INMA researchers coordinate the trans-Pyrenean TNSI project for the development of cutting-edge scientific instrumentation
Jorge Lobo, a researcher at the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), a joint centre of the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, is leading the TNSI project – “TransPyrenean Node for Scientific Instrumentation”, which is coming to an end. The project, which has been financed with ERDF funds from the European Community, brings together six research laboratories and several SMEs located on both sides of the Pyrenees. TNSI is part of the European regional cooperation programme created to promote the sustainable development of the border area between Spain, France and Andorra, stimulating innovation and competitiveness in the region.
Among the achievements obtained during the development of the project, the following stand out:
-ALI-1000 from liquid phase molecule deposition to coronavirus
ALI (Atomic Layer Injection) technology has been developed, which, although initially designed for the deposition, under extreme vacuum conditions, of molecules on surfaces from liquid solutions, due to the current context generated by the pandemic, its use was proposed for modelling the aerosols emitted by people when speaking or singing, thus being able to assess the effectiveness of barrier measures and optimise the health safety distances to be established in the fight against COVID-19.
-Towards a green source of hydrogen production for a cleaner world
This line of research is directly related to sustainable development and green energy. During the development of the project, clean electrochemical cells and photocatalysts have been obtained for the production of greener hydrogen at a competitive price. Currently, hydrogen production is based on the dissociation of methane molecules into hydrogen and CO2, a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. To obtain greener hydrogen without CO2 emissions, researchers have focused on advancing the design and prototyping of more efficient scientific instruments and large-area photocatalysts to study and quantify the production of hydrogen from water, methanol or alcohol molecules.
-Detecting neutrinos to understand the universe
This line of work involves the innovation and improvement of molecule evaporators used in the development of a new type of chemical sensors, fluorescent two-colour indicators, or in the identification of fundamental particles such as neutrinos. The aim of such sensors is to find out whether neutrinos have a matter/antimatter duality, i.e. whether they are both neutrino and antineutrino. In this way, these sensors would help us to better understand the universe and, therefore, our planet.
-Biocompatible electronic circuits
Research in this area uses electronic circuits with a thickness of less than 10µm. This thickness gives them a property of flexibility that makes them biocompatible. The TNSI project has developed a special tool called a bender that performs controlled bending. This tool ensures the optimal functioning of these objects in samples smaller than 3x3m.
The consortium that makes up the project is formed by the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA) (CSIC-University of Zaragoza), the Centre for Materials Physics, CFM (CSIC – University of the Basque Country), the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona, ICMAB (CSIC), the CEMES Unit of the National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS, the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ICN2 (Generalitat de Catalunya – CSIC – Autonomous University of Barcelona), CELLS – ALBA, ISP System, Suprays and antec.
The project has been co-financed 65% by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) through the Interreg V-A Spain, France, Andorra (POCTEFA 2014-2020). The objective of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area. Its support focuses on the development of cross-border economic, social and environmental activities through joint strategies for sustainable territorial development.
Photo: neutrinos
Photo: electronic circuits
Photo: instrumentation (1)
Photo: instrumentation (2)
Information about TNSI project: international projects at INMA and TNSI website
30/06/2021
