Advanced functional materials

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
His research targets are advanced materials development for energy conversion, conservation and storage materials application.

— Google Scholar — ResearcherID

Leire Celaya Azcoaga graduated in Chemistry in 2018 from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Her undergraduate thesis, entitled “Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for removal of pollutants from aqueous media”, was carried out in the Department of Mineralogy and Petrology of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Leioa as a continuation of her previous work as an intern student at BCMaterials.

Subsequently, she studied a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and an Expertise in International Education + IB Certificate (2019) at Camilo José Cela University after which she continued her scientific career by completing her Master’s degree in New Materials (2020) at the University of the Basque Country and the University of Cantabria. Due to exceptional circumstances, she developed a bibliographic master’s thesis in collaboration with BCMaterials on the state of the art of inner and surface functionalization strategies of Metal-Organic Frameworks as bio-active molecules delivery systems.

Currently, she is starting her PhD in BCMaterials in the field of multifunctional materials for the controlled release of drugs based on inorganic-organic clusters. Her research will also be focusing on the design of bioactive MOF-type materials.

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

Google Scholar –  ORCID – Scopus ID – ResearcherID

Dr. Abolfazl Ghaderian has joined BCMaterials in 2020 as a Post-Doctoral Researcher. His main research interest is designing of organic and inorganic materials for solar cells applications.

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.

• ResearchGate: (3) Paula Gsaiz (researchgate.net)
• Google Schoolar: ‪Paula G. Saiz – ‪Google Académico

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.
One of his graphene projects was awarded as the best project in Brain Korea (BK) 21Plus program in 2017 and obtained a Korean patent in the same year. He joined with the Advanced Functional Materials group in BCMaterials in February 2019 as a pre-doctoral researcher where he is reading for his Ph.D. Currently, he is working on 2D materials beyond graphene and TMD based hole/electron transport materials for perovskite solar cells and temperature-dependent electrical behavior of those materials on solar cell devices.

Google Scholar –  Research Gate  – Linkedin

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
High efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells.

The website of my researchgate:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peng_Huang32

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.

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.

Expertise
Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-Ray difractogram (XRD), Optical measurements (J-V curves, Quantum efficiency (QE), Impedance Spectroscopy (IS), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fabrication of solar cell devices (pervoskite based).

Bio
Manuel Salado Manzorro received his PhD in Material Science in 2017, from Abengoa Research (www.abengoa.com) along with Pablo de Olavide University (www.upo.es), under the supervision of Prof. Shahzada Ahmad. He was recognized as the first PhD student to be awarded with the Industrial mention by the Pablo de Olavide University. The main goal of his PhD was the study and development of hybrid perovskite interfaces for the improvement in stability and efficiency of photovoltaics solar cells. His background as a Chemical Engineer and his subsequent Master degree in Nanomaterialsand nanostructures (www.unizar) were beneficial to assess and improve the processes related with the fabrication (scale-up) and development on products based on perovskites. He has written over 15 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, 2 Book chapters and he is also co-inventor of 2 patents in the field of perovskite solar cells.”

Interests and objetives
One of the key points of my PhD was the improvement in device performance and stability of perovskite based solar cells; Working on MOLEMAT (Molecularly Engineered Materials and process for Perovskite solar cell technology) project will give me the oportunity to keep understanding the kinetics of the devices, improving their stability and undertaking new techniques to elucidate the role of the different compounds in perovskite material.

Curriculum Vitae — ResearchGate

Expertise
Single-crystal growth by floating zone method, magnetic properties and electrical transport, instrumentation design and engineering.

Bio
Daniel Salazar Jaramillo is an electronic engineer from the Universidad del Quindío (2007) who received the doctor degree in physics and mathematics from the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in 2012. He started his research on nanostructured and granular magnetic materials, transition metal oxides, magnetic properties and electrical transport in nanocrystalline oxides, magnetic, structural and thermal properties in strongly correlated electron systems during his PhD. Since late 2013 he is joined to the BCMaterials in a postdoctoral position and currently is focused on the study of the magnetocaloric effect and their physical features on single crystals of magnetic shape memory alloys and on the coercivity enhancement of nanostructured hard magnets by grain boundary engineering.

Interests and objetives

• Study of the magnetocaloric effect and their physical features on single crystals of magnetic shape memory alloys.
• Coercivity enhancement of nanostructured hard magnets by grain boundary engineering.

Curriculum Vitae — Google Scholar — ResearcherID

Ahmed Esmail Shalan worked as a researcher at Central Metallurgical R&D Institute, Egypt after finishing his PhD. He had obtained his PhD (2017) from the Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Japan, in the group of Prof. Dr. Hiroaki Misawa with the collaboration of Prof. Dr. Eric Diau -NCTU- Taiwan. It worth to mention that he got a prize during his Ph.D. as the best thesis at the graduate school of information science and technology, Hokkaido university and Ministry of Education Prize. Before he joined Hokkaido University he obtained a fellowship at DAAD visiting scholar internship in (i-MEET-FAU), Erlangen, Germany with Prof. Christoph J. Brabec and CIN2, UAB, Barcelona, Spain with Prof. Monica Lira Cantu. He published almost 30 papers in prestige journals (with h index of 14). Besides, he is an active reviewer for several journals (such as Electrochimica Acta, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, RSC Advances, etc.), a member in the editorial board of different prestigious publishers and have been invited to write several reviews and books chapters and have already published 6 book chapters. Also, he has been invited to give talks in conferences and Institutes.

Interests and objectives:
I have a strong background in chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science. Also, I have a sufficient experience in the field of materials and processes for applications in energy and photonics, with emphasis on halide perovskites. In addition, my experience with fabrication and characterization of solution-processed perovskite-based solar cells devices is shown through my publications.

Expertise:
X-Ray difractogram (XRD), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Optical measurements (J-V curves, Quantum efficiency (QE), Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fabrication of solar cell devices (dye, organic and pervoskite based).

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)S_x (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.

Ainara Valverde de Mingo graduated in Chemistry in 2017 at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Her degree thesis was on polymeric coatings with antibacterial properties in the Macromolecular Chemistry Laboratory of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Leioa.

Subsequently, she finished her master’s degree in New Materials in 2018 at the University of the Basque Country and the University of Cantabria with a thesis based on hyaluronic acid and chitosan coatings onto titanium substrates for their use in implants and prothesis, carried out in the Macromolecular Chemistry Laboratory of the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Currently, she is starting her PhD at BCMaterials, in the field of multifunctional materials for environmental sensing and water remediation based on Metal Organic Framework polymeric composites. Her research will be also focused in the study of these materials by different neutronic techniques.

Expertise:

Surface modification and characterization (XPS, SEM, AC, TEM…)
Synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials. (NMR, FTIR, UV-VIS…)
Thermal properties and degradation (DSC, TGA…)

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.