2018 (archive)
19.12.2018
IFIMUP, part of the committee of the International Conference in "Advanced Nano & Energy Materials" - ANEM 2018
ANEM2018 is a premier conference series on Nano and Energy materials which was held from 12-14 December 2018 at the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Prof. João Pedro Araújo and Dr. João Ventura were part of the Conference Chairs and two posters were presented by Prof. João Pedro Araújo (“Hematite photoanodes with high aspect-ratio for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production”) and Dr. Armandina Lopes (“Local Probing on Can+1MnnO3n+1 Naturally Layered Perovskite”). ANEM is a conference series comprising the International conferences on Advanced Nano Materials (13th), Energy Materials (4th), Hydrogen Energy (5th), Advanced Graphene Materials (6th), Solar Energy Materials (3rd), Polymer Energy Materials and Nanocomposites (3rd), Crystalline Porous Materials (2nd) and Catalysis and Energy Materials (2nd).
By Catarina Dias
18.12.2018
2017/2018 IFIMUP’s Master Students
Congratulations to all the IFIMUP master students that received their degree this year. A brief description of their work is stated bellow.
Simão Sá – “Spin Seebeck effect in YIG. Shaping next generation Spintronics and Energy Harvesting Technologies” (André Pereira), MSc in Physics Engineering [29.10.2018]
New and innovative measurement methods were developed to probe the nature of the Spin Seebeck Effect in single crystal YIG thin films, namely the behavior of the magnonic and phononic structure. Also, a new flexible composite material based on YIG microparticles in a polymeric matrix was fabricated and characterized.
Luís Oliveira – “Smart Materials Actuators: Actuated Scissor Lift” (André Pereira), MSc in Physics Engineering [12.11.2018]
Development of a prototype of an elevator actuated by shape memory alloys, in collaboration with CeNTI.
Margarida Maia – “Nanoarchitectured composites towards wireless power transfer using thermoelectric devices” (André Pereira), MSc in Physics Engineering [4.12.2018]
Development and study of thermoelectric materials, towards the enhancement of their properties, through the manipulation at the nanoscale, in order to be applied in a radial device, using a laser beam as the heat source, in the context of Wireless Power Transfer.
David Coelho – “Fabrication of Gd5(Si1-xGex)4 nanoparticles by femto and nanosecond pulsed laser ablation in liquids” (João Pedro Araújo), MSc in Physics Engineering [6.12.2018]
Optimization of deposition setups using two different types of lasers, with pulse durations of the order of femto and nanosecond, to obtain nanoparticles of Gd5(Si1-xGe)4 with diameters between 50-160 nm with low level of oxidation.
Ludgero Peixoto – “Magnetic nanostructures for biotechnological applications” (Célia Sousa), MSc in Physics Engineering [13.12.2018]
Fabrication, characterization and simulations of iron nanodiscs for biotechnological application. The mechanically induced movement of the nanodiscs, when in Vortex state and suspension, can be used for cellular apoptosis in cancer therapy.
Rui Carvalho – “Development of Flexible Printed Thermoelectric Devices” (André Pereira), MSc in Physics Engineering [14.12.2018]
Formulation of functional pastes for the fabrication of thermoelectric devices using printing techniques, in collaboration with CeNTI.
Rodrigo Ferreira – “Few-cycle laser for real-time nanomedicine research” (Hélder Crespo), MSc in Physics Engineering [14.12.2018]
This is an innovative and pioneering work in medical imaging and treatment, where we used a new laser specifically designed to study the action of new anti-cancer drug delivery mechanisms, in collaboration with INL.
Cláudia Espinha – “Fabrication of Plasmonic Substrates and Study of their Performance for Sensitive Detection by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy” (Joaquim Agostinho Moreira), MSc in Medical Physics [17.12.2018]
Plasmonic substrates were developed to greatly enhance the Raman signal of disease’s biological markers tests. A similar enhancement to commercial substrates was achieved, allowing the early identification of these diseases as an alternative to invasive biopsies.
By Catarina Dias
18.12.2018
2018 IFIMUP talks in review
Thank you to all the IFIMUP talks presenters and audience. We all hope that these sessions haven been fruitful for the different groups work.
