Advanced Functional Materials and Surfaces

This research line concerns mainly the implementation through deep fundamental understanding of functional materials for advanced technological needs. BCMaterials covers the synthesis, development and scale-up of a wide range of materials for fuel cells and batteries (including solid electrolytes, advanced cathode and anode materials and interface engineering for next generation batteries), photovoltaic materials (prvoskyte) or permanent magnets (critical materials free). Further, to provide surfaces with additional functionalities beyond the traditional decorative or protective ones is a key issue in science and technology. Active and multifunctional surfaces are being developed based on active materials, via patterning and/or chemical modification techniques, allowing to obtain specific and tailored magnetic, optical, mechanical or electrical responses. BCMaterials is working on sensing, self-cleaning, self-healing and antibacterial surfaces, following a wide variety of methods, including chemical and physical deposition and printing techniques.
Researchers
Ahmad, Shahzada | Ikerbasque Research Professor | ||||||
![]() Bio Born and brought up in India, studied Materials Chemistry at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (India) and finished his Ph.D. (2006) from National Physical laboratory in the field of Materials chemistry. Subsequently he moved to the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow to work on surface and interface studies of electrodeposited layers in ionic liquids by scanning probe microscopy. He was a regular visitor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, where he developed nanoporous films for metal-free electro-catalysis and new redox shuttle. In 2011 he accepted the offer as program head of new concept in photovoltaics and advanced materials and was the strategic hire for the Abengoa Research, a corporate research center of multinational energy based conglomerate Abengoa. He is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, and recently his work was endorsed by European research council consolidator grant (2016). He is the inventor of 7 patents, his work has been summarized in >100 articles, along with many popular science artilces, and the publications list reflects his diverse field of interest in the domain of physical chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science. In summer 2017, he accepted the call from Ikerbasque to work as senior professor at Basque center for materials, applications and Nanostructures. Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Chen, Kaiyuan | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Kaiyuan Chen received his M.S. degree of Materials Science and Engineering at Guilin University of Technology in 2020. His research focused on the local structure and dipole-glass-like relaxor behavior of the functional ceramics. Kaiyuan is currently pursuing his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Qi Zhang and Prof. Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez, focusing on Designing, Recovery and Re-manufacturing of Electroceramic Components. Moreover, he is interested in the relation of local structure and physical property in oxide materials. |
|||||||
Chernenko, Volodymyr | Ikerbasque Research Professor – UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives Curriculum Vitae — Google Scholar — ResearcherID — ResearchGate |
|||||||
de la Caba, Koro | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]()
|
|||||||
Doménech Azorín, Daniel | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
Email: daniel.domenech@bcmaterials.net
Daniel Doménech graduated in Physics in 2020 at the University of València (UV). He first became involved in Particle Physics, with his bachelor thesis regarding particle track reconstruction with machine learning techniques at LHCb. In 2021 he finished his master’s degree in Advanced Physics at UV with a specialization in Theoretical Physics. During his period in València he has collaborated in large experiments associated with CERN, such as LHCb, AMS-02 and RD50. He also enjoyed a research stay in Quantum Optics at the Johannes Guttenberg University (JGU) of Mainz, Germany, performing optical super-resolution microscopy of single trapped ions. However, his interest changed during his master thesis, focused on the static characterization of monolithic radiation-hard active pixel sensors -the new generation of silicon particle detectors-. There he discovered the important role of Materials Science in the development of new technologies. His work received the Xavier Gómez i Font award for the best master’s thesis written in English at UV. He is now pursuing a PhD at BCMaterials and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) on the control of current induced magnetic domain wall motion in nanostructures and thin films under the supervision of Prof. Rafael Morales and Dr. José Maria Porro. His research focuses on the characterization of magnetotransport processes and the fabrication of nanopatterned magnetic thin films for spintronics applications. |
|||||||
Esquivel, Juan Pablo | Ikerbasque Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Juan Pablo Esquivel is currently an Ikerbasque Research Associate at BCMaterials. He holds a BSc in Mechatronics Engineering (2005) from Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), MSc in Micro and Nanoelectronics Engineering (2008) and a PhD in Electronics Engineering (2010) from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). He has performed research stays at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany, and was a Senior Fellow at the Bioengineering Department of the University of Washington, USA, under a Marie Curie Fellowship. In 2016, he obtained a Tenured Scientist position at the Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC). He is also co-founder and Scientific Advisor of the spin-off companies Fuelium and Sweanty.
