Objectives
Since its beginning, the primary research activity of the group has been the development of coatings for mechanical, tribological and oxidation resistance applications. In the last five years, the main objective in this research field has been to develop a new generation of coatings with significantly improved properties as compared to the classical hard and corrosion resistant nitrides and oxides materials. To achieve this objective, the mechanisms at the origin of the coatings response and performance have been studied down to the nanometre scale. The improved understanding of the relation between film properties and performance has led to the development of new products such as nanocomposite, nanostructured and self-lubricant coatings.
In the last years, one of the main concerns of the group has been to contribute to industrial development by fostering innovation and incorporating new technologies, as strategies for competitiveness. Besides the development of state of the art thin films for high temperature applications, the group has also expanded its area of expertise to coatings for biomedical and energy applications. Surface modification for biomedical devices, such as implants and bio-electrodes, has been a priority research area. The objective has been to improve the bio-compatibility, mechanical performance and lifetime of biomedical devices components by developing multi-functional coatings. In the energy field, the group research has been focused in two specific areas: the development of sputtered electrolyte thin films for SOFCs and the surface nano-structuring by femtosecond laser processing of oxide films to increase their catalytic and absorption properties.
Thematic Lines Associated
