Participation as group leader in:
2 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Disinfection of contaminated water by pathogenic bacteria by heterogeneous photocatalysis activated by sunlight irradiation”. (2019-2021), extended to 2022.
Partners: iBB, IST (Portugal), Université de Sfax (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: Cotton functionalized with different photoactive nanostructures and assessment of their bactericide activities.
My task: Surface Characterization at BSIRG-iBB.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: 3 published papers in international journals with peer-review [please check the following references below: 93, 102, 107]; Supervision of Master student A. Sousa.
1 – SPIRIT TNA project no. 164: “Functionalization of polysaccharides ultrathin films with metallic nanoparticles - innovative approaches” under the European Commission Action, funded by FP7, for Transnational Access to SAFIR analysis System at the SPIRIT partner from INSP at Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris (France) (2012).
Characterization of the modified surfaces by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA). Measurements performed by PhD student A.P. Carapeto. Total Budget: travel and living expenses.
Participation as team member in:
11 – Collaboration between Portugal and the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), project CERN/FIS-TEC/0039/2019, LOWSEY – “Improving of carbon-based low secondary electron yield coatings”. (2020 – 2022).
Partners: FCT-NOVA (Portugal), IST-ID (Portugal), UM (Portugal), CERN (Switzerland). Total Budget: 100k €.
Topic: Development of a method for the deposition of graphitic amorphous carbon coatings under realistic conditions, with low and stable secondary electron yield.
My task: XPS and HREELS studies at BSIRG-iBB, in direct interaction with the FCT-NOVA team.
Scientific outcomes: 1 published paper in international journal with peer-review [please check the following reference below: 101].
10 – EU H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017, FET-Open research and innovation actions - Grant Number: 766894, Project PEGASUS – “Plasma Enabled and Graphene Allowed Synthesis of Unique nanoStructures”. (2017-2021), still running in 2022.
Partners: IST-ID (Portugal), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), Institut Jozef Stefan (Slovenia), Kiel University (Germany), Sofia University (Bulgaria), and Charge2C-Newcap Lda (Portugal). Total Budget: 4M €.
Topic: European project to study the plasma-assisted production of graphene on a large scale. High-quality self-standing graphene and N-graphene sheets have already been produced. The synthesis of graphene doped with metal oxide is now in course.
My task: XPS studies at BSIRG-iBB, in direct interaction with the IPFN team of IST.
Scientific outcomes: 6 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 6 communications in scientific meetings [please check the following references below: 73, 88, 98, 101, 103, 110, O33, O34, O41, O42, O43, P40]; Preliminary work, prior to 2017: 2 papers + 2 in proceedings + 4 communications [47, 63, O24, O32, P29, P30].
9 – NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, grant for the NATO SfP-“CATALTEX” multi-year Science for Peace Project MD.SFPP 984842 - "Self-Decontaminating Smart Textiles for Chemical Warfare Agents Degradation".
(2015-2018).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Université Paris Diderot, Paris (France), Faculty of Sciences of Sfax (Tunisia), and Textile Research Division, Cairo (Egypt). Total Budget: 243k €.
Topic: NATO project aiming the development of textiles to be used in military or civilian protective clothes or home fabrics to be used in war environment. Textiles modified with nanostructured photocatalyts able to degrade under daylight chemical warfare agents. The chemical modification of (cotton-based) textiles surface was tuned to establish green procedures of synthesis.
My task: XPS, QCM and AFM studies.
Scientific outcomes: 11 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 13 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references below: 61, 67, 68, 77, 78, 80, 83, 86, 87, 89, 97, O25, O26, O29, O30, O35-O38, O40, O41, P36-P38] (+ 4 communications in project meetings).
8 - NATO Programme Security through Science, Collaborative Linkage Grant (CONTRACT NATO062010-CBP.MD. CLG983981): “Creation of metallic aggregates immobilized on cellulose films”. (2010-2013).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Laboratoire des Interfaces, Traitements, Organisation et Dynamique des Systèmes (ITODYS, UMR 7086) (France) and FSS (Tunisia). Total Budget: 15k €.
Topic: Introduction of new methodologies for in situ synthesis of metal NPs on natural polysaccharide films.
My task: Samples preparation and XPS studies.
Scientific outcomes: 8 published papers in international journals with peer-review, 1 book chapter and 17 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 19, 27, 34, 39-41, 48, 50, O16, O17, O19, O21, P19-P28, P31-P33] (+ 2 communications in project meetings ).
7 - CHARISMA Programme project: “A study of Portuguese ceramics from the 17th century: pigments, glazes and clays characterization” funded by EU FP7 for Transnational Access to Research Infrastructures (“PTCeramics17th”, Grant agreement no. 228330) at FIXLAB - PLATFORM A, AGLAE of the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, Louvre (2012). Total Budget: travel and living expenses.
