Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
The Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is a foundation located on the campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona whose mission is to promote interdisciplinary research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In addition to research activities, the ICN2 provides training for researchers, education programs and services to industry and the scientific community.
The ICN2 is part of the Catalan Government's organisation for research centres which aims to encourage and maximise synergies and strategic cooperation between research centres in Catalonia. The Institute is also a founding member of The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology which was established in collaboration with five other research centres in Catalonia to achieve greater international competitiveness by promoting multidisciplinary scientific collaboration in the fields of genomic regulation, chemical research, nanoscience and nanotechnology, photonic sciences, high energy physics and biomedicine.
History
The ICN2 was initially established as the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology in 2003, at the initiative of the Catalan government and the UAB with the aim of attracting international research talent to create a world renowned centre for nanoscience and nanotechnology research.The Spanish Research Council showed interest in participating in the implementation of a mixed centre that would include the ICN and the CSIC. Following conversations between these institutions, they agreed to put their collaboration on an official footing and signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect in 2006. As a result of this agreement, the Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology was created, a centre co-directed by Jordi Pascual and Albert Figueras.
The complete integration of the two constituent parts of this centre arrived in 2011, when CSIC representatives joined the ICN's board of trustees and then in 2013, when the ICN changed its name to the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. In addition to research, management and financial synergies, an important outcome of this agreement was the construction of a new building on the UAB campus containing state-of-the-art equipment and purpose-built research facilities. The building was inaugurated in 2014 and currently accommodates most of the ICN2 staff. This includes 280 people, comprising about 170 researchers and technicians, 70 temporary external visitors and around 40 administrative staff.
Research
Research at the ICN2 is carried out by the following multi-disciplinary research groups:| Research Group | Main research lines | Group Leader |
| Advanced Electron Nanoscopy | Advanced techniques and related spectroscopies for nanotechnology and materials science. | Jordi Arbiol |
| Advanced Electronic Materials & Devices | Fundamental electronic and electrochemical phenomena of novel materials, such as graphene and other 2D's. Preparation of high quality films of 2D materials. | Jose Antonio Garrido |
| Atomic manipulation and spectroscopy | Hybrid interfaces for spintronics including metalorganic networks on metals and topological insulators. Graphene-based nanostructures. | Aitor Mugarza |
| Inorganic Nanoparticles | Synthetic strategies for the production of complex nanoparticles. Functionalisation with specific relevant molecules. Study of their physicochemical and fundamental properties. | Víctor F. Puntes |
| Magnetic nanostructures | Exchange coupling in bi-magnetic core/shell nanoparticles and nanostructures. Magnetoplasmonic effects. Novel magnetic and structural characterisation tools for nanoparticles. | Josep Nogués |
| Nanobioelectronics and biosensors | Innovative sensing technologies. Development of novel nanostructured, nanochannel flexible platforms based on nanoimprinting and ink-jet printing technologies. | Arben Merkoçi |
| Nanobiosensors and bioanalytical applications | Plasmonic and nanoplasmonic biosensors. Silicon photonic biosensors. Nanomechanical biosensors. Bioanalytical applications. | Laura M. Lechuga |
| Nanomedicine | Clinical translation of bioelectronic and microfluidic devices. Nanomaterials as vector systems for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Development of graphene and 2D materials in medicine. | Kostas Kostarelos |
| Nanostructured functional materials | Future and emerging technologies. Biomaterials. Sustainability. | Daniel Ruiz-Molina |
| Nanostructured materials for photovoltaic energy | Organic, Hybrid, Dye-sensitised, Halide Perovskite and All-oxide Solar Cells: materials synthesis and characterisation and complete device fabrication. Synthesis of metal oxides. | Mónica Lira-Cantú |
| Novel energy-oriented materials | Hybrid electrode materials for supercapacitors and hybrid energy storage devices. Cathode materials with fractal granularity for Li-ion batteries based on LiFePO4. Nanofluids. | Pedro Gómez-Romero |
| Oxide nanophysics | Flexoelectricity and Piezoelectricity. Fundamentals and devices. Electronic and electromechanical properties of oxide thin films. Domain wall nanoelectronics. Ferroelectrics, multiferroics, metal-insulator transitions. | Gustau Catalán |
| Phononic and photonic nanostructures | Nanophononics and Nanophotonics. Nanofabrication. Nanometrology. Oxide-based Nanostructures. | Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres |
| Physics and engineering of nanodevices | Novel nanodevice structures and nanofabrication methods. Physical properties of materials at the nanoscale and their technological relevance. Spin and thermal transport. | Sergio Valenzuela |