By Catarina Dias
7.12.2018
IFIMUP researchers at the PSI, Switzerland
Researchers from the IFIMUP Polarisable Materials and Functional Nanostructures group were for the first time at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland for muon spectroscopy beam time, within the "Internal field distribution in TbMnO3 and TbMn0.98Fe0.02O3 single crystals: the effect of modulation and disorder" proposal in collaboration with colleagues from the Center for Physics of the University of Coimbra, from 29th of November to 3rd of December.
At PSI, the researchers used the muon spectroscopy to characterize the distribution of internal magnetic field, due to the concomitant effect of incommensurable spin density waves and the presence of several magnetic species, to reach a deeper understanding of the remarkable changes occurring in the magnetic spin structure of TbMnO3, inherently connected with its ferroelectric properties, via the magnetoelectric effect.
The expected measurements will also allow to build a complete picture of the distribution of internal magnetic fields at the muon site, indispensable for the assessment of the effect of applied electric fields and high-magnetic fields in the muSR signal, which is envisaged in future experiments.
By Rui Vilarinho
7.12.2018
IFIMUP’s future plan in the news
Professor João Pedro Araújo, actual president, talked with the Perspectivas, supplement of the Público national newspaper, about the future of the institute. He explained that, after three decades of existence, a new strategic plan aiming for a higher international impact is in course. In the future, the research will be focused on the areas of condensed matter physics and materials with the opportunity of technological applications, with the institute having the new designation of Institute of Advanced Materials Physics, Nanotechnology and Photonics (starting in 2019). The three groups are kept in this new approach. The Multifunctional Magnetic Materials and Nanostructures group assumes as central topic the creation of magnetic (or non-magnetic) materials with applications in areas such as technology used on the hard disc's reading process, for example, and, more recently, in new forms of energy harvesting. The Polarizable and Magnetoelectric Nanostructures groups will direct its interest to dielectric systems, that is, polarizable materials by the existence of electric charge instead of magnetism. These two groups link their work in the topic of multiferroic or magneto-electric materials, which combine the two properties. Finally, the Ultrafast Lasers and Magnetodynamic Spectroscopy group, recognized for having a vast know-how and state-of-the-art laser technology reaching from the femtosecond to the attosecond, will concentrate its study in the search for techniques to measure physical phenomena at these ultra-fast scales.Furthermore, he stated the three great research branches, in which the groups interact in an articulated way and in collaboration, that are in the plan for the future: Quantum Materials; Advanced Materials for Energy; Materials and Ultrafast Lasers for Biomedicine. For this purpose, collaborations with the Institute of Innovation and Health Research (I3S), the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) and the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP) will be pursued, as well as connections with companies, such as HBM FiberSensing and EQS-Energy Quality and security.The article also comprises information about IFIMUP’s spin-offs (Sphere Ultrafast Photonics and InanoEnergy), that hold patents and international recognition, and the Network of Extreme Conditions Laboratories (NECL), led by IFIMUP and extremely important in the context of IFIMUP's current and future strategy. The complete text in Portuguese can be seen here.
By Catarina Dias
30.11.2018
IFIMUP is hiring: recruitment of 2 PhD researchers, 1 MSc and 1 Bachelor’s degree holder
IFIMUP announces the opening of two international competition for recruitment of two PhD researchers, within the Projeto de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT): 02/SAICT/2017, funded by FCT and FEDER one through POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028676 in the areas of Electronic Systems Engineering, Materials Engineering and Physical Engineering, and another through POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 032527 in the area of Physics. Application: 27/11/2018 – 10/12/2018
The research grant for a Master is within the Projeto de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT): 02/SAICT/2017, funded by FCT and FEDER through POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031302 in the areas of Physics and Physical Engineering.
Application: 29/11/2018 – 12/12/2018
Finally, a research grant for a bachelor’s degree holder will open within Project PTDC/CTM-BIO/4043/2014, funded by FCT and FEDER through POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016631 in the areas of Bioengineering, Physical Engineering and Chemistry.