Topic: Portuguese ceramics studies – archaeometry.
My task: PIXE and PIGE studies.
Scientific outcomes: 1 published paper in international journal with peer-review [38] and 1 paper in conference proceedings .
6 - NATO Programme Security through Science, Collaborative Linkage Grant (Grant Number NATO MD_CLG_982316): “Functionalised cellulose nanostructures with applications in molecular recognition”. (2006-2009).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), ITODYS (UMR 7086) (France) and FSS (Tunisia).
Total Budget: 15k €.
Topic: Production of cellulose thin films and their in situ chemical activation/functionalization with molecular species to be applied in chemical sensing devices. Establishment of innovative protocols for cellulose surface modifications in heterogeneous phase.
My task: Samples preparation; FTIRS-ATR/MIR, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, AFM and XPS studies; Conductivity measurements.
Scientific outcomes: 3 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 16 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 9, 12, 15, O6-O12, O14, P10, P12-P18] (+ 3 communications in project meetings ).
5 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Preparação de fotocatalisadores para tratamento de águas por radiação UV/Vis”. (2008-2009).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Université de Sfax (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: (co-)doped TiO2 syntheses and photocatalytic tests.
My task: XPS studies at CQFM.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 8 (above).
4 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Funcionalização de superfícies de filmes de celulose depositados sobre silício”. (2006-2008).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Laboratoire des Sciences des matériaux et Environnement (LSME – Université de Sfax) (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: Cellulose chemistry.
My task: Samples preparation at LSME.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 6 (above).
3 – Bilateral project funded by Programa Pessoa GRICES/EGIDE Portugal/France: “Funcionalização de substratos inorgânicos para aplicação em sensores químicos”. (2003-2004).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), ITODYS (UMR 7086) (France). Total Budget: 2.4k €.
Topic: PhD experimental work.
My task: Samples preparation; FTIRS (ATR/MIR) studies at ITODYS.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 2 (below).
2 - Project GROWTH: “Development of Bio-sensor for NO, Based on a Hybrid Organic-Semi-Conducting Device, for Detection of Asthma (“SENTIMATS”, Contract Number G5RD-CT-2001-00569)”. (2001-2004).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), Laboratoire de Dynamique, Interactions et Réactivité, LADIR (France), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology (Greece), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (United Kingdom), Amos, Ltd., Rehovot (Israel). Total Budget: 1.8M €.
Topic: European project aiming the development of a sensitive and selective NO sensor (MOCSER). The sensor active hybrid layer was composed of organic molecules grafted on a GaAs surface. The MOCSER prototype presented successful electronic tests.
My task: Samples preparation; XPS, HREELS, ATR/MIR FTIRS, UV/Vis Spectroscopy and AFM studies; Electronic tests.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Project that funded my PhD degree; 6 published papers in international journals with peer-review, 1 paper in conference proceedings and 14 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 3, 5-7, 14, 37, O1-O4, O7, O12, O15, O27, P4-P9] (+ 1 oral communication in project meeting + 2 outreaching publications); Development of a NO sensor prototype.
1 - Project BRITE-EURAM: “Car Plastic Fuel Tanks: Closed Loop Recycling Process, Design and Life assessment (“RECAFUTA”, Contract Number BRPR-CT98-0658)”. (1998-2000).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Renault S.A. (France), Solvay Automotive (France), Leto Recycling B.V. (Netherlands) and Ciba Additives (Germany). IST Budget: 144k €.
Topic: European project to study the possibility of recycling plastic fuel tanks (from Renault). The fluorination induces impermeability of HDPE surfaces to fuel components. The fluorination was performed in an experimental setup designed and assembled particularly to this project. The impermeability of used tanks was achieved with the surface modification.
My task: Fluorination line assembling; Samples preparation and surface treatment (fluorination); XPS and SEM studies.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Project that funded my MSc degree (pre-Bologna); 2 published papers in international journals with peer-review [please check the following references: 2, 4]; Paper [2] still has an increasing citation record, even after 15 years; 2 communications in national scientific meetings [please check the following references: P2, P3] (+ 1 oral communication in project meeting ); Implementation of a laboratorial fluorination line.
Grants after PhD:
FCT Post-Doc Grant: SFRH/BPD/108338/2015. Title of the working programme: “Smart biopolymer surfaces for Chemical Warfare Agents catalytic degradation: involved mechanisms” (predicted for 1 triennium). Ended on the 31st October 2018.
2 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Disinfection of contaminated water by pathogenic bacteria by heterogeneous photocatalysis activated by sunlight irradiation”. (2019-2021), extended to 2022.