His work is focused on the development of sustainable power sources, such as fuel cells and batteries, and their integration in autonomous portable devices. His multidisciplinary research combines materials science and engineering, electrochemistry, paper microfluidics and printed electronics technologies with sustainability principles and a product oriented approach. He has authored more than 60 ISI scientific contributions, is inventor in 12 patents and has presented his work in 70+ conferences, including several invited talks. He has received numerous fellowships, international prizes and distinctions for his work, such as the Catalonia Ecodesign Prize and the TR35 award from MIT Technology Review, as one of the top 10 mexican young innovators. He is recognized as SNI level I from Conacyt, Mexico. He has obtained competitive founding at regional, national and European levels as well as from private organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has mentored and supervised research work from 30+ researchers including postdoc, PhD, MSc and undergraduate students.
Research interests Biodegradable batteries | Micro fuel cells | Materials engineering | Paper microfluidics | Organic electronics | Ecodesign | Circular Economy
|
|||||||
Fidalgo-Marijuan, Arkaitz | Post-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Expertise Crystal structure solution and refinement. IR and Raman spectroscopies. Thermal properties of materials. Catalytic activity measurements. DFT calculations. Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Gandia Aguado, David | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
García Franco, Andrés | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Andrés García Franco graduated in Chemistry in 2020 at the University of Murcia (UMU). His final grade work was the study of the electrocatalytic capacity of gold nanoparticles in the oxygen reduction reaction using square wave voltammetry. He finished the Master in New Materials in 2021 at the University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the University of Cantabria (UC). He development his final master work at BCMaterials with the title of “Fabrication and Characterization of ThMn12-type compounds for his applications as permanent magnets”. Currently, he is developing my PhD studies in the area of advanced functional materials at the BCMaterials.
Interest and objectives
|
|||||||
Gil de Muro, Izaskun | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
González Saiz, Paula | Post-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Dr. Paula González Saiz received her M.Sc. in Physics from the University of Cantabria (Spain) in 2016 and her Ph.D. in Science and Technology of Materials from the University of the Basque Country in 2020. She joined BCMateriales in 2016 to do her Master Thesis on Materials and after that she did a PhD on the development of environmental sensors based on magnetoelastic resonators functionalized with Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) porous materials. She has broad experience in the preparation and characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, FTIR, VSM, …) of different materials since she has always done experimental works in that field since her final degree project. She has written over 10 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, and she is also co-author of a book chapter in the field of MOFs materials. Moreover, she has presented his research in more than 15 conferences and workshops both national and international and has attended several courses on materials characterization techniques (like microscopy, thermal analysis, or X-ray diffraction techniques) and summer schools (in MOFs and in magnetism). Besides, Paula is very passionate about science dissemination for what she has participate in different outreach events like talks in scientific café, radio interviews, science week, scientific events organization or talks in schools, among many others. Currently, she is involved in MULTI-FUN (Enabling multi-functional performance through multi-material additive manufacturing) project support from the European Commission.
|
|||||||
Guerrero, Pedro | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]()
|
|||||||
Harindu Hemasiri, Naveen | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Naveen Harindu Hemasiri holds BSc (Hons.) in Materials Science and Engineering, and MEng (Hons.) in Printed Electronics Engineering. He received his BSc in Engineering degree with excellent honors from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2015 and completed his Master of Engineering degree with the best achievement (both academic and research) award from Sunchon National University, Korea in 2018. His undergraduate project examined metal oxide-based solid-state gas sensors and NiTinol based smart shape memory alloys. In 2016 he started working with Prof. Ji-Myon Lee and his master research focused on the improvement of electronic properties of the thinnest known material, graphene and hybrids of it for printed electronics and optoelectronics applications. |
|||||||
Huang, Peng | MSCA Fellow – Post-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Dr. Peng Huang received M.S. degree from Beijing Institute of Technology in 2015, under supervision of Prof. Haizheng Zhong and his research focused on synthetizing CdS-based quantum dots and preparing high efficient white light emitting diode. Thereafter, he joined the Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials at Soochow University, China and received his PHD degree under the guidance of Prof. Yongfang Li in 2018. During PHD program, he focused on interface engineering of perovskite solar cells with 2D transition metal dichalcogenides.
