The general objective of the GlaSS group is the design, processing and characterisation of glasses, glass-ceramics and sol-gel materials, going from the structural features to properties (optical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical, etc) and applications. The research objectives are organised in two sub-lines.
This line includes the design and development of tight sealing for metallic and ceramic components in applications such as fuel cells (MCFC and SOFC), phosphate and oxynitride phosphate glasses as solid electrolytes for Li-batteries or optical devices. The control of crystallisation processes permits to obtain nanostructure glass-ceramics for photonic applications or Nd laser glasses. Modification of melting process for energy saving and lower emissions in glass furnaces are also in the focus as well as archaeometry and conservation of historical glass.
Include protective antioxidant coatings of composites, anticorrosive and functional coatings on metals and alloys, nanostructure films with corrosion inhibitors, bioactivation of metallic alloys for prosthesis, mesostructure coatings with applications in photo- catalyst and solar cells, inorganic and hybrid membranes for PEMFC, DAFC and AMEFC, electrodes and electrolytes for M- ion batteries and M-air batteries (Li, Na). Transparent nano‐glass‐ceramics for photonic materials are also produced with high optical efficiency.
