Group activity focuses on the controlled and rational synthesis of inorganic and hybrid (inorganic-organic) nanoparticles and nanocomposites and the study of their structural -functional properties. Among others, we are currently interested in the stabilization of metastable phases, the preparation of core-shell nanoparticles, stable colloidal dispersions and porous nanocomposites. Some of the synthetic methods we are using are sol-gel chemistry, supercritical fluids, thermal decompositon or microwaves. We must confess a soft spot for magnetic systems…

We aim at the applicability of our materials in the HEALTH and in the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES sectors:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

• Magneto-electric materials
• Magneto-photonic materials
• Hard-magnetic materials

NANOMEDICINE

• Contrast Agents for MRI
• Drug Delivery Vehicles
• Cell Tracking and Therapy
• Nanoparticle Assessment in 3D Environments

Current Collaborations:

• Concha Domingo (ICMAB-CSIC) Drug Delivery Vehicles
• Anna Rosell/Joan Montaner (Institut de Recerca del Vall d’Hebron) Cell Tracking and Therapy
• Adrian Carretero/Clement Sánchez (Université Pierre et Marie Curie) Stabilization of metastables phases
• César Fernández (CNMB-CSIC) Electrochemical sensors
• Francesco Stellaci (EPFL, Switzerland) Janus particles
• Pavel Levkin (KIT, Germany) Surface functionalization 
• Dermot Brougham (Dublin City Universit, Irland) MRI relaxivity studies
• Gerrit Bochard/Olivier Jordan ( University of Geneva, Switzerland) Polymeric nanocapsules
•  Gervasi Herranz (ICMAB-CSIC) Magneto-Photonic and Magneto-Plasmonic Materials
• Cefe López (ICMM-CSIC) Magneto-Photonic Materials
• José Luis García (ICMAB) Magnetoelectric Materials
• Cyril Aymonier (ICMCB-CNRS) Magnetic Materials in Supercritical Fluids
• Liberato Manna (IIT) Complex Magnetic Nanoparticles
• Irina Smirnova (TU-Hamburg) Magnetic polymeric particles
• D.-X. Chen (UAB) Relaxation Mechanisms in MRI