The Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia organised a conference dedicated to innovation and technology transfer in materials science with the collaboration of the ICMAB, the ICN2 and the IMB-CNM. A set of presentations was followed by a guided tour to the laboratories of the three centres.
On March 16, the Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia (Cluster MAV), together with three of its associates – the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)— held a hybrid conference on the “Materials of the Nano- and the Micro-World”. The event, which was open to the participation of companies operating in materials science, was structured in two sessions: the first one consisted of a brief introduction about the Cluster MAV, followed by six presentations offering an overview of some of the cutting-edge material technologies developed by the aforementioned research institutes; the second part was a guided visit to a few of the laboratories and facilities of the three centres.
After the welcome and introduction by Ona Bombí Aymerich, project manager of the Cluster MAV, Dr Imma Ratera, CSIC senior researcher at ICMAB in the Molecular Nanotechnology and Organic Materials Group, presented her work on bioactive materials for therapy and diagnostics –such as radioactive nanocapsules for lung cancer therapy, antimicrobial compounds to prevent infections and a biomaterial based on bacterial nanocellulose for the regeneration of tissues. Dr Gervasi Herranz, a researcher in the Multifunctional Thin Films and Complex Structures Group at ICMAB, talked about methodologies for the dielectric and magnetic characterisation of materials, a line of research applied to electronics and digital communications.
Following, it was the turn of ICN2 scientists. First, Dr Elena Del Corro García, a researcher in the Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group, provided an introduction to the activities of GraphCAT –a community whose objective is to make Catalonia an international reference for the development and transfer to the industry of graphene technologies— focusing in particular on graphene-based neurological interfaces. An overview of possible applications of functional surface coatings was given by Dr Salvio Suárez García, a postdoctoral researcher in the Nanostructured Functional Materials Group (Nanosfun) at ICN2, who also talked about Futurechromes, a spin-off company originated from the Nanosfun group working on photochemical surface coatings for smart windows, glasses and visors, which can change colour or opacity depending on different environmental conditions.
Finally, the floor was taken by representatives of the IMB-CNM-CSIC. Prof. Philippe Godignon, CSIC research professor in the Power Systems and Devices Group, discussed new semiconductor materials –such as gallium oxide, silicon carbide, diamond and graphite— as an alternative to silicon for a new generation of efficient electronic systems. Dr César Fernández, CSIC senior researcher in the Chemical Transductors Group of IMB, closed the session with a talk on microfabrication approaches for modelling and characterization of functional materials.
In the second part of the event, those who attended in person were given a tour of some of the laboratories of the three centres, which sit just a few metres apart on the UAB Campus. The first stop was at the ICMAB labs of the Particulate Matter and Nanocomposites Group, of the Nanostructured Materials for Optoelectronics and Energy Group and the Nanocomposites and Molecular Materials Group. Afterwards, the visitors moved to the IMB-CNM, were they had the opportunity to see a part of the clean room installation for micro and nano-fabrication. The tour concluded at the ICN2, where Dr Del Corro and Dr Suarez showed the laboratories of the Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group and of the Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, respectively.
About Clúster MAV
The Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia (Clúster MAV) is a non-profit technology-based association, set up in 2015 with the support of the Catalan Government’s ACCIÓ Catalonia Trade & Investment agency. Its strategy targets innovation and its main purpose is to make businesses and organisations in the advanced materials sector value chain more competitive.
The Clúster MAV sponsors initiatives and actions designed to enhance the advanced materials business by fostering and harnessing synergies between partners and related sectors. It delivers technology information and market data to its members to promote business opportunities through win-win collaborations, innovative solutions and high added value projects.