Our research aims to generate applied knowledge in the areas of organic chemistry, catalysis and materials science. We seek to generate scientific knowledge through originality and multidisciplinarity.
As specialists in Organic Chemistry we aim to bring our vision to the creation of molecular complexity, all geared towards sustainability and efficiency in coherence with sustainable development goals. Specifically, our study focuses on:
- The design of new functional materials and the development of alternative applications in catalysis and energy.
- The use of MOF/COV-type systems that can generate high-density functional interfaces resistant to extreme environments.
- The development of new synthetic pathways for obtaining molecular complexity through processes in line with green chemistry.
- The use of hydrogen self-transfer processes to activate diols and generate new structures.
- The development of new structures for photovoltaic systems.
- The development of original methodologies to access polyaromatic compounds from simple structures and with catalysis.
The research activity of the group is currently focused on the development of these projects: MAT2012-33483 (IP Andrés Cantarero, CSD2010-0044 (Coordinator Clivia Sotomayor, from the ICN) and the ITN Nanowiring (Coordinator Angela Rizzi, from the University of Göttingen, Germany).
Within the framework of these projects, we study the applications of semiconductor nanowires in the fields of energy and photonics. The studies range from the fundamental level, through the study of their structural, electronic and optoelectronic properties, to their application in thermoelectric or optoelectronic (in particular solar cells) devices or in integrated photonics.
The theoretical support is oriented towards the development of semi-empirical methods for the design and modelling of semiconductor nanostructures. A wide variety of techniques have been implemented to exploit existing experimental results and those obtained by first-principles techniques. Semi-empirical methods facilitate the synergy between theory and experiment. These methods also allow the design of electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Synthesis and characterisation of conductive, thermostable and thermoplastic polymers.
The Digital Systems Design and Communication Group (DSDC) is a consolidated research group attached to the Escola Técnica Superior d'Enginyería of the Universitat de València since 1996. It is currently made up of four teachers and researchers with doctorates and four pre-doctoral researchers. It has two 100m2 laboratories fully equipped for the design and development of electronic demonstrators.
He has extensive scientific experience, with more than 70 articles in high-impact international journals and more than 90 participations in scientific congresses. It also has an extensive track record in the development of research projects, having participated in more than 15 projects funded by public calls for proposals, and has a long tradition in technology transfer, having collaborated as a scientific partner in matters related to electronics, computing and telecommunications through more than 30 contracts and agreements with major players in different sectors and business areas.
Areas of research:
- Customised electronic design (hardware and firmware). Reconfigurable Logic (CPLDs, FPGAs, PSoC). Microcontrollers (AVR, ARM, 8051, etc.). RTOS.
- Sensor networks (WSN). Wireless communications technologies (Wifi, Zigbee, CyFi, Bluetooth, Sigfox LoRA, etc.)
- Applications for mobile devices (IOS, Android)
- High-speed electronic design (Altium, etc.).
- Internet of Things (IoT). Motes. Concentrators. Embedded electronic developments, with special emphasis on aspects such as low power consumption, energy harvesting and miniaturisation.
- Project management. Development of pre-commercial prototypes, including cost analysis and CE pre-certification.
Sectors of application:
- Energy (smartgrids, smartmetering, renewables).
- Environment (climate change, smartcities, smarthome and building automation).
- Industry (process analytical technologies - PAT).
- Biomedical engineering (implantable devices, nuclear medicine PET).
- High-energy physics detectors (ATLAS-CERN).
- Consumer Electronics (wereables).
Collaborating organisations, associations and foundations in the areas of interest (excluding RTD, LI, SME):
Climate-KIC. European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Spanish Technological Platform for Energy Efficiency. Spanish Geothermal Technology Platform The Valencian Association of Energy Sector Companies (AVAESEN). InnDEA Foundation (Valencia City Hall). Spanish Home Automation Association (CEDOM). Multisectoral Association of Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies, Telecommunications and Digital Content Companies (AMETIC). Spanish Association for the Internationalisation and Innovation of Spanish Electronics Companies (SECARTYS). Building Institute of Valencia (IVE). Valencian Association of Habitat Technologies (AVATHA). Professional bodies and associations (COIT, COITT, FENITEL, FENIE). TECMA-RED communication group.
Lines of Research: Materials and Electrodynamic Processes. Development of electrochemical techniques. Technological offer. Electrogeneration and characterisation of conductive polymers. Deposition and dissolution of metals. Characterisation of composite materials. Development of electrodes. Development of techniques based on impedance measurement. Corrosion studies on materials.
Available infrastructure
Equipment available: potentiostats, frequency analysers, spectrophotometers, quartz microbalance and salt spray chamber, STM microscopy. UVEG research support service equipment.
Electrochemical techniques: voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance. In situ spectroelectrochemical and electrogravimetric techniques.
In situ spectroelectrochemical and electrogravimetric techniques in alternating current: electrochemical impedance, mass impedance and in situ colour impedance.
The research activity is focused on the design, modelling, advanced characterisation and integration of microsensors and microelectronic circuits. In this sense, and in close collaboration with other groups in our immediate environment, at national and international level, we have developed capabilities in the design of sensors based on nanostructured layers for the sensing of physical magnitudes such as the magnetic field or the concentration of gases. We have also demonstrated skills in the design of polarisation circuits for these sensors, signal conditioning and data acquisition.
The activity of the group focuses on the design, synthesis and characterisation of new molecular materials that present several properties of interest in the same material and whose properties can be modulated and adjusted at will. The ultimate goal will be the preparation of devices in which these multifunctional molecular materials represent an additional advantage thanks to the possibility of modulating these properties.
To this end, the group uses the usual tools of coordination chemistry for the synthesis of materials that combine different properties. The most common properties will be electrical, magnetic and optical. Among the first ones, electronic and ionic conductors and superconductors stand out. Magnetic properties include magnetic couplings, long-range magnetic arrangements, single-molecular magnets (SMM) or single-chain magnets (SCM) as well as switch systems such as spin transition systems (SCO) among others. Optical properties include luminescence and fluorescence, as well as chiral or photoisomerisable systems.
SCO systems also exhibit optical properties such as the blocking of a light-induced excited spin state (LIESST) where a transition to a metastable spin state occurs by light absorption. We will also focus on the preparation of materials that combine magnetic properties with porosity in order to design materials capable of interacting with host molecules and thereby changing their properties (chemical sensors).
Chemistry of Molecular Materials: Polyoxometalate chemistry, Inorganic magnetic clusters, Inorganic molecule-based magnets, New molecular conductors, Hybrid organic-inorganic molecular materials combining magnetism with conducting or optical properties, Organized magnetic films, Electroactive conducting polymers.
Physical Characterization of Molecular Materials: Magneto-structural properties (ac and dc susceptibilities, magnetization, ESR, Inelastic Neutron Scattering, single-crystal X-ray diffraction), Transport properties (single-crystal electrical conductivities, magnetoresistance).
Models In Molecular Magnetism: Exchange interactions in large magnetic clusters and low dimensional magnets, Energy levels and magnetic properties, Exchange interactions between orbitally degenerate centers, Double exchange and electron delocalization in Mixed Valence systems.
Molecular Electronics Devices: SPIN- OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), SPIN Valves, OFETs (Organic Field Effect Transistors).
The Optoelectronic Molecular Devices Group focuses on the development of optoelectronic devices such as electroluminescent devices (organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) and photovoltaic devices for the lighting and signalling sectors, as well as in the solar energy sector. Using the same molecular semiconductors, biosensors are also being developed for the detection of human indicators.
