An important representation of SUMAN group assisted to the 13^th European Conference on Applied Superconductivity, EUCAS 2017, held in the International Conference Centre of Geneva (CICG), hosted by CERN in collaboration with the University of Geneva and EPFL-SPC, and presented the work of the group.

Dr. Anna Palau give an invited entitled ” European progress toward Nanostructure engineering in coated conductors” at 4MO3 – Coated Conductor: Processing and Properties session.

Dr. Xavier Granados an oral communication entitled “Superconducting Medium Speed Synchronous Electrical Generator for 2MW Class Wind Mills” at 2LO2 – Rotating Machines and other Large Size Applications session.

Dr. Cornelia Pop an oral communication entitled ” Chemical solution deposition growth of low fluorine thick coated conductors of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and YBa₂Cu₃O₇ nanocomposites with preformed BZO nanoparticles” at 4MO3 – Coated Conductor: Processing and Properties session.

The PhD student Laia Soler an oral communication entitled “Mechanisms of novel transient liquid assisted growth for ultrafast production of YBa₂Cu₃O7-x thin films” at 3MO3 – Cuprate Thin films session.

The PhD student Bernat Mundet an oral communication entitled “The challenging pinning landscape of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films” at 1MO1 – Critical Current and Flux Pinning session.

And the group has also presnted the following posters:

• “ReBCO coated conductors for the future circular hadron collider beam screen” by Dr. Joffre Gutierrez
• “Physical Properties of Nanostructured, Liquid Assisted Grown, Epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O₇-x Superconducting Films” by the PhD student Juri Banchewski
• “YBa₂Cu₃O₇-x nanocomposite films by CSD-ultrafast Transient Liquid Assisted Growth” by the PhD student Júlia Jareño
• “Thick YBa₂C₃O₇-x layers with ink jet printing single deposition” by the PhD student Bohores Villarejo
• “Preparation of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ – BaMO (M=Zr, Hf) superconductor nanocomposite using colloidal solution with preformed nanoparticles” by the PhD student Ziliang Li
• “Role of Oxygen exchange kinetics in the engineering of carrier concentration of YBa₂Cu₃O₇-δ films” by the PhD student Alex Stangl
• “High growth rate of YBCO films by Transient Liquid Assisted Growth by oxygen partial pressure control” and “Eutectic temperature determination of the BaO-CuO-O system in
  bulk and in films” by the PhD student Silvia Rasi

Other collaborators presented results obtained in collaboration with the group:

• “Dragging hysteresis forces in a linear displacer with Coated Conductor Stacks” poster by Prof. José López
• “Magnetization of rectangular 2G HTS stacks and dragging forces developed inside a multipolar magnetic channel: trapped field, current distribution and forces” poster by Prof. Miquel Carrera

We want to thank to all SUMAN participants for the successful orals and posters! Congratulations, good job!

Our PhD student, Alexander Stangl, has participated in the CERN Superconductivity Hackathon 2017 organized by FCC hh ee he from 22th to 24th September in Geneve (Switzerland). The primary target of the Hackathon is to work on solutions based on superconductor technology for three particularly interesting and promising future application fields.

Hey! My name is Pedro and I’m from Brazil. After finishing my Master in electrical engineering at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro I joined ICMAB’s Superconducting Materials and Nanostruture at Large Scale department as a PhD student. My research is focus on implementing superconducting wires in electrical equipment for the power grid system. I shall be working in the FASTGRID project seeking to enhance 2G HTS tape’s performance for higher electrical fields.

Hi guys!

My name is Artur and I am a new PhD student in the SUMAN group. Studying at the RWTH Aachen University, I developed expertise on Phase-Change materials performing PES, XRD, and low temperature transport measurements. Here at ICMAB, I am going to participate in promoting the electrical characterization and optimization of HTS coatings for the FCC at CERN. Looking forward to get all you guys to know! You can find me in office 1.19.

Our PhD student, Alejandro Fernandez, has attended to the 10th International Conference on Vortex Matter in Nanostructured Superconductors (VORTEX X) in Rhodes (Greece) from 9th to 14th of September. He had the oportunity to see many interesting oral presentations during these days and he also presented a poster (entitled: Tuning of the electronic structure in high Temperature Superconducting films at nanometric scale) gathering part of his research in the group. Of course, he could enjoy some free time relaxing in the beach or some night shows in the hotel. He hopes that some of you can join it in the following years.

