Cascales Sedano, Concepción

The research activity of Prof. Dr. C. Cascales is focused on the development of materials with technological interest, firstly superconducting oxides and micro- and nanoporous catalysts (four patents from 2000 to 2004), as well as on spectroscopic properties and simulation of crystal field effects in lanthanide-doped materials. Her current research is centered in the development of solid-state crystalline media, bulk crystals and nanosized oxides for photonic applications, with particular interest in ultrafast (femtosecond) laser systems, and luminescent nanoparticles, for applications in screen devices, high thermal sensitivity optical nanothermometry and multimodal nanoimaging.

To develop the above activities CC has installed at the ICMM a laboratory for the preparation of luminescent nanoparticles by liquid-phase chemical routes, hydro/solvothermal, sol-gel and coprecipitation in organic media. For the parametrization of crystal field effects in 4f configurations she has software with proprietary algorithms, which allowed highlighting the relationship between the structural disorder around optically active lanthanide centers and the laser properties of studied crystals. Results of her research activity are collected in 193 papers and more than 160 communications in international meetings. Concerning determined crystalline structures, 150 of them have been included in the 2022 Database of the JCPDS, International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD), and 82 in the ICSD FIZ Karlsruhe. Prize of the "Fundación Domingo Martínez" with the project "Relationships between crystal field and the paramagnetic susceptibility in lanthanide-based materials".

During the last ten years CC has been IP in four projects, in two of them as Coordinator, and she has directed research studies for 5 Ph.D. Teaching duties as Professor in the Master "Tecnología Láser" at ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2007-2010). Member of Organization/Scientific Committees in several European meetings, among which the series of French-Spanish Meetings on Solid State Chemistry and Physics (2000-2014). Member of Expert Evaluators Panels for assessment of proposals for the European Commission and the ERC (2003-2010). Member of the Editorial Board of Nanomaterials. Board member (2000- ) of the Spanish Research Group of Solid State Chemistry and Materials, Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry.