Concentration areas:
1) Materials: The large area focuses on the development, characterization and applications of materials and has an interdisciplinary character, being formed by researchers from different areas of Materials Engineering, Chemistry and Physics. It seeks to develop nanotechnologies with strategic applications in solving industrial and environmental problems. This area of activity is mainly aimed at prospecting, analyzing and solving industrial problems of interest to economic, technological and scientific development.
2) Optoelectronics: This area of concentration aims to add competences in complementary subjects of Engineering and Physics to offer a solid generalist formation. Its main objective is to develop research related to the study and development of optical, opto-electronic, electronic systems and / or exploring their dynamics. In particular, this area seeks to study and develop new metrological techniques associated with the development of cutting-edge electronic instrumentation; study the radiation-matter interaction, particularly coherent spectroscopy, optical communication processes involving transmission, processing and storage in atomic memories; study the interfaces with optical devices such as lasers, optical fibers and detectors, involving concepts of physical and quantum optics; to study optical and electronic non-linear systems, in view of the ubiquity of non-linear behaviors in a vast number of natural and artificial systems, the universality of their description, making them essential objects of study in cutting-edge scientific-technological areas such as photonics , optoelectronics and dynamic process control.
Research lines
(i) Nanostructured Materials
Concentration area: 1) Materials
Nanostructured materials have been extensively studied, not only for new properties and their possible technological applications, but also for the search for a better understanding of the physical and chemical aspects caused by their reduced dimensions. The use of new routes for the synthesis of nanostructured materials has led to the obtainment of materials presenting anisotropic forms, which can give rise to new properties and applications. Within this line, we highlight the carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, graphene, nanofibers, carbon black) for structural reinforcement in polymeric composites; new photoluminescent materials with potential application in LEDs; magnetic materials and magnetic ceramics for applications in electromagnetic radiation absorbing materials and soft magnetic devices.
(ii) Materials for environmental, energy and industrial applications
Concentration area: 1) Materials
This line aims to study materials with photodegradation properties of pollutants; development of ceramic pigments; carbon or ceramic materials for immobilizing enzymes and used in the treatment of industrial effluents; liquid crystals and their fundamental properties; fluids and their adhesive properties; development and modification of materials for the manufacture of industrial and environmental control sensors; catalyst materials for hydrogen production and for oxidation processes of volatile organic compounds. All of these themes have a strong scientific and industrial appeal, which will be extremely important in the formation of the program's graduates.
(iii) Metrology and Instrumentation
Concentration area: 2) Optoelectronics
This line aims to develop and evaluate measurement techniques and instruments, particularly in the area of optoelectronics. Measurements of optical properties of media and materials are emphasized, as well as of their magnetic properties, making it possible to develop high precision magnetometry techniques, where magnetic fields are measured with high resolution allowing for various applications. In addition, metrology in time and frequency is a theme that will be developed along this line. Thus, the standardized characterization of techniques and devices will allow their application in scientific, technological and innovation development activities. In addition, the line is characterized by a strong electronic instrumentation that associated with the various themes of the program will culminate in the creation of new or better devices.
(iv) Coherent and non-linear optical spectroscopy
Concentration area: 2) Optoelectronics
This line aims to study processes and effects of interaction between light and material media, linear and non-linear, including processes of propagation and diffusion of light in the material. The control of complex light-matter interaction processes, desirable for applications in photonics and optoelectronics, requires their prior knowledge and understanding. The characterization of the spectral response of a medium and the properties of light (coherence, statistics) allows its later use in devices for the manipulation of light, for the study of optical communication (transmission, propagation and storage), for images, quantum computing, characterization and materials development.
(v) Control and non-linear dynamics
Concentration area: 2) Optoelectronics
This line of research aims at the experimental and numerical study of nonlinear dynamics problems, particularly in semiconductor lasers and electronic circuits, with applications in complex systems and in optimization of dynamic systems control.