The active research lines focused to specific materials at the CIM-UCA group, at this moment, are:
-Semiconductor nanowires, quantum-wells or quantum-dots for micro- and opto-electronic applications.
-GaAsSbBiN semiconductor alloy engineering for applications in solar cells and high performance photodetectors.
-Multiple systems of thin layers and nanostructures based on the activity of binary III-N nitrides (InN, AlN, GaN), ternary (InAlN, InGaN, AlGaN) and quaternary (InAlGaN) for optoelectronics, power electronics and photovoltaic technology.
-Synthetic diamond for materials engineering in electronics, aeronautics, tools and medicine.
-Systems elaborated by glancing-oblique angle deposition (oxides and metals) for optic, optronic and thermochromic applications.
-Studies of phase transformations of minerals of industrial interest by thermo-chemical treatments.
-Reinforced polymers for aeronautics.
The general objective is to understand relationships between constitutive nature, properties, and methods of synthesis and processing of functional and structural materials; to contribute to the development of their stages of fabrication and implementation, through the elaboration of design rules to accomplish foreseen applications. This is done by (i) micro- and nano-characterization of structure and composition by SEM, FIB, (S)TEM), XRD, etc.; (ii) theoretical-empirical studies and modeling of materials at different scales; (iii) development of new TEM methods and computer simulation of TEM images; (iv) synthesis by CVD and PVD; and (v) electronic and optical characterization.