Research Groups
Distribution of INMA groups in departments.
*The size of the circles is directly proportional to the number of members in each group.
The activity of the group focuses on the micro and nanostructuring of polymers and liquid crystals in the search of novel functional polymeric systems of interest in different application fields such as Biomedicine, Photonics and Soft Robotics. The preparation of polymeric systems (microparticles, thin films, microstructures,..) with controlled morphology and functionality that confers to the materials novel or improved properties is achieved by using liquid crystal or block copolymer self-organization and advanced lithography techniques and additive micromanufacturing techniques, such as inkjet or 3D printing.
Given the multidisciplinary and applied nature of the Research carried out, the group, composed primarily by physicist, collaborates with chemists, biochemists, engineers and theoreticians both in academia and industry.
The BIONANOSURF Group’s research focuses on all the stages involved in the design, development, characterization, testing, validation and transfer of nanotechnologies for the diagnosis and treatment of various pathologies. Specifically, our research is mainly divided into 4 lines of research: therapeutic nanoconjugates and drug delivery systems; Magnetic Nanoactuators for Enzyme Activation and Membrane Receptors; Calorimetric nanobiosensors and Quality management in the development of Nanotechnology.
The BIONANOSURF group is a multidisciplinary group made up of approximately 45 members with extensive training in physics, biochemistry, chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacy and other relevant areas. The multidisciplinary nature of the group facilitates research and development in various areas, including biosensors, gene therapy and magnetism, among others.
Our research is mainly focused on organic functional materials with a chemical structure precisely designed to enable self-assembly at the nanoscale and tailored properties for applications in material science and nanomedicine. We have strong expertise on synthetic covalent, supramolecular and dynamic chemistry as well as self-assembly techniques directed to organic materials and nanomaterials based on liquid crystals, polymers or DNA. Our synthetic toolbox includes organic synthesis, click chemistry, controlled radical or ring-opening polymerizations, dendrimer synthesis, photopolymerization, dynamic covalent chemistry and DNA-nanotechnology. Our competences extend to the structural and functional characterization of organic materials and polymers. The multidisciplinarity of our team is key to reinforce internal complementarities and we work in collaboration with national and international groups to boost our skills. Currently our research interests are mainly directed to materials based on the self-assembly properties of liquid crystals, for applications in organic electronics, chiroptical systems or membranes, and precise macromolecules, hydrogels, dynamic systems and DNA nanotechnology for applications in nanomedicine (drug/gene delivery, antimicrobials, diagnosis among others).
ENMA´s group (Assembly of Materials and Surface Modification) has wide experience in the assembly of organic, inorganic or hybrid materials using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB), self-assembly (SA), electrografting or spin-coating techniques and their characterization by spectroscopic, microscopic or electrochemical techniques, as well as in the modification of surfaces through physicochemical processes ((super)-hydrophobicity / hydrophilicity), or formation of nanostructures. Its research focuses mainly on applications oriented to the fields of:
– Molecular Electronics
– Model Cell Membranes
– Surface Modification
LEMA research group activities include several research lines based on the application of different laser technologies to modify materials. These include development of new materials with technological interest in different industrial sectors. The latter are related with higher efficiency and cleaner energy and based on environmentally respectful new processing techniques. The group attempts to maintain a leadership position in the field of scalable laser processing, developing singular techniques to obtain new materials and optimize the performance of more conventional ones, searching for new functionalities and an improvement of present fabrication processes.
M4 is a multidisciplinary research group formed by physicist (theoreticians and experimentalist), chemists, engineers and biologists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) or the University of Zaragoza and belonging to several Aragonese Institutes (INMA, ISQCH).
The main research lines are four; chiral magnetism and organic magnets, manometric platforms for biomedicine, synthesis and structural characterization of molecular magnets, and magneto-caloric materials. All the research subjects of the group have as common points the multi functionality and the molecular character of the materials of interest.
The group uses the organometallic routes for synthesising materials. The main experimental techniques employed by the group are magnetometry, calorimetry and Xray diffraction. The group has also a vast experience in the use of large scale research facilities, like neutron sources and synchrotrons.
The research group is focused on the synthesis of nanoparticulated materials to be applied in antimicrobial therapy, pain management and osteoarthritis. Primary research directions are also focused on designing on-demand drug delivery systems. The group is interested in the development of new antimicrobial nanomaterials and devices with no cytotoxic effects on human cells, and with demonstrated superior efficiency than conventional strategies. The Group is currently working on the scaled-up production of different nanostructured materials using microfluidic reactors to overcome the limitations of conventional batch syntheses. We are also working on the development of light-activated drug delivery systems for the triggered release of analgesics to reduce their systemic side effects and shorten recovery times. Part of our group develops nanosystems loaded with therapeutic molecules for the molecular inhibition of cartilage degradation.