Partners: iBB, IST (Portugal), Université de Sfax (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: Cotton functionalized with different photoactive nanostructures and assessment of their bactericide activities.
My task: Surface Characterization at BSIRG-iBB.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: 3 published papers in international journals with peer-review [please check the following references below: 93, 102, 107]; Supervision of Master student A. Sousa.
1 – SPIRIT TNA project no. 164: “Functionalization of polysaccharides ultrathin films with metallic nanoparticles - innovative approaches” under the European Commission Action, funded by FP7, for Transnational Access to SAFIR analysis System at the SPIRIT partner from INSP at Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris (France) (2012).
Characterization of the modified surfaces by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA). Measurements performed by PhD student A.P. Carapeto. Total Budget: travel and living expenses.
Participation as team member in:
11 – Collaboration between Portugal and the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), project CERN/FIS-TEC/0039/2019, LOWSEY – “Improving of carbon-based low secondary electron yield coatings”. (2020 – 2022).
Partners: FCT-NOVA (Portugal), IST-ID (Portugal), UM (Portugal), CERN (Switzerland). Total Budget: 100k €.
Topic: Development of a method for the deposition of graphitic amorphous carbon coatings under realistic conditions, with low and stable secondary electron yield.
My task: XPS and HREELS studies at BSIRG-iBB, in direct interaction with the FCT-NOVA team.
Scientific outcomes: 1 published paper in international journal with peer-review [please check the following reference below: 101].
10 – EU H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017, FET-Open research and innovation actions - Grant Number: 766894, Project PEGASUS – “Plasma Enabled and Graphene Allowed Synthesis of Unique nanoStructures”. (2017-2021), still running in 2022.
Partners: IST-ID (Portugal), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), Institut Jozef Stefan (Slovenia), Kiel University (Germany), Sofia University (Bulgaria), and Charge2C-Newcap Lda (Portugal). Total Budget: 4M €.
Topic: European project to study the plasma-assisted production of graphene on a large scale. High-quality self-standing graphene and N-graphene sheets have already been produced. The synthesis of graphene doped with metal oxide is now in course.
My task: XPS studies at BSIRG-iBB, in direct interaction with the IPFN team of IST.
Scientific outcomes: 6 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 6 communications in scientific meetings [please check the following references below: 73, 88, 98, 101, 103, 110, O33, O34, O41, O42, O43, P40]; Preliminary work, prior to 2017: 2 papers + 2 in proceedings + 4 communications [47, 63, O24, O32, P29, P30].
9 – NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, grant for the NATO SfP-“CATALTEX” multi-year Science for Peace Project MD.SFPP 984842 - "Self-Decontaminating Smart Textiles for Chemical Warfare Agents Degradation".
(2015-2018).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Université Paris Diderot, Paris (France), Faculty of Sciences of Sfax (Tunisia), and Textile Research Division, Cairo (Egypt). Total Budget: 243k €.
Topic: NATO project aiming the development of textiles to be used in military or civilian protective clothes or home fabrics to be used in war environment. Textiles modified with nanostructured photocatalyts able to degrade under daylight chemical warfare agents. The chemical modification of (cotton-based) textiles surface was tuned to establish green procedures of synthesis.
My task: XPS, QCM and AFM studies.
Scientific outcomes: 11 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 13 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references below: 61, 67, 68, 77, 78, 80, 83, 86, 87, 89, 97, O25, O26, O29, O30, O35-O38, O40, O41, P36-P38] (+ 4 communications in project meetings).
8 - NATO Programme Security through Science, Collaborative Linkage Grant (CONTRACT NATO062010-CBP.MD. CLG983981): “Creation of metallic aggregates immobilized on cellulose films”. (2010-2013).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Laboratoire des Interfaces, Traitements, Organisation et Dynamique des Systèmes (ITODYS, UMR 7086) (France) and FSS (Tunisia). Total Budget: 15k €.
Topic: Introduction of new methodologies for in situ synthesis of metal NPs on natural polysaccharide films.
My task: Samples preparation and XPS studies.
Scientific outcomes: 8 published papers in international journals with peer-review, 1 book chapter and 17 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 19, 27, 34, 39-41, 48, 50, O16, O17, O19, O21, P19-P28, P31-P33] (+ 2 communications in project meetings ).
7 - CHARISMA Programme project: “A study of Portuguese ceramics from the 17th century: pigments, glazes and clays characterization” funded by EU FP7 for Transnational Access to Research Infrastructures (“PTCeramics17th”, Grant agreement no. 228330) at FIXLAB - PLATFORM A, AGLAE of the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, Louvre (2012). Total Budget: travel and living expenses.
Topic: Portuguese ceramics studies – archaeometry.
