable of blocking or selecting ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis) or near infrared (NIR) radiation within well-defined spectral ranges. Biocompatibility, flexibility and specific adhesive proper-ties will be sought after in order to make these films usable to protect all types of ill, wounded or burnt skin. The aim is to fill a currently existing hole in the field of skin phototherapy based on the healing properties of UV-Vis-NIR light, which is the absence of biocompatible patches in which selected ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths can be sharply blocked or allowed to pass depending on the needs of the patient. For clinical cases that so required, an integral approach to skin photo-healing will be taken, devising materials that allow therapeutic wavelengths to reach the skin while blocking harmful ones and providing the controlled topical release of substances that have a beneficial effect on the skin. This project is based on a new series of novel prototype materials that have recently been developed in the group headed by the applicant in the Institute of Materials Science of Seville.

The widespread use of portable electric and electronic devices increases the need for efficient autonomous power supplies (up to 50 We) that replace the currently predominant battery technology. The use of common fuels/chemicals, such as hydrocarbons or alcohols, as an energy source is a promising alternative when combined with the recent developments in microchannel reactor technology. In the previous project (MAT2006-12386-C05) we began to explore the use of micro-channel reactor technology to generate hydrogen on site and on demand by processing alco-hols which has allowed the manufacturing of microreactors for the catalytic steam reforming of methanol and CO preferential oxidation (PROX) reactions. In the present project, the main focus is set on the scaling up of the already designed microreactors which will allow the fueling of a 50 We commercial fuel cell (PEMFC) and the integration of both, the material and thermal flows generated in the fuel processor and the fuel cell, including the production and cleaning steps required by the PEMFC. In addition to this, the development of microreactors for the catalytic steam reforming of ethanol and the water-gas-shift (WGS) reactions is considered in this project for increasing the versatility of the designed device. The feasibility of this kind of autonomous power supplies would require the study of the manufacturing, scaling up of the microreactors and material and thermal flows integration, but also to explore the use of easily available materials (new steels adapted to use), the ageing behaviour of devices (steel, catalysts, sealings, …) and the development of a control algorithm of the fuel processor/fuel cell system.

The main objective of this Project is the production of Hydrogen from glicerol steam reforming. Glycerol is the most important by-product of the biodiesel production from the transterification of fatty acids. In the year 2010, the estimated production of biofuels was about 9.9 millions of tonnes, which represents 50% of the aims of the European Union objec-tives. The current energy system needs the development of alternative energetic models. The use of hydrogen as energetic vector is one of these alternatives, but, to assure the sustainability, its production must be from renewable sources. Among the possible renewable sources of hydrogen, the main advantage of the use of glycerol is the almost neutral carbon balance. In addition, the glycerol valorisation must lead to increase the profitability of the bio-refineries that, differently, would meet affected by the increase of costs associated with the elimination of this product.

This research addresses to produce binary and ternary oxide eutectics –specifically, Al2O3/ZrO2, Al2O3/Y3Al5O12(YAG), Al2O3/ZrO2/YAG and Al2O3/SiO2/ZrO2, zirconia being stabilized with different amounts of Y2O3– with well-controlled microstructures in the micro- to nanometric range for structural and thermal applications in efficient-enhanced power generation and conversion systems: fuel cells, chemical and high-temperature gas cooled reactors, thermal barriers of steels and super alloys in gas turbines and diesel engine components, etc. These materials are very attractive because of their excellent properties: high melting point, low density, thermal conductivity and chemical reactivity, and superior mechanical performance at both low and high temperature: mechanical strength close to 5 GPa at room temperature, and high creep, wear and erosion resistance. Very recently, superplasticity has been discovered in nanosized materials by the applicant team. Oxide eutectics will be produced by laser-assisted processing techniques in three configurations: bulk, plates (on ceramic and metallic substrates) and multilaminates. For the later configuration, microarquitectures with optimized residual stresses will be designed for enhanced mechanical and thermal performance. The residual stresses will be investigated by using piezo- and Raman spectroscopy, and the data compared to numerical predictions. Laser techniques will be also used to modify the microstructure of conventional ceramic coatings deposited on metallic engine components by Air Plasma Spray, and for machining of ceramic components to obtain a given functional geometry or to modify the external surfaces for improved wear behavior. One of the main goals of this Project is to produce materials with nanosized phases in order to achieve superplasticity (which contrasts with the superior creep resistance of mi-crosized materials). This capability opens the possibility of using superplastic joining and forming as processing methods for complex pieces with near net shape, recovering back its characteristic resistance after thermal treatments. The mechanical properties (flexural and compression resistance, elastic modulus, hardness, toughness and wear) will be evaluated from room temperature up to 1950 K in air as well as under other different environmental atmospheres in order to investigate their effect in the mechanical behavior or material degradation. A significant part of the Project is the structural and microstructural characterization of the as-received materials, and their evolution during mechanical tests. Such an investigation is critical to establish relationships between the experimental mechanical behavior (necessary for engineering designs) and the microstructural and processing parameters. To this end, techniques of optical (particularly confocal), electron (image, microanalysis and diffraction) and atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction with texture facilities will be used. Mechanical and microstructural data will feedback the fabrication process in order to obtain materials with tailored properties for specific applications.