Application: 10/12/2018 – 21/12/2018
By Catarina Dias
26.11.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 9 presented by Post-doc Miguel Canhota
Next Wednesday, 28th of November at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Miguel Canhota will give the 9th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Miguel Canhota is a Post-doc from the from the Ultrafast Lasers and Magnetodynamic Spectroscopies group and his talk will be on “Harnessing third-harmonic generation in graphene-coated optics - New devices for ultrafast pulse measurement".
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
26.11.2018
IFIMUP, EQS Global and CMEMS kick off the MAGSENSE project
In October, IFIMUP, EQS Global and CMEMS (Centre for Microelectromechanical systems) have kicked off the MAGSENSE project, funded by the Portugal 2020 programme. This project aims to develop an ultrasonic measuring equipment based on magnetostrictive sensors for structural monitoring in critical assets. This system will enable wireless thickness measurements as well as corrosion flaw detection in adverse conditions, such as high temperatures and pressures or submerged environments. MAGSENSE will additionally incorporate an analytic software based on big data, which will perform predictive analyses, thus minimizing the related risks and contributing to the innovation and the technological development of the industries.
By Joana Silva
15.11.2018
IFIMUP researchers at ISOLDE-CERN
Researchers from the IFIMUP Multifunctional Magnetic Materials and Nanostructures group were from 24th to 30th of October back at CERN, in the ISOLDE facilities for a 111mCd beam time.
At ISOLDE, the researchers used the 111mCd γ-γ Perturbed Angular Correlation (PAC) spectroscopy to study Multiferroic compounds. This technique allows a local probing in the materials structure, through the evaluation of the electric field gradient and magnetic hyperfine field, giving insights of local lattice proprieties and phase transitions.
This group is studying Double Perovskites and Ruddlesden-Popper bulk crystals, materials that are receiving an increasing attention due to the existence of hybrid improper ferroelectricity. The main goal of the research is to understand the origin and how to enhance the magnetoelectric coupling in these compounds assisting in the development of room temperature multiferroic materials.
The work is being performed within the "Local Probing Of Ferroic And Multiferroic Compounds" ISOLDE-CERN proposal having financial support from the H2020-EU 654002, European Nuclear Science and Application Research project, as well as national projects CERN/FIS-PAR/0005/2017 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029454.
By Tiago Leal
25.10.2018
2018 Nobel Prize in Physics Celebrates Laser Science and Technology
Earlier this month, the Swedish Academy announced the award of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics to two key laser inventions: Arthur Ashkin (Bell Labs, USA) was awarded half the prize for pioneering the technique of optical tweezers, and Gérard Mourou (École Polytechnique, France) and Donna Strickland (University of Waterloo, Canada) share the other half for their invention of the ultrafast laser pulse amplification technique known as chirped pulse amplification, or CPA.
Interestingly, this announcement comes surrounded by records at several levels: Ashkin, at the age of 96, is the oldest person ever to be awarded a Nobel Prize; Donna Strickland is the third woman ever to win a Nobel Prize in Physics, and the first in 55 years, after Marie Curie in 1903 and Maria Goeppert-Mayer in 1963; the CPA technique allows today the construction of the most powerful devices on Earth – ultrafast and ultra-intense lasers capable of producing light pulses with durations in the femtosecond range (1 fs = 10-15 s) and peak powers of tens of petawatts (1 PW = 1015 W), 1000 times larger than the total power of the world’s electric grid!
This Friday at 14:00 in room -120, Prof. Hélder Crespo, who is group leader of IFIMUP’s Ultrafast lasers and Magnetodynamic spectroscopies group and an Assistant Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will give a lecture entitled “Back to the Future: The Physics of Ultra-Intense Lasers and the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics”.
