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Activity Funded

Centre of Physics and Technological Research

Centro de Física e Investigação Tecnológica

Reference
UIDB/00068/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes CEFITEC is a research unit with its main profile dedicated to deliver national and international relevant scientific and technological outputs on aspects related to physics and applied physics, with emphasis to key transversal themes spanning Surface Science& Vacuum Technology, and Applied Molecular Physics & Technology. CEFITEC has full equipped facilities with state-of-the art experimental setups proven to produce deliverables capable to compete at the international level. The unit develops its activities not only at the fundamental but mainly at the applied level, contributing to a comprehensive investigation of surface ageing and the role of external agents to its integrity with relevance in many technological and industrial environments, thinfilms production for the development of organic devices for food and water security, clean energy, photonics applications and drug delivery, the effects of UV radiation damage to key selected molecular targets with applications in radiation science nanodosimetry and therapy, the characterisation of different biological and atmospheric relevant molecules, the latter with particular role to global warming and ozone depletion. Other relevant activities include the development of instrumentation with particular emphasis to a high efficiency solar-pumped lasers for applications in energy storage of renewable energy and vacuum technology applied to new gauges design and processes to clean cork. CEFITEC’s activities are also based on the need to respond to relevant societal needs, and fall within the EU Horizon 2020 and the 2030 energy strategies. Advanced technical and scientific training (graduates and post-graduates) is central to the unit and such has been reinforced by key strategic international partnerships (universities and research facilities) as well as contracts with industry, from which we highlight the most recent contract with a Portuguese cork manufacturer and a patent released. CEFITEC is also a national leader with its METROVAC vacuum metrology accredited laboratory (ISO17025) providing accurate and traceable measurements of microflows and low pressures in a variety of industrial and technical applications, providing specialized services and consultancy across the country. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation CEFITEC is established as an experimental unit capable of providing state-of-the art fundamental (40%) and applied research (60%). In the past years CEFITEC researchers were able to install unique experimental facilities and to gather expertise in scientific domains of spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, surface science, thin films, vacuum technology, biophysics and instrumentation. CEFITEC brings together a team united by the common purpose of addressing physical and related technical challenges by investigating structural, mechanistic and reaction pathways at atomic, molecular and macromolecular levels. The main experimental facilities involve setups on: (a) multitechnique surface analysis, time-of-flight (TOF) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; (b) atom/electron-molecule collisions and high resolution electron energy loss; (c) magnetron sputtering systems, cold atmospheric plasmas devices (plasma jet and dielectric barrier discharge) and plasma optical emission spectroscopy; (d) atomic force microscope and UV-Vis spectroscopy; (e) solar-pumped laser; (f) layer-by-layer thin films assembling; (g) adsorption/desorption studies at solid/liquid interface with Quartz Crystal Microbalance (g) impedance spectroscopy; (h) electro-optic coefficient measurements; (i) Birefringence creation and relaxation setup; (j) piezoelectric coefficient measurements; (k) METROVAC vacuum metrology and leak testing. The different but interconnected experimental methodologies permit to establish structural and management synergies, reducing costs, based on installed scientific and technical skills, complementary valuable nature of the techniques addressed as well as the broad scope attainable regarding atomic/molecular types (from small gas-phase atoms/molecules up to macromolecular structures) being investigated. The planned methodologies are included in the following work packages (WPs): WP1. To probe by TOF-SIMS, XPS techniques secondary electron emission from a variety of materials including graphene, having in mind their applications in satellite antennas, particle accelerators and charged particles collectors; to prepare through different techniques of thin films and molecular heterostructures and other spectroscopic methods (e.g. VUV photoabsorption measurements (Aarhus University, Denmark), UV-visible, infrared, fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron and impedance spectroscopies, atomic force microscopy and contact angle): i) Layer-by-layer (LbL) films, obtained from the alternate adsorption from solution of cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte layers onto solid supports, for applications in electrical, optical, photonic devices, sensors and biomimicry of membranes and rudimentary cells for the development of drug delivery systems and studies of effect of radiation on biological molecules; ii) Development of photofunctionalized oxide films (TiO2, WO3, ZnO, perovskite oxides, or others) for technological applications (e.g. in hybrid solar cells, sensors or as photocatalysts/photoelectrocatalysts for water purification, in particular wastewater from the textile industry) by reactive sputtering using a metallic target or using powder targets; iii) Complementary and attached to the thin film production, some optical and photonic materials prepared by sol-gel technique, namely glasses and amorphous thin films, provided by a unit member at the University of Azores. WP2. Continuing efforts on Solar laser efficiency improvement and solar laser collection efficiency. Tuneable solar pumped laser (300–400 nm) will be probed for periodic nanostructures to infer on diffraction properties, to process optical featured thin films, namely for optical storage devices and to inscribe optical relieved grating for diffraction optics and programmable lenses. WP3. Electronic state spectroscopy of molecular biological and technological relevant (including aeronomic) targets through electron and photon interactions. Electron transfer in atom-molecule collisions (negative ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry) and electron scattering studies, allow to fully investigate the electronic and vibrational excitation states in gas phase targets. Such information, in particular through EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy), is crucial and complements high resolution VUV photoabsorption measurements, obtained through access to synchrotron facilities (Denmark). EEL data permits to obtain differential andtotal cross sections which are of extreme relevance for radiotherapy dose planning in Monte-Carlo simulations. CEFITEC has a privileged international link with CSIC and Hospital Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain, to deliver such data for those simulations. Efforts are being taken in Portugal to established partnerships. As so, by using tissue equivalent materials or even bio related targets (as mixtures), the experimental cross sectional data will be used as input data in simulation codes (e.g. Monte-Carlo, PENELOPE) for (nano)dosimetry planning. Other molecular targets include DNA/RNA subunits, small aminoacids and a set of molecular species relevant within the context of cork permeation to different gases, liquids and their vapours (e.g. TCA) with technological and industrial relevance. Dissociative electron attachment experiments are also envisaged as complementary technical approach for such targets. WP4. METROVAC accredited laboratory will keep offering accurate and traceable measurements of vacuum and ultra-low gas flow, as well as consultancy in vacuum technology and leak testing to national companies. A new high accuracy ionisation gauge will be designed and tested from suitable materials properly characterised in the frame of the running European project.The impact of high temperature desorption techniques in cork will be investigated, as well as the potential applications for the desorbed waxes. The introduction of this later technology in the cork industry will receive special attention.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa Centro de Física e Investigação Tecnológica (UNL CEFITEC)
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT (NOVA.ID.FCT)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL)

Funding 263.500,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

263.500,00 €