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RESEARCH GROUPS

Nanoengineered Superconductors and Quantum Materials (SuperQMat)

Advanced quantum and functional materials, high-temperature superconductors, strongly correlated oxides and engineered nanostructures for future electronic, spintronic and fluxonic technologies.

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Nanoengineering quantum materials for future technologies

The Nanoengineered Superconductors and Quantum Materials (SuperQMat) group at ICMAB-CSIC conducts fundamental and applied research on advanced quantum and functional materials, with a particular focus on strongly correlated oxides, high-temperature superconductors, magnetic systems, engineered nanostructures, hybrid heterostructures and metamaterials.

The group integrates condensed-matter physics, materials design and nanoscale engineering to probe, tune and control electronic, spin, transport and optical functionalities across a wide range of quantum phases and external stimuli.

Its research advances sustainable and energy-efficient material concepts for future information and communication systems while expanding the fundamental understanding of complex quantum materials.

Research challenges

SuperQMat explores how nanoscale design, defects, interfaces and hybrid architectures can control superconducting, magnetic and quantum material responses.

High-temperature superconductors

Engineering superconducting films, nanostructures and defect landscapes to improve performance and understand vortex dynamics.

Quantum phase transitions

Studying reversible transitions and emergent phases in strongly correlated oxides under external fields and stimuli.

Hybrid heterostructures

Designing superconducting, magnetic and oxide interfaces for spintronic, fluxonic and device-oriented functionalities.

Metamaterials and metasurfaces

Developing engineered platforms to control electromagnetic and magnetic-field responses at the micro- and nanoscale.

Research interests

The group focuses on three interconnected research areas linking superconductivity, quantum materials and engineered hybrid systems.

Modulation of the Superconducting Order Parameter - Vortex Dynamics– Superconducting Nanostructures

Control of Quantum Phase Transitions – Field Induced Reversible Metal-Insulating Transition

Hybrid systems based on High-Temperature Superconductors – Spintronic Devices and Metamaterials

    Materials, methods and scientific approach

    SuperQMat combines materials synthesis, nanoscale engineering, advanced characterization and condensed-matter physics to understand and control functional responses in superconducting and quantum materials.

    The work connects fundamental mechanisms with device-relevant properties, supporting applications in sustainable electronics, magnetic-field control, spintronics, fluxonics and future information technologies.

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    Vortex dynamics

    Modulation of the superconducting order parameter, superconducting nanostructures and controlled vortex motion.

    Correlated oxides

    Metal-insulator transitions, resistive switching and field-controlled functional oxide behaviour.

    Nanoscale engineering

    Engineered defects, nanostructures, interfaces and hybrid architectures for targeted material responses.

    Light, spin and transport

    Quantum transport, spintronic effects, optical responses and hybrid superconducting platforms.

    Permanent scientific researchers

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    Dr. Anna Palau Masoliver

    Head of SuperQMat Group

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    Dr. Narcís Mestres

    News

    Group

    Thomas Günkel
    HUIDONG LI
    KARLA MENA
    Anton Mnatsakanov
    Hugo Soto
    David Alos

    Former Members

    PhD Students

    • Aleix Barrera
    • Jordi Alcalà
    • Alejandro Fernández

    Master Students

    • Sergi Patiño
    • Sergio Herce
    • Pau Ternero

        Undergraduated students

        • Sofia Myskovets
        • Bruna Gabarro
        • Joffre Herrera
        • Ian López
        • Sergio Mariscal
        • Mireia Berbel
        • Joan Mora
        • Sergio Herce
        • Anna Solé
        • Xavier Marcó
        • Alba Martos

        • Pau Ternero
        • Xavi Oliver
        • Mercè Roig
        • Josep Maria Batllori
        • Anna Maria Riera
        • Sergio Mariscal
        • Ian López Sales
        • Miquel Subirana Mas
        • Sergio Patiño
        • Jofre Herrera
        • Bruna Gabarró

        Dissemination and Outreach

        Books

        Superconductivity. From Materials Science to Practical Applications

        Springer (2020)

        P. Mele, K. Prassides, C. Tarantini, A. Palau, P. Badica, Alok K. Jha (Eds.)

        Potential of Copper Oxide High-Temperature Superconductors for Tailoring Ferromagnetic Spin Textures

        Springer (2021)

        J. Alcalà, M. Roig, S. Martín, A. Barrera, A. Fernández-Rodríguez, A. Pomar, L. Balcells, M. Coll, N. Mestres, A. Palau (Book Chapter)

        Vortex dynamics in nanofabricated chemical solution deposition high-temperature superconducting films

        De Gruyter (2017)

        A. Palau, V. Rouco, R.F. Luccas, X. Obradors, T. Puig Book chapter in Superconductors at Nanoscale. (Book Chapter)

        High-Order Harmonic Generation in Solids

        World Scientific

        High-Order Harmonic Generation from Unconventional Superconductors

        T. Grass, J.Alcalà, U. Bhattacharya, J. Biegert, M. F. Ciappina, U. Elu, P.T. Grochowski, M. Lewenstein, A. Palau, T. P.H. Sidiropoulos, T. Steine, I. Tyulnew (Book Chapter)

        Publications

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        Magnetic Metasurfaces for Sustainable Information and Communication Technologies

        MetaMagic introduces a novel approach for the conception, design, development and implementation of magnetic metasurfaces for controlling low-frequency magnetic fields at the meso- and microscale.

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        Connected to the ICMAB research ecosystem

        SuperQMat contributes to ICMAB research in superconducting materials, quantum materials, energy-efficient electronics and advanced functional nanostructures.

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        Scientific & Technical Services

        Infrastructure
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        Contact

        ICMAB-CSIC
        Carrer dels Til·lers, 3
        Campus UAB
        08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona
        Spain

        Email
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        Phone
        +34 935 801 853

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