The lecture will focus on the CPA technique and on how it has revolutionized countless areas of science, technology, medicine and industry, from high-precision eye surgery to extreme physics, where terawatt lasers are used today to accelerate particles with field gradients far exceeding those provided by conventional accelerators, and petawatt lasers (like those currently being built at the European ELI project) may soon enable electron-positron pair production in vacuum, hence creating matter and intense gamma rays directly from laser energy and bringing forth completely new physics. We will also see the strong relationship between the CPA technique and the work that has been carried out at the Ultrashort Laser Pulse Laboratory, Femtolab, home of the first CPA laser system entirely designed and built in Portugal, and where the technique of dispersion-scan, which is behind the shortest laser pulses ever produced, has been invented. The Femtolab integrates the Institute of Physics of Materials of the University of Porto (IFIMUP) and the NECL (Network of Extreme Conditions Laboratories), a new national network devoted to the study of matter under extreme physical conditions, and where ultrashort laser pulses will play a key role in assessing and controlling ultrafast dynamics in matter with unprecedented resolution and under intense optical field conditions.
By Hélder Crespo
01.10.2018
IFIMUP is hiring: recruitment of two PhD researchers
IFIMUP announces the opening of two international competition for recruitment of two PhD researchers, within the Projeto de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT): 02/SAICT/2017, funded by FCT and FEDER one through NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-028538 in the area of Nanotechnology (Nanomaterials) and another through POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031302 in the area of Physical Science and physical engineering (Nanomaterials).
Application deadline: 8 October 2018
By Catarina Dias
20.09.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 8 presented by PhD Sofia Ferreira Teixeira
Next Tuesday, 25th of March at 11h30 on room 023 (DFA), Sofia Ferreira Teixeira will give the 8th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties, where the presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Sofia is a PhD student working on Topological Insulators and her talk will be on “Topological Insulator fingerprints in Sb-Te thin films".
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
07.09.2018
The 14th Physics Summer School at FCUP
Since 2005, the Physics Summer School allows selected high school students to spend one week taking advanced physics classes and developing a scientific project under the supervision of young researchers. Students not only from Portugal, but also from Portuguese-speaking African countries, Macau, Galicia, Brazil and Portuguese foreign communities are all welcome.
This year the school took place from 2nd to 7th of September and IFIMUP’s Master and PhD students were responsible for 6 of the projects:
- “Light as a probe of matter” – Rui Vilarinho and André Maia;
- “Superconductivity” – Ana Pires;
- “Dye-cells with nanomaterials using nanowires” – Paula Quitério and Suellen Moraes;
- “Production and use of hydrogen in fuel cells” – Cátia Rodrigues;
- “Dual exposure holographic interferometry: a ruler of light” – Ana Silva and Sofia Teixeira;
- “Holography and light waves” – Fernando Maia and Ana Silva.
The traditional physics-themed flash mob activity of this year is an homage to the life an legacy of Stephen Hawking, being entitled: “From the Big Bang to Black Holes – celebration of the legacy of Stephen Hawking”. The flash mob activity was coordinated also by two IFIMUP researchers, Arlete Apolinário and Vivian Andrade.
By Catarina Dias
02.09.2018
IFIMUP researchers at Conference of EDNANO XIII, held at the University of Bristol
IFIMUP has once more been present at the International Workshop on Electrodeposited Nanostructures (EDNANO). The 13th edition took place at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom from 30th August to 1st September. Prof. João Pedro Araújo (on the left) is one of the board members of the workshop. PhD students Paula Quitério (on the right) and Suellen Moraes (on the middle) gave oral presentations of their work in “‘Fast anodic hematite nanotubes for photoelectrochemical cells’” and “‘The role of Cu length on the magnetic behaviour of Fe/Cu multi-segmented nanowires’”, respectively. Back in 2012, the 9th edition of the event was held by IFIMUP at the University of Porto, Portugal.
By Catarina Dias
02.09.2018
IFIMUP researchers at 21st National Physics Conference - Física 2018
IFIMUP’s students and researchers attended the 21st National Physics Conference (Física 2018), that took place at Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal from 29th August to 1st September. The National Physics Conference is a biennial conference organized by the Portuguese Physics Society to gather physics teachers, researchers and students from all areas of physics. Oral presentations were given by master student Margarida Maia and researchers Fábio Figueiras and Gonçalo Oliveira, as well as four poster presentations (Arlete Apolinário, Ludgero Peixoto, Simão Sá and Tiago Leal).
