Rafael's research focuses on developing a new variant of magnetic refrigeration based on the demagnetizing effect. Magnetic refrigeration is a green refrigeration technology which uses no greenhouse gas or ozone depleting substances. By harnessing the demagnetizing effect, a rotating magnetocaloric effect is attainable in any magnetocaloric material, revolutionizing the design of magnetocaloric refrigeration devices and potentially boosting their efficiency. He has been characterizing the magnetocaloric, structural, magnetic, and thermal properties of micro and macroscopic materials through several characterization techniques such as direct thermometry, SQUID magnetometry, calorimetry, and x-ray diffraction.

Research Topics: Magnetocaloric materials, Phase transitions, Magnetic and structural characterization