During the last 5-8^th of September it was celebrated the last Microscopy at the Fronters of Science (MFS 2017) at the historical paraninfo building located in Zaragoza. Our phD student Bernat Mundet made an oral contribution entitled “Probing oxygen vacancies and their associated distortions in real space in YBa2Cu3O7” with the following co-autors: B. Mundet, J. Gazquez, R. Guzman, R. Mishra, E. Bartolomé, M. Coll, A. Palau1, S. M. Valvidares, P. Gargiani, E. Pellegrin, J. Herrero-Martin, T. Puig, X. Obradors.

In the following picture it can be seen our student presenting their results.

The gala dinner was held at the Aura restaurant which has nice views through the Ebro river and the Pilar cathedral as it can be seen in the next picture:

Our PhD Student Júlia Jareño is visiting Prof. Shimoyama Laboratory in Aoyama Gakuin University, in Japan. Through their expertise in thin film growth, the project is focused on studying the growth mechanism of Ba2342 as a buffer layer for YBCO films. Our student has also had the oportunity to visit the Asahi substation from Tokyo power where a BSSCO cable is on operation.

We are very happy to announce that our researcher Mariona Coll has been awarded with one of the Research Awards L’Oréal-Unesco “For Women in Science” in the 2017 Call for her project “Nanochemistry: New materials for the efficient conversion of solar energy”.

After obtaining her PhD at ICMAB on 2007, Mariona did her postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and at University of Maryland (USA). She came back at ICMAB in 2010, and obtained the Ramon y Cajal Researcher position in 2014. Her research interests are focused on novel materials for energy applications, such as superconducting materials or materials for photovoltaics. 

The Research Award “For Women in Science”, of 15,000 €, will be devoted to support and promote the project developed at ICMAB by Mariona Coll during the following year. The awards ceremony will take place in Madrid on November 22, 2017.

The Jury of this XII Edition was composed by the following scientists:

• Pedro Miguel Echenique, Professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV / EHU), President of the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) and Prince of Asturias Award on Scientific Research on 1998
• Avelino Corma, Research Professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Valencia ITQ (CSIC / UPV), Founder of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Valencia ITQ (CSIC / UPV) and Prince of Asturias Award on Scientific Research on 2014
• Teresa Rodrigo, Professor at the University of Cantabria, Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
• Pilar López Sancho, Research Professor at the Materials Science Institute of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC)

Congratulations! 

Congratulations to our PhD Student Changyong Lu that yesterday has defended his thesis at Sala de Graus II of Science Faculty of UAB, entitled: 

“Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Nanocomposites and Their Applications Study”

Abstract: 
Nanomaterials especially nanoparticles become one of the most attractive area not only in scientific research but also in industrial applications. In this thesis, the preparation of magnetite nanoparticles, their related nanocomposites and the application of those obtained nanomaterials have been studied. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized via normal and microwave assistance reverse microemulsion methods. The obtained nanoparticles were fully characterized with different laboratory techniques and the effect of reaction parameters on final products was also studied. These nanoparticles were used as a support of Ag catalysts nanoparticles and the as synthesized nanocomposites shown nice catalytic property and high recyclability.

A novel Fe₃O₄@GNF@SiO₂ nanocapsulates were also prepared via in situ formation of magnetite nanoparticles and silica coverage process. The obtained nanocapsulates have nice stabilities even in the acid environments. The potential application of these nanocapsulates in magnetic resonance imaging research was also studied. On the other hand, the cytotoxity and interaction with cell of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles were studied which indicate the possibility of using them in biomedical research. Then, the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles were further decorated with biomolecules such as MC540 and L-thyroxine. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles with the surface functionalized with molecule imprinted polymers also suggested the potential application in biosensor research.

Supervisor:

• Dr. Josep Ros Badosa, UAB
• Dr. Susagna Ricart Miró, ICMAB

PhD Committee: 

• President: José Luís Bourdelande, Departament de Química, UAB
• Secretary: Eduardo Solano Minuesa, ALBA Synchrotron
• Vocal: Albert Calleja Lázaro, OXOLUTIA S.L

The Network of Excellence (NOE) NANOSELECT is a natural continuation of the corresponding Consolider Project which was focused in Functional Oxide Materials. The Meeting will be also supported by the Severo Ochoa Program. The Program aims to promote excellence in scientific research in Spain. It targets centres or units that carry out cutting-edge research and are among the world’s best in their respective areas. The ICMAB is one of the top research institutions named as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO).