By Catarina Dias
31.07.2018
Dr. Miguel Canhota defended his PhD Thesis
Dr. Miguel Canhota defended today his PhD Thesis on “Ultrashort light pulses over large spectral ranges: novel sources and dispersion-scan-based spatiotemporal diagnostics”. Our warmest congratulations to him and to his supervisors, Prof. Hélder Crespo and Prof. Rosa Weigand from the Complutense University of Madrid. The work focused on the development of new pulse characterization techniques and their application in the characterization of ultra broadband, coherent light sources. Techniques for the measurement of UV (<400 nm) pulses are extremely relevant for ultrafast spectroscopy in chemistry, physics and biology. His work allowed to develop a new inline ultrafast pulse measurement and compression dispersion scan (d-scan) technique based on self-diffraction and apply it to the measurement of over octave-spanning sub-4-fs pulses.
Inline self-diffraction dispersion-scan of over octave-spanning pulses in the single-cycle regime, M. Canhota, F. Silva, R. Weigand, and H. Crespo, Opt. Lett. 42, 3048-3051 (2017) https://www.osapublishing.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-42-15-3048
Dispersion-scan measurements of few-cycle pulses compressed with the multiplate continuum process, M. Canhota, R. Weigand and H. Crespo, CLEO/Europe-EQEC (2017). https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8086743/
Self-diffraction dispersion-scan and its application to the measurement of over octave-spanning pulses in the single-cycle regime, M. Canhota, F. Silva, R. Weigand, and H. Crespo, Optical Society of America (2017). https://www.osapublishing.org/abstract.cfm?uri=CLEO_Europe-2017-CF_11_2
By Catarina Dias
27.07.2018
4th Junior University of the University of Porto - “Discovering Engineering”
“Junior University” (Universidade Júnior) is a summer activity promoted by the University of Porto, that allows more than 6000 students from the elementary and high school to know the university world closely. From the 2nd to 27th of July, some high school students chose to be part in one of the six thematic schools of introduction to research – “Discovering Engineering” (À descoberta das engenharias). Together with the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), the Department of Physics, IFIMUP and INESC-Porto in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) welcomed two groups of students in the theme of “Physics Engineering”. They spent one morning at IFIMUP’s laboratories in direct contact with research methods in the area of Energy Harvesting, through the guidance of Dr. André Pereira and PhD students Ana Pires and Cátia Rodrigues.
By Catarina Dias
23.07.2018
IFIMUP, part of the organization committee of the annual International Conference in "Advanced Nano Materials" - ANM 2018
IFIMUP has once more been part of the organization of the annual International Conference in “Advanced Nano Materials” (ANM 2018), that took place at the University of Aveiro, Portugal from 18-20 July 2018. Prof. João Pedro Araújo and Dr. João Ventura were part of the Conference Chairs and Scientific Committee. ANM is a conference series comprising the International conference on Advanced Nanomaterials (11th), International conference on Advanced Graphene materials (5th), International conference on Advanced Magnetic and Spintronics materials (4th), International conference on Advanced polymer materials and Nanocomposites (2nd), International conference on Advanced Nanoelectronics and Organic light emitting diodes (1st) and a dedicated Hydrogen Energy session.
By Catarina Dias
23.07.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 7 presented by Master student Simão Sá
On the 21nd of June at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Simão Sá gave the 7th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties, where the presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Simão Sá is a Master student working on the implications of spin-lattice dynamics on the spin Seebeck effect and his talk will be on “Spin-lattice coupling dynamics of spin Seebeck effect in YIG thin films".
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
12.06.2018
University of Porto funds the demonstration of technologies developed at IFIMUP
The University of Porto, through the BIP Proof programme, decided to fund the demonstration of two technologies that involve IFIMUP researchers. The main objective of the BIP Proof programme is to create a proof-of-concept system that aims to stimulate the accomplishment of value-determining steps in the valuation of promising research results obtained in the University of Porto. Such proofs-of-concept can be translated into the construction of prototypes, feasibility or market studies, among others, so as to add value to the research results. In this framework, IFIMUP researchers are involved in two of the nine technologies that the University of Porto decided to fund.