MAGNA research group’s activity focuses on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, covering researches on Spintronics, magnetic nanoparticles for life sciences and Advanced Microscopies.
The main research lines of MAGNA are:
Line 1.- Nanostructured materials based on spintronic effects for energy conversion (“thermospin”) and on topological surfaces.
Line 2.- New nano-structured multiferroic materials for low consumption applications.
Line 3.- Biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles for applications in new oncological therapies based on magnetic hyperthermia.
HYMAT is a multidisciplinar group formed by chemists and physicists from INMA, with a wide expertise in the synthesis and physics of magnetic materials, and in the nanostructuration of diverse types of materials (carbon-based materials, perovskites, MOFs, magnetic nanoparticles, polymer-nanoparticle hybrid materials). Its activity involves the elaboration of hybrid materials and/or devices, in the frame of the three following research lines:
A) Molecular magnetic materials for ICT applications
B) Magnetic hyperthermia
C) Energy
Membranes and nanostructured materials: focuses on three main lines: (1) Synthesis and characterization of nanoporous materials: zeolites, titanosilicates, lamellar materials, ordered mesoporous silicas, graphene derivatives, MOF and COF, controlling their surface chemistry and textural properties. (2) Development of mixed membranes: dense and supported on flat and hollow fiber polymeric supports for molecular separations. (3) Application of nanostructured materials to membranes to improve their separation capacity in more efficient processes related to energy and the environment: gas phase separations (CO2 capture, H2 purification, biogas enrichment, etc.) and liquid phase separations such as nanofiltration (solvent purification, removal of micropollutants from water), pervaporation and osmotic distillation. Other applications are encapsulation for the textile industry or catalysis for biorefinery.
Contact: mecanos@unizar.es
The NANOMIDAS research group (Nanofabrication and advanced microscopies) is a group recognized by the Dirección General de Aragon (DGA) dedicated to cutting-edge research into different types of nanomaterials from an advanced microscopy point of view (Focused Ion Beam FIB, (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy STEM and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy STM). Our group pursues the structural understanding at the atomic level and its correlation with the physico-chemical properties, allowing the synthesis and manufacture in a controlled manner and at the nanometric scale, of multifunctional materials for their application in the fields of electronics, nanoengineering, catalysis, energy, medicine and environment.
NANOMIDAS is a multidisciplinary group that brings together researchers with different backgrounds, including physics, chemistry or materials science.
The research interest of the Nanoscopy on Low Dimensional Materials (NLDM) group is mainly focused on the study of the atomic structure and configuration, as well as the physical (electronic, optical, vibrational, mechanical) properties of low-dimensional nanomaterials based on carbon, boron and nitrogen, transition metal dichalcogenides as well as other nano-structures (in particular, metallic nano-objects for plasmonic/photonic interest). To accomplish these studies different TEM techniques are utilized (HR(S)TEM imaging, electron diffraction, EELS, EDS and electron tomography) as well as other spectroscopies as XPS and Raman. The group actively collaborates with industrial and academic partners in the area of graphene and related materials as well as other nanocarbon structures and materials.
NANOSENSORS AND BIOANALYTICAL SYSTEMS (N&SB) (E25_20R, Research Group recognised in the Autonomous Community of Aragon 2020-2022).
Research lines:
– Development of monitoring systems based on enzymatic (nano)biosensors both for the control of biogenic amines in food (dairy, meat and fish) and the preparation of implantable biological devices (glucose and neurotransmitters).
– Development of rapid methods for early detection of the presence of biogenic amines in packaged foods (smart packaging), using new materials and nanomaterials based on self-assembling oligoglycines.
– Development of analytical platforms based on HPTLC-MS to solve problems related to lipidomic profiling in blood and human tissue.
– Functionalisation of surfaces using self-assembling oligoglycines, whose properties can be modulated when drugs and nanomaterials with optical and electronic transport properties of interest (graphene, nanodiamonds) are immobilised on them.
The NFP Group was created in 2007 by researchers from different backgrounds, with the aim of concentrating efforts in the development and application of nanostructured materials, with an emphasis on nanoparticles, nanoporous interfaces and hybrid systems. The NFP Group belongs to the Nanoscience and Materials Institute of Aragon (INMA), a multidisciplinary institute where researcher backgrounds include Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Medicine and Biochemistry. At the INA and beyond we find numerous opportunities for lateral thinking and scientific collaboration.
Our interests are focused in the investigation and development of structural and functional ceramics for energy applications and their devices. Basic research and transfer to industry.
In particular:
A) Functional ceramics for electrochemical applications and their devices: ionic and mixed conductors for electrochemical devices (SOFC and SOEC cells, lead-acid batteries, Li ion conductors, H2 and O2 membranes, etc.), cell assembly.
B) Functional materials based on directionally solidified eutectics: with applications as CO2 membranes; selective thermal emitters; metamaterials; photocatalizers, etc.