Due to the expected short-medium term exhaustion of fossil fuels and due to clime changes produced by the green house effect, it is necessary to reconsider a new global energy policy. Hydrogen, as a vector for energy storage and transport, is an attractive candidate for a clean handling of energy. In the present project it is proposed the study of the so called reactive hydride composite systems (RHC) for hydrogen storage. These systems are based in the coupling of a single metal hydride (i.e. MgH2) with a complex hydride (typically a borohydride compound, i.e LiBH4) to give a reversible reaction that is producing or consuming hydrogen. The system can so be used as a hydrogen storage material according to following reaction: MgH2+2LiBH4 ↔ MgB2+LiH+4H2 (11.4 wt% hydrogen storage capacity). The reaction is improving the heat transfer handling, as compared to pure MgH2, by reducing heat release during the charging process. To improve the kinetic aspects (reduction of operation temperatures and times) it has been proposed the use of catalysts a/o additives. The main objective of the project is to understand the role of these additives to improve the hydrogen sorption kinetics. In particular commercial Ti-Isopropoxide (TiO4C12H28) , TiO2 and VCl3 have been selected as additives for this study. Also other catalysts like Co3B, Ni3B or RuCo will be prepared in our laboratory and also tested. The systems will be prepared and activated by high energy ball milling of the two hy-dride materials milled together with or without the additives (5-10 mol%). Kinetic studies will be carried out by gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen sorption measurements (hydrogen desorption or adsorption vs. time at constant T) and differential scanning calorymetry (DSC) analysis. An exhaustive microstructural and chemical analysis of the systems at the different step (as prepared, desorbed and re-absorbed) will be undertaken by following techniques: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) coupled to EDX (energy dispersive X-Ray) and EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) analysis, X-Ray Photoelectrton Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-Ray absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The comparative study of the samples, with and without additives, and the correlation between the kinetic studies and the microstructural and chemical analysis, should clarify the mechanisms of the kinetic improvements produced by the additives. These mechanisms are today far from being understood. On basis of the acquired knowledge we expect to significantly improve the systems with respect to hydrogen storage applications.

This project aims to study, by computer simulation at different length scales, the mi-crostructural evolution of a polycrystal at elevated temperature and under an applied mechanical stress field, with an emphasis on nanometric systems. For this study it is essential to know the law of mobility of the grain boundaries as a function of the temperature and the local stresses. When impurities are present, this law depends critically upon the concentration of segregated chemical species at these boundaries and upon their evolution during the dynamic regime (i.e., during deformation). As segregation itself is altered by the movement of the grain boundary, the two phenomena are coupled. The study of segregation will be carried out by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations; MD will also be used to characterize the mobility of a single grain boundary containing impurities. These data will be used as input in a mesoscopic model, which will allow the study of the dynamics of an ensemble of nanometric grains and, consequently, plasticity in this model polycrystalline system. The final objective of this project is to determine the law of evolution of the centers of mass of the grains in order to get, via a statistical treatment, the constitutive law for plasticity in a nanometric polycrystal. This macroscopic law will then be compared with experimental results in nanometric YTZPa system in which the research team has wide experience in recent years.

In this project the modifications of both optical emission and absorption of nano-materiales of different sort (rare earth doped nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, and films of organic dyes of nanometer dimensions) that occur when they are embedded in a photonic crystal structure. Both fundamental and applied aspects of the subject will be ana-lysed, efforts being focused on materials of current technological interest. From the applied point of view, this project finds its motivation in the possibility that photonic crystal offer of modifying those absorption and emission processes in a controlled manner so that they can be inhibited or amplified depending on the specific goal pursued. Particularly, we seek to put into practice these concepts to generate new designs of more efficient solar cells, capable of harvesting a larger amount of the incident radiation, and in the development of films for sensing devices sensitive to modifcations of different kind, such as presence of targeted molecules, variations of ambient gas pressure, etc... In its more fundamental aspect, our project aims at deepening our knowledge of the interaction between light and matter in systems in which there exists a strong dispersion and anisotropy of the dielectric constant, and in which it is possible to attain very low photon propagation speeds. For this analysis, we will employ photonic crystals with three dimensional order as hosts in which a wide range of organic and inorganic nanomaterials will be integrated in different configurations and whose absorption and emission will be experimentally and theoretically studied.