The project "TriboE - Novo sistema de colheita de energia baseada em nanogeradores triboelétricos para a era das Redes de Água Inteligentes" has the objective to demonstrate triboelectric nanogenerators in real environments. This 6 month project will implement a patented triboelectric turbine (Triboelectric Driven Turbine to Generate Electricity from the Motion of Fluids, J. Ventura, A. M. Pereira, C. Rodrigues, C. Alves, F. Falcão, J. Puga, F. Carpinteiro; PPP-109235, 14/03/2016; PCT/IB2017/051473) in water distribution systems to feed monitoring sensors.
The multidisciplinary project “WEStoreOnTEX - Wearables de Produção e Armazenamento de Energia para a Indústria Têxtil”, led by REQUIMTE/LAQV associate laboratory team (C. Pereira and R.S. Costa) in close collaboration with IFIMUP team (A.M Pereira and A. Pires), has the objective of scaling-up a hybrid textile technology that simultaneously functions as supercapacitor-type energy storage and production. This project will accelerate the scaling process towards a fully functional prototype to be tested in a relevant environment. A patent is currently under application to the “Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial”, Portuguese patent evaluation.
By André Pereira and João Ventura
25.05.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 6 presented by PhD student Suellen Moraes
On the 22nd of May at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Suellen Moraes gave the 6th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties, where the presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Suellen Moraes is a PhD student from the Multifunctional Magnetic Materials and Nanostructures Group and her talk was focused on “Inverted Hysteresis loops in Fe/Cu multisegmented nanowire".
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
11.05.2018
Investigation co-authored by IFIMUP-IN researchers was highlighted in Advances in Engineering
The authors proposed to investigate the resistive switching effect that emerges when ferroelectric barium titanate and few-layer molybdenum diselenide are combined in a single structure. They hoped to elucidate the relation between the ferroelectric polarization and the resistive switching effect, and the mechanism underlying the former. It has been seen that the origin of the switchable diode effect can be attributed to charge coupling at the molybdenum diselenide/barium titanate interface, which therefore might be related to the ferroelectric polarization reversal process. A recent study, published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C, on the resistive switching in MoSe2/BaTiO3 hybrid structures conducted by researchers from the Institute of Physics of Materials of the University of Porto (IFIMUP), located in the Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto and a member of the National Associate Laboratory Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN), was recently highlighted in Advances in Engineering.
These results indicate that the molybdenum diselenide/barium titanate hybrid structures are promising candidates for non-volatile ferroelectric resistive memories. Advances in Engineering features papers of exceptional scientific importance and intelligible to a broad scientific audience. The invited articles are less than 0.1% of the whole published literature (that is 20 per week chosen by a team of advisers and experts).
By José Pedro Silva
25.04.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 5 presented by PhD student Ana Silva
Next Wednesday, 2nd of May at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Ana Silva will give the 5th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Ana Silva is a PhD student from the Ultrafast Lasers and Magnetodynamic Spectroscopies group and her talk will be on “Time-resolved magneto-optical spectroscopy: signal detection and acquisition issues".
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
21.04.2018
IFIMUP received the 2nd Core Group meeting in the framework of the BioBrillouin COST Action
IFIMUP received the 2nd Core Group meeting in the framework of the BioBrillouin COST Action on 19th and 20th April 2018 at the Physics and Astronomy Department, FCUP. Confirmed participants: Dehoux, Thomas (ILM-CNRS, France); Elsayad, Kareem (VBCF, Austry), Fioretto, Daniele (Perugia University, Italy); Hamann, Thorsten (NTSU, Norway); Kazda, Anita (VBCF, Austry); Malin, Stephen (Karolinska University, Sweden); Palombo, Francesca (Exeter, UK); Pero, Mickael (COST, Belgium); Sousa, Celia (FCUP, Portugal); Torok, Peter (Imperial Colege of London, UK). BioBrillouin is a pan-European network established to advance the field of Brillouin Light Scattering as applied for life science and biomedical research and applications. Networking activities are funded largely by an EU COST grant (CA16124).
