The research activity has focused mainly on lines of work whose connecting bridge are the instrumental techniques of characterization of materials such as different spectroscopies, optical, electronic and photovoltaic microscopies, diffraction techniques, etc., as well as the use of methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and simulation techniques with Molecular Dynamics (DM) as a powerful tool to examine the properties obtained by these techniques. At the same time, theoretical studies are being developed to improve the functions used in these quantum mechanical calculations (DFT, etc.). Thus, the group has specialized in the design and characterization of nanomaterials with applications in renewable energies, mainly in solar energy, both photovoltaic and thermal solar energy, being one of the reference groups in these applications.
The research group has published a total of 184 articles, most of them in journals collected in the JCR / SCI, 16 books, 66 book chapters and has presented 257 contributions to national and international conferences.
This research work has been possible by obtaining in competitive calls 26 Research Projects within the National Plan, 2 European Projects, 8 Projects of Excellence of the Andalusian Plan (PAIDI), as well as other national, autonomous funding and the University's own plan from Cádiz.
Regarding the relationship with the productive sector, this research group has signed 131 OTRI contracts, made under Art. 11/45 LRU - 68/83 LOU.
- Nanofluidic systems: Development and characterization for uses as fluids in heat transference applications for concentration solar energy. Theoretical calculations and analyses based on molecular dynamics.
-Synthetic diamond: Focused on industrial applications as power electronics. Studies of surface finishing for general applications.
-Photovoltaic and Photocatalytic nanomaterials: Development of them and physical-chemical characterization based on spectroscopies. Modelization based on the functional density theory.
- Spectroscopy: Bruker FT-IR spectrometer. Hyperion 2000 FTIR microscope with ATR and ground angle objective. Raman spectrometer with microprobe. Stationary and Horiba time resolved photoluminescence.
- Characterization of thermal properties: Differential Scanning Calorimeter Modulated in Temperature, model DSC 214 Polyma by Netszch; Thermal diffusivity and conductivity meter LFA 467Netszch. Thermal conductivity meter model THB-100 from Linseis.
- Rheological properties: Discovery HR 20 TA Instruments Rheometer. Surface tension and contact angle measurement by Dataphysics.
- Molecular properties studies with Gaussian, VASP, etc