Preparation, characterization and properties of non molecular solids

The group established by Prof. Alario-Franco back in 1973 has been qualified "excellent" in 2018 by the Spanish Research Agency. Along this period, the focus has been the synthesis, structure and microstructure of materials in the search of outstanding physico-chemical properties. The main research lines include: study of magnetic/magnetocaloric compounds, superconductors, multiferroics, electrodes and electrolytes of batteries, supercaps and SOFCs. The group benefits from visits of scientists and actively collaborates with other prestigious national/international researchers. Regarding experimental aspects such as the synthesis, the group has expertise in alternative methods, being pioneer in high pressure/high temperature methods, also called "extreme conditions" through the unique "High-Pressure UCM Lab". The group has also pioneered in Spain the microstructural characterization of solids by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy and ancillary techniques along with late Atomic Resolution HRTEM and STEM having the instrumental facilities at the UCM. The group has expertise in transport measurements and frequent access to neutron diffraction and synchrotron facilities is achieved. Currently, the group is composed by 21 researchers, including the permanent staff, postdocs and PhD students. The scientific output of the group in the last 5 years includes more than 120 research papers in indexed journals, 3 patents over 500 communications at conferences and 10 PhD Thesis.<br /><br />

The goal of this project consists in deepening the study of the interesting relationships that we have found in previous research works, in metallocuprates M-1212 with formulae:<br />M1-xCuxSr2RECu2O7 + x (M Mo, Fe)<br />and in its extension to other chemical elements: M Ti, V, Cr and W in their different oxidation states and with different Rare Earths (RE, essentially with the smaller ones, to facilitate the order in the A sites of the structure).<br />In the synthesis, the different ceramic methods and the oxidation in solid state processes - including oxidations at high oxygen pressure that give rise to the greatest increases observed up to now in the Critical Temperature - as well as chemical and electrochemical processes will be emphasized. in aqueous or non-aqueous solutions. The oxidation / electrochemical reduction is especially interesting in that it allows to modulate, in a reversible way, the degree of oxidation reached that is related to the degree of doping of the superconducting planes. This methodology involves using pellets of the material to be used as a well-sintered electrode with defined geometries . It is also intended to extend the study to the growth of monocrystals. Fruitful collaborations have been already established with other research groups.