By Célia Sousa
21.04.2018
IFIMUP at 16th Mostra of University of Porto
IFIMUP was once again present at the annual MOSTRA of the University of Porto, from 12 to 15 of April at ICBAS/FFUP. This event is headed to basic and high school students, presenting all possible bachelors and masters, and the research/work that is developed at the Faculties and Institutes. The students have the opportunity to talk directly with professors, researchers, students and technicians in order to take an informed decision regarding their future academic education. IFIMUP presented, with great success, the hologram of the president of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, made when he visited the Faculty of Sciences.
By Catarina Dias
25.03.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 4 presented by PhD student Vivian Andrade
Next tuesday, 27th of March at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Vivian Andrade will give the 4th session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Vivian Andrade is a PhD student at IFIMUP whose research is focused on magnetocaloric materials, the 4th IFIMUP Talk will be focused on “Magnetic behavior of Gd5(Si,Ge)4 nanoparticles produced by Pulsed Laser deposition (PLD)".
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
06.03.2018
IFIMUP's Master student awarded at the 2018 National Meeting of Physics Students (ENEF'18)
Ludgero Peixoto, won best project in Materials Physics and Condensed Matter at the 2018 National Meeting of Physics Students (ENEF’18), that took place in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. The presentation entitled “Magnetic nanostructures for biotechnological applications” focused on his master thesis, supervised by Dr. Célia Sousa and João Pedro Araújo. The work intends to develop magnetic nano-discs in a spin-vortex state, and its morphological, structural and magnetic characterization, aiming for application in mechanical cancer cells destruction. The work is in the framework of the European Project H2020-MSCA-RISE-734801-MAGNAMED.
By Ludgero Peixoto
22.02.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 3 presented by Post-Doc researcher Fábio G. Figueiras
Next Wednesday, 28th of Februray at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Fábio G. Figueiras will give the third session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Fábio G. Figueiras is a Post-doc Researcher in Physics and Materials Science & Engineering at IFIMUP (University of Porto) and at CICECO-AIM (located at the University of Aveiro). The 3rd IFIMUP Talk will be focused on “Thriving Narrow Band Gap Ferroelectric Oxides for Photovoltaic applications: Bi2ZnTiO6 Thin Films deposited by RF Sputtering".
IFIMUP TALK Abstract:
“The structural, optical and ferroelectric properties of Bi2ZnTiO6 thin films, deposited by rf-sputtering onto Pt/Si-based substrates, were investigated. The thin films grow as polycrystalline perovskite-like phase, exhibiting the tetragonal P4mm symmetry and band gap of 1.48 eV (on the range of Si-based devices). Evidences of the ferroelectric nature of this material which is calculated to reach 100 microC.cm-2 were demonstrated through piezo-response force microscopy. However, this exceptional material is scarcely studied, because it is not easily synthetized using conventional ceramic methods. The results obtained in this work evidences the potential applications of this material for a next generation of photovoltaic and functional devices.”
Co-authors:
J. Ramiro A. Fernandes (UTAD, FCUP)
P. Basto da Silva (UM, FCUP)
Denis O. Alikin (UA)
Pedro B. Tavares (UTAD)
Andrei L. Kholkin (UA)
J. Agostinho Moreira (FCUP)
Abílio Almeida (FCUP)
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias e Fábio Figueiras
22.02.2018
Mariana Proença was interviewed by Repsol Foundation for the International day of Women and Girls in Science
Due to the current need to reduce the gender inequality that exists today in science, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established February 11th as the "International Day of Women and Girls in Science". As part of the commemorations of this day, the Repsol Foundation interviewed Mariana Proença, a postdoctoral researcher at IFIMUP, and co-founder and Marketing Director of inanoEnergy, startup and spin-off of the University of Porto. Read the whole interview in the following link.
