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September 8, 2025

New Open Access Book on Nanosafety Published by INL Researchers

INL researcher Vicente Lopes wins SiNANO Institute Best Paper Award

The SiNANO Institute Androula Nassiopoulou Best Paper Award 2025 has been awarded to INL researcher Vicente Lopes for his outstanding work presented at the 2025 EUROSOI-ULIS Conference. The paper, titled “Graphene-enabled glucose sensing: From field-effect transistors to next-generation wearables”, introduces a breakthrough approach to non-invasive glucose monitoring. By integrating graphene into contact lenses, the team developed stable, transparent coatings that enable tear-based glucose sensing, paving the way for innovative wearable technologies in healthcare. The award-winning work is the result of a collaborative effort by INL researchers Tiago Abreu, Mafalda Abrantes, Tiago Pereira, Pedro Alpuim, and Andrea Capasso, alongside lead author Vicente Lopes. The prize will be officially presented during the 2026 EUROSOI-ULIS Conference in Granada, Spain. Learn more about INL’s research on graphene-based glucose biosensors here. Congratulations to the team on this remarkable achievement!

INL Statement on National Day of Mourning

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory stands in solidarity with the people of Portugal on this National Day of Mourning, proclaimed in the wake of the tragic Elevador da Glória accident in Lisbon. We offer our condolences to the bereaved families and our deepest sympathies to all those injured or touched by this tragedy. As an international organisation, with Portugal as one of our founding member states, INL shares in the nation’s sorrow. We honour the memory of those who perished and unite with our Portuguese colleagues and the entire country in respectful remembrance on this solemn day.

Shedding light on ultrafast heat transport in graphene

Managing heat efficiently is one of the great challenges in the development of next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. At the nanoscale, energy moves in ways that defy classical descriptions of heat transfer. Houssem Rezgui, researcher from the Sotomayor research group at INL, has now provided new insights into how energy flows in graphene when excited with ultrafast laser pulses. Their work, published as a Letter in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, explores how electrons and vibrations in the lattice (known as phonons) interact in timeframes shorter than a trillionth of a second. Graphene, with its remarkable electronic and thermal properties, is an ideal platform for probing these processes. When struck by a femtosecond laser pulse, graphene enters a highly non-equilibrium state: electrons absorb the incoming energy almost instantly, and only afterward begin to share it with the lattice. Traditionally, this sequence has been described by the two-temperature model, which assumes that electrons and phonons equilibrate in a straightforward way. However, the INL researcher shows that reality is more complex. Using an extended temperature model, Rezgui revealed that different phonon branches respond at distinct timescales, with longitudinal acoustic phonons playing a key role in energy absorption and redistribution. Strikingly, their […]

Magnetic nanowires take hydrogen production to the next level

As the world looks for cleaner ways to produce energy, green hydrogen (fuel made from water and renewable electricity) is gaining attention as a promising solution. To make green hydrogen affordable and efficient, better catalysts are needed to speed up the chemical reactions involved. Researchers at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory have developed a new type of magnetic catalyst that could change the game. Their findings, recently published in ACS Nano, reveal how these magnetic nanowires efficiently catalyse the oxygen evolution reaction, a key reaction in hydrogen production from water. The research team led by Yury Kolen’ko created cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanowires using a technique called electrospinning, which forms ultra-thin fibres by using an electric field to draw solid threads from a liquid solution; imagine sugar being spun into cotton candy, but at the nanoscale. By precisely controlling the calcination temperature, the team transformed the fibres into nanowires with excellent magnetic properties, critical for their catalytic performance. Why does magnetism matter? The oxygen molecules, which are formed during the water-splitting process, have a special triplet spin state. When the catalyst is magnetic, it can influence the spin alignment of the reaction intermediates, guiding the reaction to proceed faster and […]

INL’s Dr. Andrea Capasso Appointed Co-Lead of IAM-I Electronics Working Group

INL is proud to announce that Dr. Andrea Capasso, Principal Investigator in the Alpuim Research Group, has been recently appointed co-leader of Working Group 4 (WG4) – Electronics within the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I). This appointment reflects INL’s continued leadership in the European advanced materials ecosystem and its commitment to shaping the future of electronics through cutting-edge research and collaboration. IAM-I is a major European association that brings together nearly 300 members from universities, research and technology organisations (RTOs), and industry players to accelerate the development and deployment of Innovative Advanced Materials (IAMs). It plays a key role in implementing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) under the IAM4EU partnership, supporting Europe’s industrial leadership and sustainability goals. Working Group 4 – “Electronics” plays a strategic role in advancing materials for next-generation electronic technologies, including semiconductors, flexible devices, and quantum components. It fosters collaboration across disciplines to address challenges in performance, sustainability, and EU technological autonomy. Capasso’s appointment comes at a time of growing momentum for INL in this field. INL has been actively involved in the IAM-I initiative since its inception, and its Director-General, Prof. Dr. Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres, is a member of the European Commission’s Technology […]

