INMA researchers lead a project of ‘nanotips’ to accelerate advances in new materials and nanotechnology
This project has obtained 99,450 euros of funding from the Government of Aragon and will run until December 2026. One of the objectives is to create new materials for household appliances, jewellery and other consumer goods
Researchers from the Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Zaragoza, the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (CSIC), the University of Oviedo and the Aragonese company ATRIA Innovation S.L. are taking part.
A team of researchers from the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Zaragoza (INMA-CSIC-UNIZAR), is developing a technology based on the manufacture of ultra-sharp tips using electron and ion beams. The aim is to use them in Atomic and Magnetic Force Microscopy and to be able to apply them to new materials, nanobiotechnology and nanomagnetism.
This opens up new options for using materials to provide better solutions to the needs of everyday life in many sectors, such as household appliances, jewellery and other consumer goods. It is also an opportunity for Aragon’s industrial and business sector.
In the field of new materials, novel use will be made of correlative microscopy equipment (combining images from an electron microscope and an atomic force microscope) installed in 2024 in the Clean Room of the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (UNIZAR). The aim is to understand why materials perform well or poorly in terms of their mechanical strength properties, electrical behaviour, magnetic state, etc., which the researchers believe is related to surface characteristics and defects.
In the field of nanobiotechnology, the aim is to observe proteins in their natural environment with higher spatial and temporal resolution, in order to obtain relevant information on their three-dimensional structure and dynamics.
In the field of nanomagnetism, the aim is to observe with greater clarity the magnetic domains present in magnetic multilayers of interest for magnetic storage and to perform ion irradiations to create efficient channels for the transmission of magnetically stored information.
Multidisciplinary team
The project has the collaboration of researchers from other centres, such as the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (CSIC), the University of Oviedo and the company ATRIA Innovación S.L. In addition, the project will use correlative microscopy equipment recently acquired by the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (UNIZAR).
The principal investigator of INMA is José María de Teresa (CSIC), who underscores the importance of this line: ‘We think that the experience of the Nanomidas group in the manufacture of ultra-sharp tips for atomic and magnetic force microscopes can have a great impact on the research of other groups working respectively in the study of the properties of proteins and in the study of magnetic nanomaterials. In addition, the application of our nanotips to the study of new materials for household appliances, jewellery and other consumer goods, which will be carried out jointly with the company Atria Innovation S. L. through a new correlative microscopy equipment, can open a new line of work with great potential for transfer to the Aragonese industrial sector. Other INMA researchers participating in the project are Soraya Sangiao (UNIZAR), César Magén (CSIC), Anabel Gracia Lostao (ARAID-UNIZAR), Lucía Herrer (CSIC) and Tatiana Escalante (CSIC).
It has also been financed by the Government of Aragon, within the call for R+D+i projects in priority lines and of a multidisciplinary nature, with an investment of 99,450 euros.
José María de Teresa: deteresa@unizar.es
Contacto: +34 876555360 and +34 976762463
Webpage: https://nanofab-deteresa.com/