C) Ceramics with mechanical performance: Laser assisted solidification of eutectic oxide and non-oxide ceramics, with exceptional mechanical resistance and to high temperature corrosion, good behaviour against wear and thermal shock.
D) Laser assisted processing of ceramics and other materials: Solidification from the melt, marking and structuring by melting, ablation, etc.
Catalysis and Carbonaceous Nanomaterials: the main lines of research are: i) Synthesis and characterization of metal catalysts supported on biomass-derived carbon; ii) Development of catalysts for CO2 methanation; iii) Development of catalysts for selective dehydrogenation of bioethanol to acetaldehyde; iv) Production of hydrogen and carbonaceous nanomaterials (e. g. carbon nanotubes or graphene), by catalytic decomposition of light hydrocarbons; v) Catalytic gasification of biomass-derived carbonaceous residues; vi) Kinetic modeling and design and design of catalytic decomposition of light hydrocarbons; vii) Catalytic gasification of biomass-derived carbonaceous residues. g. carbon nanotubes or graphene), by catalytic decomposition of light hydrocarbons; v) Catalytic gasification of carbonaceous residues derived from biomass; vi) Kinetic modeling and design and optimization of structured catalytic reactors.
Our research is oriented to develop the scientific basis of future quantum technologies, based on the manipulation and detection of quantum states in materials. The main theme of our research is the study of the interaction of these materials with electromagnetic radiation in devices.
The group combine expertise in fabrication, experimentation and theory. Our research can be grouped in three main axis:
– Nanophotonics (with the aim of controlling light-matter interaction at the nanoscale)
– Quantum Circuits (with the sublines of Quantum Circuits with Magnetic Molecules and the Exploration of Light-Matter interaction in New Regimes of Coupling Strength).
– Sensors (both Sensors of X-Rays based on Quantum Technology and Scanning Magnetic Microscopy).
The RASMIA Research Group focuses its research activity on the design, production and advanced characterisation of magnetic materials where magnetism is combined with other functionalities (ferroelectricity, luminescence, optical transparency, etc.) for applications in sustainable technologies: spintronics, quantum information technologies and green refrigeration. The main topic of our research is the use of Synchrotron Radiation techniques for the advanced characterisation of these materials, in which members of the group have acquired international recognition and which distinguishes us from other groups in Materials Science. This line of basic research is complemented with the development of our own technologies and their transfer to industry. To this end, we have innovated in the recovery, purification and liquefaction of helium on a small scale, with the production of a large portfolio of licensed patents and high impact results worldwide. Our main lines of research are:
1. Production and characterisation of technological materials – Multiferroic oxides and multifunctional magnetic molecules.
2. Development of multifunctional nanostructures – high spin-orbit coupled oxides and 2D and 3D molecular nanostructures.
3. Scientific and technological innovation – Electrocaloric and/or barocaloric cooling; development of coherent X-ray imaging techniques and helium purification and liquefaction.
The work of the Photoactive pi-Functional Systems group is based on π-conjugated systems, of great interest due to the wide range of optical and electronic properties of this type of compounds that have encouraged their study and integration in optoelectronic and electronic devices.
As lines of work, firstly, two-photon induced photopolymerisation (TPIP) as one of the most flexible methods for microfabrication, in particular, we are involved in the search for new photoinitiators (PI) for TPIP. Secondly, the development of electro-optical (EO) polymers, with incorporated chromophores of high non-linearity, which are characterised by their easy integration, fast response and play a key role in the development of photonic platforms. Thirdly, we are interested in photovoltaic (PV) devices, in particular DSSCs, and the optimisation of sensitisers for alternative cell configurations with low-light potential. We are also recently starting to work on the photolytic decomposition of water for hydrogen production, taking advantage of our experience in semiconductor sensitisation to reduce the low stability of dyes under operating conditions.
Theory, Modelling and Simulation (aTMOS)
In the ATMOS group, we work on the theory, simulation, and modeling of materials. We focus on the study of materials both ab initio and with effective models. We also work on quantum optics and nanophotonics. Specifically, we address computational tasks from first principles, thermal transport, high-throughput materials screening, and ionic matter modeling. Additionally, we work on topological matter, surface electronic structure, many-body problems, quantum optics, magnetism, and nanophotonics. For this, we employ numerical techniques such as density functional theory, molecular dynamics, lattice dynamics, and force fields based on machine learning. We have expertise in finding exact and approximate solutions for many-body Hamiltonians. When this is not possible, we use tensor networks and various variational Monte Carlo methods. For nanophotonics, we use finite-difference time-domain methods, coupled modes, and finite elements. On top of that, we are very interested in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to all these problems. Additionally, we have experience in designing and developing our own software. Our hallmark is the strong collaboration with experimental groups.
Campus San Francisco, Facultad de Ciencias
C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12 – 50009 Zaragoza (España)
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