TITLE: 'Nanostructured columnar thin films by magnetron sputtering: From fundamentals to devices.'
AUTHOR: José Miguel García Martín, permanent researcher at Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology (IMN-CSIC) and Distinguished lecturer from IEEE Nano.
WHEN: March 18th, 12h.
WHERE: Salón de actos, ICMM-CSIC
ABSTRACT: In the first part of this talk, it will be shown that glancing angle deposition with magnetron sputtering is a user-friendly route to fabricate nanocolumnar thin films (NCTFs) of metals and metal-oxides in large areas of several square centimeters and above (scaling-up is feasible) in a single-step process. This is in clear contrast to nanolithography techniques. The development of the nanocolumnar morphology is the result of atomic shadowing, atomic diffusion, and surface relaxation. In the second part of the talk, several applications where NCTFs are of relevance will be described, discussing how and why these nanostructured materials can be used in functional devices. For energy and environment: as magnetic nanopillars with tailored properties, as nanostructured surfaces with photo-induced self-cleaning properties, as nanostructured layers to improve perovskite solar cells, and as black metal coatings in the visible range. For biomedicine: as antibacterial coatings in orthopedic implants, as bioelectrodes for electrical stimulation, as templates for chemical sensing by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and as working electrodes in the electrochemical detection of molecules. Finally, for the aerospace industry: as nanostructured coatings that mitigate the undesirable multipactor effect (which can prevent the correct performance of radio-frequency devices or even damage them).