During the meeting SUMAN researchers presented their last results entitled:

• “Mechanisms of novel transient liquid assisted growth for ultrafast production of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films” (oral communication by Laia Soler)
• “The role of Oxygen exchange kinetics in the engineering of carrier concentration of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films” (oral communication by Alex Stangl)
• “Reversible tuning of spin textures and resistance states in High Temperature Superconducting films” (oral communication by Anna Palau)
• “Chemical growth techniques to nanoengineer functional oxide thin films and interfases ” (oral communication by Mariona Coll)
• ” Competition between octahedral tilts and polar shifts in perovskites” (oral communication by Jaume Gazquez)
• “Structural distortions triggered by the most common YBCO defect: the Y2Ba4Cu8O16 intergrowht” (oral communication by Bernat Mundet)

And the following posters:

• “In-situ thermal analysis of YBa2Cu3O7-∂ FF precursor solutions during pyrolysis: film versus powder” by S. Rasi, J. Farjas, P. Roura, S. Ricart, L. Soler, J. Jareño, T. Puig and Xavier Obradors
• “New insights in strained ReNiO3 thin films” by B. Mundet, J.Gázquez, R.Guzman, J. Jareño, J.C. González-Rosillo, X. Obradors and T. Puig
• “Physical Properties of Nanostructured, Liquid Assisted Grown, Epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-x Superconducting Films” by J.Banchewski, L.Soler, J.Jareño, R.Guzmán, S.Rasi, J.Farjas, P.Roura, S.Ricart, C.Mocuta, X.Obradors and T.Puig
• “Colloidal solutions of Nanoparticles in Alcoholic Ionic Environments for Growth of Nanocomposite Fucntional Oxides” by N.Chamorro, Z.Li, A.Garzon, P.Cayado, M.Coll, R.Yañez, J.Ros, T.Puig, X.Obradors and S.Ricart
• “Exceptional self-assembly by citrate bridge formation in LnF3 (Ln=Y, Gd) nanoparticles synthesis” by J.Martinez-Esain, J.Faraudo, T.Puig, X.Obradors, J.Ros, S.Ricart and R.Yañez
• “Synthesis and aplications of Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles and Fe3O4@CNT@SiO2 nanocapsules” by C.Lu, S.Sandoval, T.Puig, X.Obradors, G.Tobias, J.Ros and S.Ricart
• “Chemical co-substitution on multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films for next generation photovoltaics” by P.Machado, A.Sánchez, J. Gazquez, X.Obradors, M.Campoy-Quiles, T.Puig and M.Coll
• “YBa2Cu3O7-x nanocomposite films by CSD-ultrafast Transient Liquid Assisted Growth” by  J. Jareño, L.Soler, J.Banchewski, N.Chamorro, S. Rasi, R. Guzmán, J.Martínez, S.Ricart, J.
  Ros, J.Farjas, C. Mocuta, X. Obradors and T. Puig
• “Preparation of nanostructured YBCO YBa2Cu3O7 – BaMO (M=Zr, Hf) superconductor nanocomposite using colloidal solution with preformed oxide nanoparticles” by Z. Li, M. Coll, N. Chamorro, B. Mundet, J. Gazquez, F. Vallés, A. Palau, C. Pop, J. Ros, S. Ricart , T. Puig and X. Obradors
• “Defect analysis in new liquid-mediated YBa2Cu3O7 thin films” by R. Guzman, L. Soler, J. Jareño, J. Banchewski, S. Ricart, X. Obradors and T Puig
• “Tuning of the electronic structure in High Temperature Superconducting films at nanometric scale” by A. Fernandez, J.C. Gonzalez-Rosillo, X. Obradors, A. Palau, N. Mestres and T. Puig
• “Superconducting Medium Speed Synchronous Electrical Generator for 2MW class of Wind Mills” by X. Granados, J. López-López, A. Muñoz, J.L. Rodriguez-Izal, C. Salvatierra, E. Martínez, A.L. Angurel, T. Puig and X. Obradors
• ” Vortex pinning in CSD YBCO nanocomposite films also at ultrahigh magnetic fields” by F.Vallès, A.Palau, Z. Li, B. Mundet, B. Villarejo, C. Pop, F. Pino, M.Coll, J. Gázquez, S. Ricart, X.
  Obradors and T. Puig
• “Thick YBa2C3O7-x layers with ink jet printing single deposition” by B. Villarejo, Flavio Pino, C. Pop, S. Ricart, P. Roura, J. Farjas, N. Chamorro, J. Ros, X.
  Obradors and T. Puig
• “Chemical solution deposition growth of low fluorine thick coated conductors of YBa2Cu3O7 and YBa2Cu3O7 nanocomposites with preformed BZO nanoparticles” by C. Pop, B. Villarejo, F. Pino, N. Chamorro, F. Valles, B. Mundet, A. Palau, J. Gazquez, A. Usoskin, S. Ricart, T. Puig and X. Obradors