Interests and objectives The website of my researchgate: |
|||||||
Insausti, Maite | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Lázpita, Patricia | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
López Arbeloa, Fernando | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Morales, Rafael | Ikerbasque Research Professor – UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Muhammed Usman, Haris | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Muhammed Usman Haris has received his Master Degree in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi university Kottayam- India in 2017. His master´s thesis was focused on Synthesis of Graft-Polymers and its applications at National Institute of Technology Calicut(NIT-C)- India. Then he joined National Chemical laboratory, Pune as a research assistant to work in the field of Low Dimensional Perovskites for LED application. He has experienced in synthesis, structural and optical characterizations of hybrid halide perovskite materials. Then He joined with the Advanced Functional Materials group in BCMaterials in August 2019 as a pre-Doc and working towards his PhD under Prof.Shahzada Ahmad. |
|||||||
Pegu, Meenakshi | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Meenakshi Pegu has received her Master Degree in Chemical Sciences from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-G), Guwahati- India in 2015. On her Master thesis she worked on developing a new Fluorescent Chemo sensor and its Application in the group of Prof. G. Krishnamoorthy. She then moved to Bangalore and joined Indian Institute of Science, as a Research assistant to work under Prof. P. Thilagar in the Ministry of Science and Technology funded project from 2016-2018. She has gained knowledge on the synthesis and characterization of smart molecules. Currently, she is working towards her PhD in the group of Prof. Shahzada Ahmad at BCMaterials, working in Europe excellence project within the European research council framework. |
|||||||
Rodriguez Crespo, Bosco | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Bosco Rodríguez Crespo graduated in Physics in 2017 at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). His degree thesis was on “Development on new rare earth reduced permanent magnets based on SmFe12 with enhanced coercivity” carried out in BCMaterials.
Subsequently, he finished his master´s degree in New Materials in 2019 at the University of the Basque Country and the University of Cantabria with a thesis based on “Manufacturing and processing of metamagnetic shape memory alloys for screen-printing inks” carried out in the BCMaterials.
Currently, he is starting his PhD in Multifunctional shape memory alloys under the direction of Daniel Salazar and Volodymyr Chernenko
|
|||||||
Rosero Romo, James | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() J.J. Rosero-Romo, received the title of Physical Engineer in 2016, and his M.Eng. in Materials and Process Engineering in 2019 from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellìn and candidate to a student of the PhD. in science and technology in 2021 in the Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. From 2016 to 2020, he worked for the Facultad de Minas, laboratory of Biomaterials in the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellìn. His research interests include Biosensors, methods electrochemistry and technique characterization of materials. “Currently, I am involved in MULTI-FUN project, to the development of novel materials and progress of Additive Manufacturing, my other interest lies in the field of surfaces modification and development of biosensors.” Areas of action
Expertise
Operation of: The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Carl zeiss, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) Park System NX 10, microRaman confocal spectrometer HORIBA and Knowledge in Electrochemical Techniques. o Documentation o Material characterization CvLAC https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0000054418 |
|||||||
S. Garitaonandia, José | UPV/EHU Research Associate | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Salado Manzorro, Manuel | Juan de la Cierva Fellow | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives |
|||||||
Salazar, Daniel | Senior Researcher | ||||||
![]() Expertise Bio Interests and objetives
|
|||||||
Teijido Fernández, Ruben | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Rubén Teijido Fernández received his Chemistry graduate (2019) and his Master´s degree in New Materials (2020), both from “Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)” in Leioa, Spain. In 2017 h started to collaborate with the Chemistry Physics department in its macromolecular chemistry research group under the supervision of associate professor Leire Ruiz Rubio and department director Jose Luis Vilas Vilela. Since then he has followed diverse investigation lines gaining experience with the most commonly employed methodologies and techniques in polymer science. Once a proper initial experience was achieved, he focused his work in hybrid biopolymer-inorganic hydrogel systems, developing both his grade and master’s thesis in developing and studying chitosan-polyoxometalate hybrid hydrogels. In September 2020 he joined BCMaterials as predoctoral researcher to develop his thesis in the developing of alginate-based anticorrosion coatings for metallic pieces under the supervision of Qi Zhang (BCMaterials) and Leire Ruiz Rubio (UPV/EHU). Currently, besides his recently started predoctoral research, he is still involved with macromolecular chemistry department at UPV/EHU, following the research line of developing new multifunctional hybrid hydrogels with applications in biomedicine. His abilities include the synthesis and characterization of hybrid hydrogels, including: thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), diferential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle, among others. ATTENDED SCIENTIFIC CONGRESSES: Jovenes Investigadores en Polimeros (JIP 2019) in Universidad de Burgos (UBU). Oral Communication. Title: ESTRUCTURAS HÍBRIDAS POLÍMERO POLIOXOMETALATO: INTERACCIONES, PROPIEDADES TÉRMICAS Y COMPORTAMIENTO DE AUTO REPARACIÓN. |
