Academic Information

Bachelor Sciences Degree in Physics, specialization in Condensed Matter Physics, obtained in 2015 through the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
Final project of the bachelor degree (part 1): Measuring the energy gap of superconducting lead by tunneling spectroscopy in Al-Al2O3-Pb junctions.
Final project of the bachelor degree (part 2): Electronic transport transition between the contact and tunnel regimes in gold nano-contacts.

Master Sciences Degree in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, specialization in Nanophysics and Nanostructures, obtained in 2016 through the Grenoble-Alpes University, France.
Master thesis: Pushing the accuracy of the single quantum-level electron turnstile.

Doctorate in Nanophysics carried out at the Néel Institute of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), obtained in 2020 through the Grenoble-Alpes University,
France.
PhD thesis: Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states in superconductor-quantum dot transistors made by electromigration.

Academic positions held

PhD scholarship awarded by the PhD funding program Labex LANEF-Fondation Nanosciences 2016 in Grenoble (France).

"Margarita Salas" postdoctoral scholarship awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities through the National University of Distance Education UNED, within the framework of European funding "Next Generation EU".

Research activity

International stays as post-doctoral researcher:
2022 and 2023 - Stay at the Institute of Thermodynamic Engineering (ITT) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Stuttgart, Germany
2024 - Stay in the Department of Mathematical Physics and Fluids of the National University of Distance Education (UNED).

Current research lines:
Deposition and optimization of catalytic layers with platinum-free catalysts through electro-spray and other methods (airbrush and drop-casting) on GDL (Gas-Diffusion Layer) substrates, followed by the corresponding MEA (membrane-electrode assembly) and single-cell assembly, in-situ electrochemical characterization and
physical characterization of the deposits and MEAs.
Development of electrospray deposition methods for the deposition of Pt/C catalysts on PEM membranes, MEA and single-cell assembly, testing and characterization.
Design and realization of long-term testing of stacks (including measurements of surface current distribution by employing a segmented electrode plate, extensive in-situ electrochemical characterization and post-mortem physical characterization) under operation conditions emulating the application and integration of PEM stacks in
heavy-duty vehicles, in particular, for Class-8 trucks used for road transport.

Professional experience

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Direction and supervision of Master's final projects (2022-2023).
Training of master's and doctoral students to work in laboratories (2016-2020)

SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE
Research laboratories in hydrogen technologies:
Development of catalyst deposition techniques.
Assembly, testing and electrochemical and physical characterization of MEAs for
hydrogen PEM cells.
Design of automatic testing processes for the optimization of activation procedures and
performance of durability tests on hydrogen PEM stacks.

Research laboratories in nano-physics and condensed matter:
Realization of micro- and nano-manufacturing techniques of electronic devices in a
clean room (optical and electronic lithography, metal evaporation, lift-off and
development chemical processes, atomic-layer deposition, chemical etching and
surface dispersion of nanomaterials).
Use and management of ultra-high vacuum devices and cryogenic systems down to
the milikelvin regime.
Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy in superconductors and quantum
dots.

Transversal laboratories:
Micro- and nano-structure characterization techniques (AFM, SEM, EDX, XPS, LIBS,
BET physisorption)

SOFTWARE
Modeling and data acquisition/analysis (Python, Matlab, Javascript)
Lithography design (KLayout, ElphyPlus), 3D models (FreeCAD), image processing
and outlining (Inkscape, GIMP)