My task: PIXE and PIGE studies.
Scientific outcomes: 1 published paper in international journal with peer-review [38] and 1 paper in conference proceedings .
6 - NATO Programme Security through Science, Collaborative Linkage Grant (Grant Number NATO MD_CLG_982316): “Functionalised cellulose nanostructures with applications in molecular recognition”. (2006-2009).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), ITODYS (UMR 7086) (France) and FSS (Tunisia).
Total Budget: 15k €.
Topic: Production of cellulose thin films and their in situ chemical activation/functionalization with molecular species to be applied in chemical sensing devices. Establishment of innovative protocols for cellulose surface modifications in heterogeneous phase.
My task: Samples preparation; FTIRS-ATR/MIR, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, AFM and XPS studies; Conductivity measurements.
Scientific outcomes: 3 published papers in international journals with peer-review and 16 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 9, 12, 15, O6-O12, O14, P10, P12-P18] (+ 3 communications in project meetings ).
5 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Preparação de fotocatalisadores para tratamento de águas por radiação UV/Vis”. (2008-2009).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Université de Sfax (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: (co-)doped TiO2 syntheses and photocatalytic tests.
My task: XPS studies at CQFM.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 8 (above).
4 – FCT Bilateral project Portugal/Tunisia: “Funcionalização de superfícies de filmes de celulose depositados sobre silício”. (2006-2008).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Laboratoire des Sciences des matériaux et Environnement (LSME – Université de Sfax) (Tunisia). Total Budget: Travel and living expenses.
Topic: Cellulose chemistry.
My task: Samples preparation at LSME.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 6 (above).
3 – Bilateral project funded by Programa Pessoa GRICES/EGIDE Portugal/France: “Funcionalização de substratos inorgânicos para aplicação em sensores químicos”. (2003-2004).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), ITODYS (UMR 7086) (France). Total Budget: 2.4k €.
Topic: PhD experimental work.
My task: Samples preparation; FTIRS (ATR/MIR) studies at ITODYS.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Included in project 2 (below).
2 - Project GROWTH: “Development of Bio-sensor for NO, Based on a Hybrid Organic-Semi-Conducting Device, for Detection of Asthma (“SENTIMATS”, Contract Number G5RD-CT-2001-00569)”. (2001-2004).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), Laboratoire de Dynamique, Interactions et Réactivité, LADIR (France), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology (Greece), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (United Kingdom), Amos, Ltd., Rehovot (Israel). Total Budget: 1.8M €.
Topic: European project aiming the development of a sensitive and selective NO sensor (MOCSER). The sensor active hybrid layer was composed of organic molecules grafted on a GaAs surface. The MOCSER prototype presented successful electronic tests.
My task: Samples preparation; XPS, HREELS, ATR/MIR FTIRS, UV/Vis Spectroscopy and AFM studies; Electronic tests.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Project that funded my PhD degree; 6 published papers in international journals with peer-review, 1 paper in conference proceedings and 14 communications in national or international scientific meetings [please check the following references: 3, 5-7, 14, 37, O1-O4, O7, O12, O15, O27, P4-P9] (+ 1 oral communication in project meeting + 2 outreaching publications); Development of a NO sensor prototype.
1 - Project BRITE-EURAM: “Car Plastic Fuel Tanks: Closed Loop Recycling Process, Design and Life assessment (“RECAFUTA”, Contract Number BRPR-CT98-0658)”. (1998-2000).
Partners: CQFM, IST (Portugal), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Renault S.A. (France), Solvay Automotive (France), Leto Recycling B.V. (Netherlands) and Ciba Additives (Germany). IST Budget: 144k €.
Topic: European project to study the possibility of recycling plastic fuel tanks (from Renault). The fluorination induces impermeability of HDPE surfaces to fuel components. The fluorination was performed in an experimental setup designed and assembled particularly to this project. The impermeability of used tanks was achieved with the surface modification.
My task: Fluorination line assembling; Samples preparation and surface treatment (fluorination); XPS and SEM studies.
Scientific/Technologic/Academic outcomes: Project that funded my MSc degree (pre-Bologna); 2 published papers in international journals with peer-review [please check the following references: 2, 4]; Paper [2] still has an increasing citation record, even after 15 years; 2 communications in national scientific meetings [please check the following references: P2, P3] (+ 1 oral communication in project meeting ); Implementation of a laboratorial fluorination line.
Grants after PhD:
- FCT
FCT Post-Doc Grant: SFRH/BPD/108338/2015. Title of the working programme: “Smart biopolymer surfaces for Chemical Warfare Agents catalytic degradation: involved mechanisms” (predicted for 1 triennium). Ended on the 31st October 2018.
- IST-ID
