Activity Reports (Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB))
URI permanent per a aquesta col·leccióhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/185450
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ArticleDNA Calorimetric Force Spectroscopy at Single Base Pair Resolution(Nature Publishing Group, 2025-03-19) Rissone, Paolo; Rico Pastó, Marc; Smith, S. B.; Ritort Farran, FèlixDNA hybridization is a fundamental molecular reaction with wide-ranging applications in biotechnology. The knowledge of the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic parameters of duplex formation is crucial for quantitative predictions throughout the DNA stability range. It is commonly assumed that enthalpies and entropies are temperature independent, and heat capacity changes ΔCp equal zero. However, it has been known that this assumption is a poor approximation for a long time. Here, we combine single-DNA mechanical unzipping experiments using a temperature jump optical trap with a tailored statistical analysis to derive the ten heat-capacity change parameters of the nearest-neighbor model. Calorimetric force spectroscopy establishes a groundbreaking approach to studying nucleic acids that can be further extended to chemically modified DNA, RNA, and DNA/RNA hybrid structures.- ArticleShaping the future of nanotechnology: a perspective on education, dissemination and ethics(Frontiers Media, 2025-05-29) Díaz-Marcos, Jordi; Mendoza Gonzálvez, JoanConsidering the potential economic, technological, and scientific impacts, Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (N&N) have sparked interest across numerous sectors of society. The anticipated benefits in areas such as manufacturing, water and environmental pollutant purification, improvements in energy production, storage and distribution systems, and enhancements in food and health systems, among others, suggest that the development and exploitation of new nanomaterials, nanotools, and nanodevices could have an impact of billions of euros in the next decade. Concurrently, an increasing number of companies worldwide are implementing research and development (R&D) programs in N&N. It is expected that, in the next decade, governments and corporations combined will spend more than 10,000 million euros on N&N R&D. This implies that for a modern society to access these benefits and contribute to this scientific and technological revolution, it is necessary to have programs that support the training of high-level professionals in N&N. These professionals need to be equipped to successfully meet the needs arising from market and societal challenges and opportunities; designing, producing, or developing products that innovatively contain and exploit nanomaterials and devices derived from N&N, ensuring these products are appropriately integrated into everyday life. It is estimated that more than 1,000,000 professionals in the field will be required worldwide. Therefore, in the last two decades, educational institutions around the world, particularly in the European region, have explored various strategies to incorporate N&N related topics into the educational curriculum, from generating terminal areas in traditional science and engineering programs to creating new academic programs (at undergraduate and postgraduate levels) that allow them to contribute to the training of competitive human resources in N&N. Disseminating and educating about nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N) presents significant challenges. The subject is inherently complex and characterized by dense terminology. Additionally, the nanoscale dimension introduces unique dissemination difficulties. For instance, materials at this scale are only observable with highly sophisticated instruments, necessitating that audiences comprehend concepts of objects they cannot directly see. Nevertheless, the widespread presence of nanoscale products offers compelling examples that can facilitate the dissemination of nanotechnologies. The highly anticipated nanotechnological revolution of the 21st century raises numerous questions that delve into the essence of both the nanotechnological phenomenon and the human condition. What truly distinguishes nanotechnology, and what challenges does this innovation pose for humanity? Unlike previous technologies, discussions about new technologies now commence at their inception, enabling proactive measures. It is crucial to strike a balance, avoiding both excessive optimism and dire pessimism. Nanotechnology initiatives, regarded as highly significant social activities in today’s world, necessitate careful consideration. This perspective urges us to adopt appropriate ethical frameworks to effectively address the challenges posed by nanotechnologies. In this article, we provide an overview of the dissemination and scientific communication of nanotechnologies. We analyze the available tools and highlight the current state of nanodissemination through a comprehensive review of mature and successful dissemination initiatives in nanosciences and nanotechnologies. Additionally, we include an ethical reflection on how to approach the advancement of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Furthermore, based on the conclusions of this work, we offer recommendations and best practices for dissemination, education, and fostering an appropriate ethical perspective on the present and future of nanosciences and nanotechnologies.