Multiferroic materials are those with two or more ferroic properties. There is a signifi-cant interest in those materials due to the large number of possible applications due to their properties. It has been claim in literature that the lack of reliable preparation methods for stoichiometric defect-free compounds hinders the development of applications of these compounds in devices. In this project, we propose the use of two alternative procedures for the preparation of multiferroic compounds: mechanical alloying and thermal decomposition of precursors under smart temperature conditions. The first procedure implies the use of a high-energy mill designed in cooperation with MC2 firm. The mill is connected to the gas system during operation. Thus, it is possible to control pressures up to 20 atm of any reactive or inert gas. The alternative proposed procedure implies the preparation of several precursors and their decomposition under smart temperature conditions. In the smart temperature control methods, the process itself determines the temperature evolution according to a function of the process evolution with time. These methods differ from the conventional ones in the control procedure, thus, in the conventional ones the function temperature-time is fixed while in the smart temperature control methods the process itself determines the evolution of temperature. In previous publications, we have observed that by using the smart temperature procedure, microestructure of samples could be tailored, while by using conventional heating procedures such control could not be achieved. Prepared samples will be characterized in terms of the oxidation state of the different cations, structure, microstructure and properties.

X-ray Absorption spectroscopy in reflection mode, ReflEXAFS, is a novel technique yielding the typical information from EXAFS, local structure around de absorbing atom, together with that obtained from reflectometry, such as roughness, layer thickness or density within the near surface region. The technique has also the capability of controlling the thickness of the region probed simply by changing the incidence angle, within a rather interesting range, 20-200 Ǻ. Moreover, in contrast with other surface spectroscopic techniques, such as XPS, it allows the study of buried layers. For all these reasons, it is a useful tool to provide structural information of surface materials, such as those with thin layer structure, coatings and surface modified bulk materials. In previous projects we developed measurement protocols for this technique at using model sample. Herewith we propose to apply the technique to real systems of two types: surface modified steels by nitriding treatments and materials made of mixed thin layers with optic and magnetic properties. Apart form the intrinsic interest of the technique itself and the systems which are going to be prepared and studied, this project is relevant in the framework of the development of XAS-based techniques of potential application in the Spanish beamline at the ESRF, SPLINE, as well as in the new Spanish synchrotron source, ALBA.

Our project aims to gather, improve, catalogue and present characterisation tech-niques, methods and equipment for nanomechanical testing. European-wide activities coordinated by a new virtual centre will improve existing nanoindentation metrology to reveal structure-properties relationship at the nano-scale. These methods are the only tools to characterise nanocomposite, nanolayer and interface mechanical behaviours in the nanometre range. This work will also lay down a solid base for subsequent efforts for defining and preparing new standards to support measurement technology in the field of nanomaterials characterisation. Steps include development of the classical and the dynamic nanoindentation method and its application to new fields, application of modified nano-indenters to new fields as scratching and wear measurement, firm and uniform determination of instrumental parameters and defining new standard samples for the new applications. The virtual centre will disseminate information based on a new “Nanocharacterisation database” built on two definite levels: on a broader level partners will inventory and process all novel nanocharacterisation techniques and, in narrower terms, they will concentrate on nanomechanical characterisation. This will be achieved through the synchronisation of efforts set around a core of round robins but the database will include data of other channels as parallel research work and literature recherché.