| Supramolecular nanochemistry and materials | Nanoporous Metal-Organic Frameworks and related nanoparticles. Micro- and nano-encapsulation technologies towards the design of new multifunctional nanocarriers. | Daniel Maspoch |
| Theoretical and computational nanoscience | Quantum transport phenomena in Graphene. Spin dynamics in Dirac Matter. Thermal properties and Thermoelectricity. Predictive Modelling and Multiscale numerical simulation. | Stephan Roche |
| Theory and simulation | Development of theoretical methods, numerical algorithms and simulation tools. SIESTA & TRANSIESTA codes. First Principles of nanoscale simulations. Novel physical properties in 2D materials. | Pablo Ordejón |
| Ultrafast dynamics in nanoscale systems | Ultrafast phenomena on two-dimensional, layered materials, and hybrid Van der Waals heterostructures. Thermal management, thermoelectrics, photodetection and quantum technologies. | Klaas-Jan Tielrooij |
Scientific-Technical Research Support
The ICN2 has a Research Support Division that provides shared access to specialised equipment, services and expertise. It consists of three research support units and a set of technical facilities run by specialised technicians. Besides providing expertise and service to researchers, the units develop novel experimental equipment, setups and techniques.| Unit | Provides help & support in: | Unit Leader |
| Instrumentation | Applied physics, precision instrumentation, microengineering, nanotechnology, scientific computing and the 3D-design of precision devices. | Gustavo Ceballos |
| Electron Microscopy | Use of electron microscopy techniques for nanoscience and nanotechnology research and applications. | Belén Ballesteros |
| Nanomaterials Growth | Structural characterisation, primarily by X-ray diffraction, of thin films. | José Santiso |
The Core Research Facilities constitute a body of specialised equipment and are even more service-oriented than the units.
| Facility | Provides help & support in: |
| Nanofabrication Facility | Design and development of nanofabrication methods and techniques, including lithography, etching, thin film deposition, characterisation and packaging. |
| Mechanical Workshop | State-of-the-art facility offering a broad range of custom machining services for the design and fabrication of devices and components. |
| Photoemission Spectroscopy Facility | Electronic and chemical characterisation of the surface of a wide range of materials. |
| Molecular Spectroscopy and Optical Microscopy Facility | State-of-the-art equipment for the physicochemical and structural characterisation of materials at the macro and nano scales. |
| X-ray Diffraction Facility | XRD analysis of nanopowders and thin films. |
| Biolab Facility | Activities involving living organisms, potentially infectious material and other biological material. |
Research Training
The ICN2 runs training programs for researchers in nanotechnology including studentships, doctoral and post-doctoral positions. It also provides custom training courses for technicians, R&D personnel and administrative personnel. ICN2 is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion of people with disabilities.Knowledge and Technology transfer
ICN2 promotes the exploitation of its research results and facilities and works with local and international companies to facilitate the uptake of nanotechnology. A substantial part of the investigation activities developed at the ICN2 are oriented to generate relevant nanotechnology patents and licensing opportunities. The institute is also involved in spinoff companies and provides a range of facilities and services to support research and innovation carried out by its partners.Organization & Leadership
The ICN2 is led by its director, Prof. Pablo Ordejón, who reports to a Board of Trustees comprising representatives from the Catalan Government, the Spanish Research Council and the Autonomous University of Barcelona.Research is led by 18 group leaders who each coordinate and direct the activities of a multidisciplinary research team with the support of specialised laboratory engineers, technicians and 8 administrative and service departments led by Lluís Bellafont.
The ICN2's strategic research programs are reviewed and evaluated by an independent Scientific Advisory Board made up of international scientists with experience in nanoscience and nanotechnology from the public and private sectors.
Awards
In 2014, the ICN2 was accredited as a 'Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence' by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the period 2014-2018, in recognition of the ICN2's international scientific impact, potential for attracting international talent and its contribution to the transfer and dissemination of knowledge to society. The award was renewed in 2018 for the 2018-2022 period.Outreach
Education for schools. The ICN2 participates in educational programs designed to increase understanding of nanoscience and the social and scientific role of ICN2. It is worth highlighting its role in the NanoEduca programme, carried out jointly with the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the CESIRE. The program includes interactive classroom kits for nanoscience-related experiments and was awarded the 2018 National Scientific Communication Prize.Education in the community. As part of its mission to promote and facilitate the uptake of nanotechnology in industry, ICN2 holds seminars and workshops to bring together scientists, engineers, technicians, business people and policy makers. The ICN2 also disseminates its research results in the media and provides public forums for discussions on nanotechnology and the work of the ICN2.