Financial source: Europen Union Code: FCH-JU-2011-1

Research head: Agustín R. González-Elipe Period: 01-09-2012 / 31-08-2015 Research group: Francisco Yubero Valencia, Juan Pedro Espinós Manzorro, Angel Barranco Quero, Richard Lambert, Victor J. Rico, Ana Borrás Martos, José Cotrino, Jorge Gil, Pedro Castillero, Fran J. García, Alberto Palmero

The development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) operating on hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas, biofuel,LPG) is the key to their short to medium term broad commercialization. The development of direct HC SOFCs still meets lot of challenges and problems arising from the fact that the anode materials operate under severe conditions leading to low activity towards reforming and oxidation reactions, fast deactivation due to carbon formation and instability due to the presence of sulphur compounds. Although research on these issues is intensive, no major technological breakthroughs have been so far with respect to robust operation, sufficient lifetime and competitive cost. T-CELL proposes a novel electrochemical approach aiming at tackling these problems by a comprehensive effort to define, explore, characterize, develop and realize a radically new triode approach to SOFC technology means of an integrated approach based both on materials development and on the deployment of an innovative cell design that permits the effective control of electrocatalytic activity under steam or dry reforming conditions. The novelty of the proposed work lies in the pioneering effort to apply Ni-modified materials electrodes of proven advanced tolerance, as anodic electrodes in SOFCs and in the exploitation of our novel triode SOFC concept which introduces a new controllable variable into fuel cell operation. In order to provide a proof of concept of the stackability of triode cells, a triode SOFC stack consisting of at least 4 repeating units will be developed and its performance will be evaluated under methane and steam co-feed, in presence of a small concentration of sulphur compound.

Financial source: European Union Code: LIFE11 ENV/ES/560

Research head: Xermán F. de la Fuente Leis Period: 1-01-2011 / 31-12-2014 Research group: ICMS: Agustín R. González-Elipe, Victor J. Rico, Angel Barranco Quero, Juan Pedro Espinós Manzorro, Jorge Gil, Francisco Yubero Valencia

The general objective of the ‘CERAMGLASS’ project is to reduce the environment impact of thermal treatment of ceramics by the successful application of an innovative laser-furnace technology on planar ceramics and glass. The project plans to construct a pilot plant based on the innovative combination of a continuous furnace and a scanning laser. It aims at demonstrating a considerable reduction in energy consumption and the industrial scalability of the process. The project primarily aims at showing that it is feasible to produce robust ceramic tile of only 4 mm thick. This would represent a 50% reduction in tile thickness, with consequent reduction in consumption of raw source materials. The project will adapt decoration compositions with more environmentally friendly materials by using the laser processing. Specifically it will adapt screen printing decorations to third-fire products with lustre and metallic effects and decoration inks for planar glass. The replacement of toxic starting materials will allow a minimisation of CO2 and other gas emissions, toxic residues and a reduction of the energy consumption of the process.

Period:
2011 / 2013

Financial source: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Proyecto INNPACTO – IPT-2011-1425-920000

Research head: Agustín R. González-Elipe Period: 4-05-2011 / 31-12-2014 Research group: Francisco Yubero Valencia, Juan Pedro Espinós Manzorro, Angel Barranco Quero, Victor J. Rico, Ana Borrás Martos, José Cotrino, Jorge Gil, Pedro Castillero, Fran J. García.

This Project aims at the development of a series of equipment and devices to monitor the working conditions of solar thermal plants based on light concentration with cylindrical parabolic mirrors. The role of ICMSE in this project focusses on the application of plasma technology systems and the development of thin films able to determine the working conditions of these facilities.

Period:
2008 / 2010

Period:
2010 / 2013

Period:
2010 / 2011

Financial source: Junta de Andalucía Code: P09-FQM-6900 (Proyecto de Excelencia)

Research head: Alberto Palmero Acebedo Period: 15-03-2011 / 14-03-2014 Research group: José Cotrino Bautista, Ana Borrás Martos, Francisco Yubero Valencia, Rafael Alvarez Molina, Juan Carlos González González, Carmen López Santos

Project PLASMATER aims at developing new plasma-based procedures to control the nanostructure, porosity and morphology of deposited thin films, and optimize the material functionalities and applications. From an experimental point of view, plasma-assisted thin film deposition techniques make use of various quantities to define the deposition conditions, such as the electromagnetic power, pressure in the reactor, etc. These quantities controls the plasma properties, which at the same time conditions the growth mechanism of the films. The complexity of the relation between experimentally controllable quantities and growth processes has produced the existence of empirical relations between experimental conditions and final film structure and composition, whose justification from a fundamental point of view is unclear.
In PLASMATER we propose to analyze three related aspects of the deposition of TiO2 and ZnO thin films assisted by plasmas: i) complete diagnosis of the plasma bulk and sheath in connection with the material microstructure, ii) functionality of the material, and iii) the de-velopment of predictive numerical codes that calculate the final film microstructure as a func-tion of experimentally controllable quantities. This last part is of relevance because to our knowledge, i) it is the first time in the literature the deposition is fully characterized from a fundamental point of view, ii) this knowledge can be applied to suggest modifications in the deposition reactor in order to enhance different structural properties of the films.
In order to carry out the PLASMATER project, we aim at following at mixed theoretical and experimental strategy in order to interactively develop numerical codes of the thin film growth in multiple conditions. All the spatial scales involved in the description must be studied, from the plasma bulk itself (typically of few tens cm), the plasma sheath (below 1 mm), and the surface of the material (tens nm). Advanced diagnosis techniques will be employed to understand the plasma behavior and the film growth. Finally, PLASMATER will focus on the experimental conditions that lead to an optimized performance of the studied materials for advance applications in technology and industry.