By Mariana Proença
11.02.2018
Sphere Ultrafast Photonics, spin-off founded by IFIMUP researchers, receives Marie Curie grant
Benjamim Alonso has received a Marie Curie grant to carry out a new research project at Sphere Ultrafast Photonics. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie action of the European Commission's H2020 program funds excellent and high-impact research projects, carried out by researchers of recognized merit and potential. This action has a specific panel, Society and Enterprise, established for non-academic beneficiaries. In this call, 58 projects were funded within this panel, two of which in Portugal, and seven more in Spain. Out of the total number of projects, only two were awarded in the field of physics, which includes the one awarded to Dr. Benjamín Alonso and the high-tech spin-off company Sphere Ultrafast Photonics. The project is funded at 160,000 euros for a period of 24 months, which covers the researcher's salary, research-related expenses, and management expenses.
Benjamín Alonso has a Bachelor's Degree (2007), a Master's Degree (2008) and a Doctorate Degree (2012) from the University of Salamanca, having received several awards throughout his research career. During his thesis work, he also completed internships at the Femtolab laboratory (IFIMUP and DFA-FCUP) and later won an individual post-doctoral fellowship from FCT (2013-2014), working in the same laboratory under the supervision of Helder Crespo, researcher of IFIMUP, assistant professor at DFA and CTO of Sphere Ultrafast Photonics. Since then, Dr. Alonso has held several teaching appointments at the University of Salamanca. The project now granted counts with the supervision and support of Helder Crespo (science and technology) and Rosa Romero (technology transfer and product development). It will enable the development of techniques and products at the highest level for the measurement and control of ultrashort laser pulses in the femtosecond range, being a clear example of the capability and relevance that a national high-tech SME can have at the European level.
By Hélder Crespo
06.02.2018
IFIMUP Seminar presented by Dr. Hab. Oleksandr Dobrovolskiy
Next Friday, 9th of February at 14h30 on room -117 (DFA), Dr. Hab. Oleksandr Dobrovolskiy will give the IFIMUP seminar entitled “Super meets Nano: From nanopatterned superconductors to fluxonic metamaterials seminar”. Dr. Hab. Oleksandr Dobrovolskiy is a physics researcher and an Assoc. Prof. at the Faculty of Physics of the Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main, in Germany. His research work focus on solid state physics as well on the nanotechnology field, showing interest, for e.g., on understanding on how nanofabricated pinning landscapes affect the flux-flow instability velocity and current in superconducting materials.
Seminar abstract:
“A blank piece of paper is open for further patterning. It can be covered with words, symbols, or colors, breaking the symmetry of the blank paper and producing a sensory or abstract pattern. This pattern tells us a story, depicts an object, invokes a hidden feeling... . In this sense, patterning can generate a variety of new properties. In analogy to that, breaking the symmetry of superconducting films by nano-patterning results in novel properties unseen in pristine materials. This sets the stage for a new fascinating domain of science and engineering at the interface between superconductivity research and nanotechnology – Abrikosov fluxonics – which will be introduced in the present talk with a particular focus on microwave applications and metamaterials as miniature device.”
25.01.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 2 presented by visiting PhD student Ylla Grasielle
25.01.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 2 presented by visiting PhD student Ylla Grasielle
Next thursday, 1st of Februray at 11h30 on room 106 (DFA), Ylla Grasielle will give the second session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current state of work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. Ylla Grasielle is a visiting PhD student from the Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil, and the 2nd IFIMUP Talk will be focused on “Laser sintering of ceramic materials". A discussion will be given on the novel synthesis technique as well on the dielectric characterization technique that is performed at IFIMUP.
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias
By Catarina Dias
10.01.2018
Periodic meetings - 2018 IFIMUP Talks - # 1 presented by PhD student Paula Quitério
On next tuesday, 16th January at 11h45 on room 106 (DFA) Paula Quitério will give the first session of the IFIMUP Talks series. IFIMUP Talks consists on periodic meetings where IFIMUP researchers present their current work, focusing on the open questions and difficulties. The presentation is followed by an open discussion with possible suggestions presented by the audience. The first talk of the series will be given by Paula Quitério and will be focused on “Hydrothermal synthesis of hematite nanostructures for water splitting".
Show up! And help each other making progress in our research!
P.s. If you are interested to present and discuss your work contact PhD student Catarina Dias.
By Catarina Dias