|||||||
Undagoitia, Mikel | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Mikel Undagoitia received his bachelor degree in chemistry from the University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in 2018 with a thesis about the development of fluorophosphate cathodic materials for sodium ion batteries and its application in high scale stationary batteries. Later, he obtained his master´s degree in New Materials in 2019 from the University of Basque Country. His master´s thesis degree was on the development of cathodic fluorophosphate-phosphate cathodic composite materials, also for sodium-ion batteries. Subsequently, he joined Leartiker (BRTA, Mondragon Corporation) as researcher and manager of Relicario project (Recycling of end-of-life carbon fibre reinforced plastics), an international project founded by EIT Raw Materials (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), collaborating with many companies as Extracthive, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Veolia, MAIER and University of Ghent (Ugent). His work was focused on the characterisation of recycled carbon fibres by solvolysis and their compounding with different thermoplastics for automotive applications. During this research stage, he had the opportunity to work with Professor Wim Van Paepegem, world-renowned expert in composite behaviour. After almost two years, in 2021, he decided to join BCMaterials to start his PhD in the field of sustainable batteries under the direction of Juan Pablo Esquivel and Verónica Palomares. |
|||||||
Urgoiti Rodríguez, Maitane | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Maitane Urgoiti Rodríguez graduated in Chemistry in 2020 at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Her degree thesis based on “Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of molybdenum chalcogenides as Na-ion battery electrodes” carried out in the Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Leioa. Subsequently, she finished her master´s degree in New Materials in 2021 at the University of Basque Country and the University of Cantabria with a thesis based on “Study of solid solutions of type Mo6Se(8-x)Sx (x=0,2,4,6,8) as electrodes in sodium ion batteries” carried out in the Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Leioa. She is currently starting his PhD in development of new materials for energy applications at BCMaterials. |
|||||||
Wang, Yifeng | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Yifeng received his bachelor’s degree of manufacturing in Hunan University in China in 2013. And then he worked as an engineer for a company producing aeroengine parts until 2019. During his work, he was sent by the Chinese Scholarship Council to UK for a master’s degree. He finished his master of materials in Cranfield University in UK in 2018. The master thesis project was about ZnO gas sensing films and was under the supervision of Professor Jose Luis Endrino and Dr. Christopher Shaw. In the year 2020, he started to pursue his PhD title and the program is about the recycle of lithium-ion batteries under the supervision of Professor Qi Zhang and Dr. Eider GoiKolea. |
|||||||
Zarandona Rodríguez, Amaia | Pre-Doctoral Researcher | ||||||
![]() Amaia Zarandona Rodríguez graduated in Chemical Engineering in 2017 at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Her bachelor thesis was on “Regeneration of the catalyst for hydrogen production” and it was carried out in the department of Chemical Engineering (Leioa). Afterwards, she finished her master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2019 at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the University of Cantabria (UC). Her master thesis was on “Improvement of the thermal conductivity of different types of elastomers through the modification of the loads” with a fellowship in FLEXIX. After that, she worked at VITO, an independent Flemish research organization in the area of cleantech and sustainable development, during 1 year. Her main work consisted in developing a novel electrochemical process for the transformation of glucose into added-value chemicals. Nowadays, she is working on her PhD in the area of active and smart materials at the BCMaterials. |
|||||||
Zhang, Qi | Ikerbasque Research Professor | ||||||
![]() Q. Zhang graduated in physical chemistry at Wuhan University, Wuhan, China in 1982. He received his MSc in inorganic materials at Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China in 1986. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in chemistry at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia in 1995. He is now an Ikerbasque research professor in BCMaterials. Before that, he worked in Cranfield University, UK as a research fellow in 1996, a senior research fellow in 1998, a senior lecturer in 2007, and now a visiting academia. He has been a visiting professor in Wuhan University of Technology, China since 2012. |
Research Associates
In this research line also take part several Research Associates, that belong to the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and perform part of their activity within BCMaterials. Thus, the work of the different lines is carried out in close collaboration with research groups at the University, promoting excellence and worldwide impact.