- ArticleUltrathin Wide-Bandgap a-Si:H-Based Solar Cells for Transparent Photovoltaic Applications(Wiley-VCH, 2021-11-20) López García, Alex; Blazquez, Oriol; Voz Sánchez, Cristóbal; Puigdollers i González, Joaquim; Izquierdo‐Roca, Victor; Pérez Rodríguez, AlejandroHerein, the fabrication of UV-blue selective transparent solar cells based on ultrathin (<30 nm) intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon films (a-Si:H) as absorber and using a fully inorganic architecture is reported, using metal-oxide thin films as carrier selective contacts and as transparent electrical contacts. These transparent ultrathin devices present a photovoltaic effect and high average visible transmittance (AVT), showing their potential as candidates for implementation as a transparent energy harvester. Potential applications range from Building-Integrated PV to agrophotovoltaics, and can also be of interest as a ubiquitous and inexpensive power source integrated in functional devices such as low-power devices, Internet of Things devices, and other sensors. Glass/FTO/ZnO/a-Si:H/MoO3/ITO device prototypes are produced. These devices present an AVT ranging from 50% to 69%, present a photovoltaic effect with a power conversion efficiency up to 0.5% calculated for an AM1.5G spectrum and have light utilization efficiency (LUE) values of 0.25%, confirming the potential of the proposed device architectures for the development of highly transparent devices with improved LUE.
- InformeActivity Report 2025(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2026-05) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2024(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2025-06) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2023(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2024-05) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2022(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2023-05) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2010-11(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2011) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2011-12(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2012) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2013(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2014) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2014(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2015) Institut de Nanociència i NanotecnologiaThe Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia de la Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB) presents the 2014 Annual Report. This report completes the mandate of Dr. Amilcar Labarta who has been the Director of the Institute since its foundation. Under the leadership of Dr. Labarta the IN2UB has grown, providing a seminal platform where researchers with different skills and background can build collaborative projects at the frontier of the classical fields of knowledge. During this period the IN2UB has maturated, becoming prepared to undertake new challenges as transversal research projects seeking out the excellence, transference of knowledge to the productive sector, and keeping a definite commitment with research and teaching as the same body of the learning process at the University. Noteworthy, the University of Barcelona (UB) belongs to the consortium of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
- InformeActivity Report 2015-16(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2016) Institut de Nanociència i NanotecnologiaThe Activity Report 2015-2016 of the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the University of Barcelona (IN2UB). During these two past years the Board of Directors pushed several actions in order to improve the scientific impact of the research conducted by the different groups of the IN2UB. It has been a period of little but significant changes at various levels whose final aim is to attain scientific excellence and gain national and international visualization of the institute. IN2UB is an institute that gathers 135 permanent researchers, 43 post-docs and 83 PhD students in 2016 from the Faculties of Chemistry, Physics, Pharmacy, Biology and Medicine, all working with different perspectives within the field of phenomena occurring at the nanoscale. Notice that, in opposition to other institutes of Catalonia working in the same or similar fields, all members of the IN2UB are strongly involved in teaching obligations, the most important of being the Master of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (recently recognised as Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program) and the Doctoral Program in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Research and education are our commitment with the society.
- InformeActivity Report 2017-18(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2018) Institut de Nanociència i NanotecnologiaThe Scientific Activity Report you have in your hands summarizes two years of intense and continued efforts by the dedicated group of scientists conforming the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the University of Barcelona (IN2UB). Created in 2006, the Institute aims to harness the multidisciplinary skills of the UB researchers interested in nanotechnology, with a view of favoring ambitious collaborative research. Thus, it integrates members from up to six Faculties of the University, namely Physics, Chemistry, Farmacy, Medicine, Biology and, most recently, Geology. As a Director, it has been to me a huge responsibility and a tremendous challenge to uphold the high standards set out by my predecessors, Prof. Amilcar Labarta and Prof. Jordi Borrell.
- InformeActivity Report 2019(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2020) Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
- InformeActivity Report 2020(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2021) Institut de Nanociència i NanotecnologiaThe Scientific Activity Report of the IN2UB of the year 2020 is with no doubts a very special one for the history of the Institute. It summarizes the engagement of the organization during the year of the irruption of COVID19 and its most acute effects. I use this opportunity to extend the sympathy of the IN2UB to these who have suffered this disaster in any form. These events have marked also life at the Institute and its activities. Despite the difficulties imposed by the sudden outbreak, the current report demonstrates that we have been able to overcome it notably and to take, when possible, the new opportunities that the situation has furnished.
- InformeActivity Report 2021(Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia. Universitat de Barcelona, 2022-05) Institut de Nanociència i NanotecnologiaThe Activity Report of IN2UB for the year 2021. The members of the IN2UB community have good reasons to be proud of their contribution in giving shape to this report. Following the difficulties associated to the aftermath of COVID19, the data that emerge from this report demonstrate that the scientific activity at the Institute has resumed with impetus after that episode. In fact, following an analysis by the University Office of Research Management, our Institute in absolute terms is the one that has experienced the largest improvement in scientific inputs and outputs of the whole University of Barcelona. Thus, while keeping the high numbers and quality in research papers, there has been an important increase on the amount and importance of attracted projects (European and National, as well as private contracts). Significant contributions to this have been for example the coordination of a FET-OPEN H2020 Grant or achieving an ERC Consolidator Grant.