Meet Leopoldo Álvarez, a technician at the Characterization and Growth of Thin Films Service

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Leopoldo Álvarez has a long history within the Materials Science Institute of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC): he started working here in 2012. For the last years he has been working at the Characterization and Growth of Thin Films Service and, finally, his position has been made permanent. That is why we take this opportunity to get to know this Galician chemist a little better: as he told us, he chose to work at ICMM because he has “always appreciated its collaborative and stimulating environment”.

Where do you come from?

I am from Galicia, where I studied Chemistry at the Universidade da Coruña. I completed my PhD at the ICMM in the group of Heterostructures for Optics and optoelectronics.

What have you worked on so far?

In 2012 I started to work in ICMM, where I joined the group of Heterostructures for Optics and optoelectronics, focusing on materials for clean and renewable energies, including solar coatings and thermoelectrical materials. 

In 2017, also in the same group, I completed my PhD thesis entitled “Graphene-metal hybrid materials for optical detection” focused on the study of some relevant aspects of graphene properties and its interaction with other components used in the fabrication of hybrid materials for different applications, including transparent electrodes, optical and bio-sensors, among others.

Since 2021, thanks to a PTA grant, I joined the Characterization and Growth of Thin Films service as a technician.   

Why ICMM?

I chose to work at ICMM because I have been part of this institute since 2012 and have always appreciated its collaborative and stimulating environment. I value the opportunity to continue growing professionally within a center that I know well.

And a personal touch: any hobbies? 

I really enjoy listening to music and watching TV series in my free time.