The scope of this line is the preparation and study of thin film systems (single and multilayer structures) allowing:
- Realization of model systems, which will allow understanding the phenomenon at the nanoscale that will be translated in a next step to bulky systems.
- Tuning of final properties (magnetic, mechanical…) by varying the preparation conditions.
- Design of functional devices (sensors, magnetic markers…).
Moreover the full battery of available capabilities (sputtering and MBE systems equipped with XPS, LEED, UPS…) allows going well beyond the fabrication of reduced scale systems and devices, and testing them under real working conditions by selecting temperature and operational atmosphere. A complete analysis indicates the behavior and failure of the systems under practical and extreme operation conditions. This allows making quality tests with extraordinary precision and, in addition, detecting any possible problems related to deterioration of the systems that, in the as-prepared state, might show an outstanding performance but might deteriorate once installed in the final practical device. This is of extraordinary importance in systems aimed for applications in different technological sectors:
- Aeronautical and aerospatial
- Automotive.
- Energy.
- Medical devices.
A close collaboration with the Program of Nanomagnetism (coordinated by Prof. Julio Camarero) and the Center for Micro- and Nanofabrication (supervised by Prof. Daniel Granados) allows exploring very different phenomena when going to the nanoscale through nanostructuration with state-of-the-art facilities.