Developing inks of novel 2D semiconducting materials for low-cost large-area fabrication processes.

Graphene plasmons (GPs), is enable the transport and control of light on an extreme subwavelength scale as well as the dynamic tunability via electric-gate voltage, which can be exploited for numerous applications such as for strong light-matter interactions, tunable infrared biosensing and absorption spectroscopy, subwavelength optical imaging, as well as for the development of tunable transformation optics devices, metamaterials and metasurfaces.

This is a collaborative research project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Economy (Mineco) for developing hierarchical routes for the synthesis of complex covalent molecular nanostructures with potential functionality as active optoelectronic components, such as pn junctions of quantum dots. Furthermore, FunMolDev targeted a new generation of nanodevices with disruptive impact in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). For this purpose, we developed methods for connecting active molecular components to electrical leads and further networking them into a percolating mesh as a proof of their scalability into devices.  FunMolDev also aimed at bridging such highly interdisciplinary fundamental research into higher level of technology by developing alternative routes for the synthesis and transfer of CMNs to insulting and gateable surfaces, which to date remain big challenges to the scientific community. FunMolDev combineed the work of six Spanish research groups in Galicia (CiQUS at the University of Santiago de Compostela), Euskadi (the CFM, Centro de Física de Materiales - CSIC-UPV, and CIC nanoGUNE), Aragón (the ICMA, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón – CSIC-UZ), and Catalunya (the ICN2, Instituto Catalán de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología).

The main objective of this project is to create and optimize highly functional materials using thin film growth techniques for hybrid materials and the infiltration of inorganics into polymers. These growth processes will be applied to technical products like polymer fibers or particles, with the aim of demonstrating their potential applications in various fields such as fiber-based (wearable) electronics, catalysis, and energy storage. With these advanced techniques, we aim to achieve precise control over material fabrication and the tuning of their physical properties, which are of significant interest in both technological and societal contexts.

In this project we investigated the mechanical properties of proteins associated with the adhesion of bacteria and viruses in the initial moments of infection. In addition, molecular tools were developed to control said mechanics and prevent the adhesion of proteins to their targets.