Two Phd students from the University of Zaragoza, awarded prizes for the best doctoral theses by the Spanish Microscopy Society (SME)

The work of Javier Pablo Navarro (Prize for the best thesis in Materials Science), entitled “Development and optimization of 3D advanced functional magnetic nanostructures grown by focused electron beam induced deposition” has been directed by Prof. José María de Teresa and Dr. César Magén, researchers at INMA. This work has combined nanofabrication techniques using focused electron beams and nanocaracterisation using transmission electron microscopy for the design and optimisation of 3D ferromagnetic nanowires for applications in spintronics, memories and magnetic sensors. This work has been awarded several national and international prizes, including the American Physical Society (APS) Magnetics section prize for the best doctoral thesis in 2019 and the recent prize for the best thesis in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology awarded by Campus Iberus and the SAMCA chair of the University of Zaragoza in 2021.

The thesis by Mario Peláez Fernández Mario Peláez Fernández (Prize for the best thesis in Technical and Technological Developments), entitled “Optoelectronic properties and in-situ transformations of 1D and 2D materials studied by transmission electron microscopy” has been directed by Dr. Raúl Arenal, ARAID researcher. The work carried out in the framework of this thesis has dealt with the study, by means of different transmission electron microscopy techniques, of the optoelectronic properties and structure of different nanomaterials, which, in some cases, have undergone modifications that have been monitored in-situ under the microscope.

Both works have been carried out at the Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzadas (LMA).

The LMA belongs to the University of Zaragoza and is linked to the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, INMA (CSIC – University of Zaragoza). The LMA is a unique national and international initiative whose objective is to provide the scientific and industrial community with the most advanced infrastructures available in electron and local probe microscopy for the observation, characterisation, nanostructuring and manipulation of materials at the atomic and molecular scales.

In addition, the LMA chairs and coordinates the Singular Scientific and Technical Facility ELECMI, dedicated to cutting-edge, top-quality research and technological development, as well as to fostering the transmission, exchange and preservation of knowledge, technology transfer and innovation. ELECMI is made up of three other top-level research centres belonging to the Complutense University of Madrid, the University of Cadiz and the University of Barcelona.