The project PlasNitro discusses the characterization of nitrogen plasmas in various technological related applications with techniques of deposition and functionalization of materials, reforming and processes of sterilization. Different procedures to measure properties of plasmas will go down to point, plasma that can be used in doping, deposition, functionalization and modification of materials and that contain nitrogen. In all cases by using techniques of diagnosis based in the detection of nitrogen species. Nitrogen is a usual component nowadays, only or in mixtures with other gases, in a lot of processes used in technology of plasma. Its experimental characterization and/or the modeling will allow getting fundamental properties from plasma (electron density, electron temperature, temperature of the gas, reactive species, etc.) and knowing the contribution to the homogenous (in phase plasma) and heterogeneous (in the surface-material interaction) reactions of the appropriate components of nitrogen. Numerical codes to get out the electron energy distribution function in plasma will become elaborate in the project. To this end the evaluation of the vibrational distribution of nitrogen will be necessary previously. This step implies taking into account multiple vibrational-vibrational processes, vibrational-translactional and vibrational-rotational processes. In the project we will be able to obtain models of fluid of the nitrogen plasma with the contributions of the most important species of the plasma. The theoretical calculations will be complemented with experimental measurements using electrostatic Langmuir's probe, this will allow measuring the electron energy distribution function, as well as density and temperature of the electrons. The partial nitrogen pressure in each application and the plasma's neutral components will be controlled by means of an analysis of residual gases. The kinetic modeling of the nitrogen plasma will enable the interpretation of measurements in the plasma out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and by using the Monte Carlo technique of simulation that enable the control of deposition/modification and the nano/microstructure of the materials. We will have, in this way, techniques that they will enable to control themselves and improving the procedures of work and the properties desired in the materials.

The main objective of this Project is obtaining composite materials from especially designed expansible and high layer charge laminar silicates containing low dimensional phases with effective activity for the retention and immobilization of toxic and dangerous wastes. The main innovating aspect of the Project arises, on one hand, from the confluence of the studies that the research team has performed with researchers from University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) within the development of the current national project. On the other hand, it arises from the action of reunification of the researchers who participate in a unique multidisciplinary project in the border of the basic chemistry of silicates in connection with the waste management. The proposed hypothesis, elaborated from the results obtained by the research team during the last decade, states that the effectiveness of the elimination of polluting agents by layered aluminosilicates is controlled by the structural disposition and the composition of the low dimensional phases originated during the treatments. Methodology is not limited to synthesis of the composite materials and its characterization, and it incorporates a measurement of the potential which they would represent in the treatment of wastes, essentially based on some organic polluting agents and heavy, toxic and radioactive cations. The development of the Project will affect the relations of the research team with Research Groups of the University of Bayreuth (Germany) and Cambridge (United Kingdom) and the multidisciplinary character of the Project and the noticeable academic and educational character of the team can be considered a guarantee of its high formative capacity.

In The present Project tries to use high-charged silicates, which are designed under procedures that allow controling the quantity and distribution of the tetrahedral active centers. They will be submitted to a set of chemical soft treatments in order to inmobilize toxic elements. This project will be carried out in collaboration with BEFESA and ENRESA companies. Firstly, the effect that the experimental variables involved in the procedure of synthesis exert on the distribution of the active centers of the materials will be analyzed. In the second stage, the synthetic silicates will be treated under soft hydrothermal conditions with solutions containing carefully selected toxic and radioactive elements. Finally, the degree of retention of these elements in the new obtained phases will be estimated. The Research Team (R.T.) will incorporate an experimental methodology developed by itself that includes the combined employment of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Solids, X-ray Diffraction, X-rays Fluorescence and Microfluorescence, which will give information of the long range order and the local environment of the active centers of the residues, responsible of it dangerousness. It will have to give direct and not yet available information of the final mechanism of fixation, which is the main objective of this Project. The expected Results will bring basic useful information about the mechanisms of interaction of metallic ions with the framework of expansible aluminosilicates and its relation with the local arrangement of their atoms. Moreover, it will bring a useful knowledge allowing to develop new suitable procedures for immobilization of industrial waste, in collaboration with the companies of the sector, which marks the innovative character of the Project.

TEM-PLANT project focuses on the development and application of breakthrough processes to transform plant-derived hierarchical structures into templates for the exploitation of innovative biomedical devices with smart anisotropic performances and advanced biomechanical characteristics, designed for bone and ligament substitution.  The TEM-PLANT project primary addresses the nano-biotechnologies area and will push the current boundaries of the state-of-the-art in production of hierarchical structured biomaterials. By combining biology, chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology and production technologies, new and complex plant transformation processes will be investigated to copy smart hierarchical structures existing in nature and to develop breakthrough biomaterials that could open the door to a whole new generation of biomedical applications for which no effective solution exists to date.

Starting from suitably selected vegetal raw material, ceramization processes based on pyrolysis will be applied to produce carbon templates, which will be either infiltrated by silicon to produce inert SiC ceramic structures or exchanged by electrophoresis deposition to produce bioresorbable ceramics. For ligament yielding two processes will be developed: pH-controlled and electrophoresis-controlled fibration to generate fibrous collagenous cords with high tensile strength and wear-resistance.