The active research lines focused to specific materials at the CIM-UCA group, at this moment, are:

• Semiconductor nanowires, quantum-wells or quantum-dots for micro- and opto-electronic applications.
• GaAsSbN semiconductor alloy engineering for applications in solar cells and high performance photodetectors.
• Multiple systems of thin layers and nanostructures based on the activity of binary III-N nitrides (InN, AlN, GaN), ternary (InAlN, InGaN, AlGaN) and quaternary (InAlGaN) for optoelectronics, power electronics and photovoltaic technology.
• Synthetic diamond for materials engineering in electronics, aeronautics, tools and medicine.
• Systems elaborated by glancing-oblique angle deposition (oxides and metals) for optic, optronic and thermochromic applications.
• Studies of phase transformations of minerals of industrial interest by thermo-chemical treatments.
• Reinforced polymers for aeronautics.

The general objective of the CIM-UCA group “Materials Science and Engineering” of the University of Cádiz (TEP-120 according to the Andalusian Research Plan catalogue), led by Prof. Dr. Rafael García, since its foundation in 1988, is to contribute to the development of science and engineering on the stages of fabrication and application of functional and structural materials. These goals are achieved by means of (i) micro- and nano-characterization of structure and composition of materials by techniques mainly based on accelerated electron or ion beams (SEM, FIB and (S)TEM), X-rays diffraction or spectroscopies; (ii) theoretical-empirical studies of mechanical, optical or electronic behavior as well as the modeling of materials systems at different scales; (iii) the development of new TEM methodologies and the simulation of TEM images in computer-intensive equipment; and since more recently, by (iv) synthesis of nanomaterials by means of chemical-, and physical- vapor deposition (CVD and PVD); and (v) electronic and optical characterization. All this is done to understand the relationships between the constitutive nature of materials, their properties, their methods of synthesis and processing; and thus, to be able to elaborate and suggest design rules to accomplish the functionalities foreseen in such materials. 

Group leader: Prof. Dr. Rafael García
rafael.garcia@uca.es

Website: https://tep120.uca.es/