INL welcomes Ciência Viva students for a week of hands-on science

For the first time, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is opening its doors to young For the first time, INL joined the programme Ciência Viva no Laboratório. Over the course of a week, five secondary school students experienced what it truly means to be a scientist, working side by side with researchers in high-tech labs, not as observers, but as active participants in real scientific projects. Promoted by Ciência Viva – Agência Nacional para a Cultura Científica e Tecnológica, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between school-based learning and the real world of science. At INL, the students took part in hands-on activities related to nanotechnology, nanosafety, and electron microscopy, while engaging with cutting-edge scientific equipment and researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds. Filipa Lebre, a postdoctoral researcher at INL, mentored one of the students in a project simulating how researchers assess the health impacts of new nanomaterials. “Participating in this program has been a wonderful experience,” Filipa shared. “It’s inspiring to meet young, inquisitive minds and watch them grow from their initial shyness to confidently working in the lab and asking insightful questions. School gives you theory, but hands-on experience in a real lab can be transformative.” Filipa […]

Braga Mayor Honoured with Galicia Medal for Strengthening Scientific Ties

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) extends its warm congratulations to the Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, on being awarded the Medal of Galicia on 24 July. This prestigious honour, also granted to the Mayor of Porto, celebrates the deepening of cross-border cooperation within the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion. The ceremony, led by the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, highlighted not only the cultural and linguistic bonds between the regions but also their growing scientific collaboration. INL was prominently mentioned during the event as a symbol of this scientific unity. Founded as a result of the 2005 Iberian Summit, the laboratory was envisioned as a pioneering initiative in European science and technology cooperation. Located in Braga, INL owes much of its foundation to Galician physicist Prof. Dr. José Rivas Rey, who led its creation and served as its first director until 2014. Today, INL stands as one of the largest scientific research centres in the Iberian Peninsula, embodying the shared vision and innovation that the Galicia Medal seeks to honour.

Cristiana Alves: Revealing the Invisible Through Materials Science

Meet Cristiana Alves, Facility Lead at the Electron Microscopy and X-Rays (EMX) Facility at INL. With a lifelong curiosity for how things work and a deep passion for uncovering the unseen, Cristiana’s journey into materials engineering and nanotechnology has been driven by both precision and wonder. From exploring bioactive coatings for dental implants during her PhD to working in one of the most advanced electron microscopy facilities in the Iberian Peninsula, she combines technical excellence with a commitment to discovery. At the heart of her work is a drive to understand materials at their most fundamental level, and to help others do the same. Can you tell us a bit about your path, your main area of work, and the importance of your work?Since I was a child, I have always loved to explore and discover things in nature, get to know how things work, and why they work in such a way. I also loved math because for me, math is simple; there are no doubts or misinterpretations. This combination brought me to an engineering course (materials engineering).While pursuing my master’s, I naturally became passionate about research and science, and I pursued a PhD to study nanomaterials for biomedical applications. When you […]

Science, Innovation and Society: INL attends the Science 2025 Meeting

Between the 9th and 11th of July, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory was represented at Encontro Ciência 2025, Portugal’s largest science and technology meeting. This year, the event took place at the NOVA SBE Campus in Carcavelos, Lisbon, and centred around the theme “Science, Innovation and Society”. Part of the “Science, Technology, Innovation” exhibition, INL was present throughout the three-day event, fostering engagement with policymakers, researchers, students, and the broader public, in a clear celebration of the importance of science in the public sphere. Professor Ado Jório, INL’s Deputy Director-General, participated in the opening session, where several key figures opened the event by addressing priorities in science and innovation. First, Nuno Piteira Lopes, Vice-President of the Cascais City Council, and Dr Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector of Nova University, welcomed participants, stressing the contemporary nature of societal concerns and how science and innovation contribute to their resolution, while Dr Vera Aldeias, Commissioner of Encontro Ciência 2025, highlighted the increasing need to reduce bureaucracy. Rosalia Vargas reinforced the role of the Ciência Viva network and Professor Madalena Alves, President of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), emphasised the impact of digital tools, the agency’s support for research careers, gender equality, and its ongoing restructuring. Finally, Dr Helena Canhão, Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, outlined goals to reform the fragmented science system, boost industrial innovation, continue U.S. partnerships, and enhance funding opportunities in Portugal, […]

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