The group is active in the preparation and characterisation of advanced magnetic materials, through a variety of metallurgical, chemical and physical techniques, and in a variety of size scales: bulk, nanoparticles, thin films either continuous or micro- and nano-patterned, composite materials. It studies the interplay between microstructure and magnetic properties in materials with high impact in biomedicine, spintronics, sensors, industry, and energy applications.
Within the framework of this activity we prepare at the laboratory scale advanced magnetic materials in a variety of size scales.
By means of arc melting, suction casting, or powders metallurgy we prepare bulk materials for energy applications (conversion of thermal into electric energy, devices for energy harvesting).
By chemical or electrochemical means we prepare magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxide, magnetic nanowires, and their composites, for energy and environmental applications, biomedicine, sensors.
By physical methods (sputtering), we prepare two-dimensional thin films, possibly micro- or nano-patterned, for energy applications, sensors and spintronics.
Our laboratories are also equipped with technologies for metallurgy and thermal treatments (furnaces and Joule heating), aimed at optimising the properties of the materials we prepare and study.