Financial source: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Code: MAT2010-21228

Research head: Angel Barranco Quero Period: 01-01-2011 / 31-12-2013 Research group: Ana Borrás Martos, Agustín R. González-Elipe, Carmen Ruiz, M. Carmen López-Santos

NANOPLASMA proposes the development of novel techniques based on plasma for the synthesis and processing of new organic functional materials. In contrast with the established plasma technology used in plasma enhanced CVD and plasma polymerization that implies the complete fragmentation of volatile precursor molecules, NANOPLASMA processes achieve the synthesis of new families of fluorescent thin films and supported 1D nanomaterials by controlling the chemistry and fragmentation degree at the boundaries of plasma discharge. The research focuses in the synthesis of organic matrices with a well controlled nanometric microstructure incorporating luminescent dye molecules (i.e. perylenes, rhodamines, phtalocyanines y porphirins) and 1D luminescent organic nanowires formed by similar molecules. The project also contemplates the development of methodologies based on the plas-ma etching and laser ablation for the production of 2D lithographic patterns of the lumines-cent thin films and nanostructures. The research in this line will be completed with basic stud-ies aiming the development of a “chemical patterning” process based on the plasma surface functionalization and chemical derivatization of self-assembled monolayers. Both the synthetic methodologies and the patterning strategies of NANOPLASMA are fully compatible with the present optoelectronic and silicon technologies and can be adapted to wafer scale integration for mass scale production. These materials and processes will be used for the fabrication of two types of proto-type devices: photonic gas sensors and luminescent microstructures for intelligent labelling applications. The gas sensing devices consist of a luminescence film and/or structure integrat-ed onto a 1D photonic crystal with a stacking defect designed and constructed to couple the luminescent signal of the sensor layer. The intelligent labelling devices are patterned litho-graphic structures made on single or multilayer structures of luminescence films with specific functionalities and environmental responses not achieved by any available technology.

Financial source: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Code: MAT2010-18447

Research head: Francisco Yubero Valencia Period: 01-01-2011 / 31-12-2013 Research group: Agustín R. González-Elipe, Juan Pedro Espinós Manzorro, Alberto Palmero Acebedo, Rafael Alvarez Molina, Juan Carlos González González, Victor J. Rico Gavira, Jorge Gil Rostra, Ana Isabel Borrás Martos, Lola González García, José Cotrino Bautista

Functional TiO2, ZnO, SiO2 and doped SnO2 in the form of porous thin films and other supported fiber-like nanostructures will be prepared by plasma deposition and evaporation at glancing angles (GLAD). Precise control of the nano and microstructure of the films and fibers will be attained by selecting appropriate GLAD deposition conditions and, in the case of plasma deposition, by adjusting the principal plasma parameters after modelling the plasma processes and sheath-related phenomena that control the development of the film/fibers nanostructure. The primary objective of the project is to successfully tailor the porosity and other key properties (optical, electrical conductivity, wetting behaviour etc.) of the synthetized materials to enable novel methods of fluid handling (liquids and gases) at the micro and, possibly, nanoscales so as to invent and develop applications in the fields of microfluidic and microplasmas.
A further objective is the processing of these structures in both 2D (i.e., lithographic processsing) and 3D by use of laser-based techniques, multilayer stacking of different porous thin film structures and/or selected plasma deposition of hydrophobic patches of other materials such as polymers, silicones, etc. Microfluidic thin film-based devices controlled by light (i.e., photonic valves) will then be developed by employing appropriately designed TiO2 and ZnO porous structures. These materials become superhydrophilic when illuminated with light of <390 nm which will be used to selectively illuminate very small areas (channels, micrometer circuits, etc.) by either a suitable lamp or a laser. Light-controlled microfiltration is envisaged as another new application in this field, whereby preferential diffusion/filtration of polar liquids through the illuminated zones may be induced (i.e. valve open). Achieving prompt reversal of this process (i.e. valve closed) is another challenge that will be addressed by the project.
A final, exploratory objective is the modelling, design and development of microplas-mas based on the most promising thin film porous structures developed during the earlier phases of the work. These prototype microplasma devices will consist of porous doped SnO2 thin film electrodes permeable to gases with porous insulator layers (SiO2) acting as separation barriers. Evaluation of the plasma characteristics of these prototype devices will be another distinct task undertaken by the project.