Synthesis, structural and electromagnetic properties of materials is the general subject to define the department. The main activities are research about physical properties of materials from design, characterization and specific applications.
Each research line has the purpose to generate scientific work, academic education of postgraduate students and to attend industry requirements.
About research the most important is publish articles of topics of international relevance related to materials science in indexed scientific journals and the presentations of these in national and international conferences. In addition to Scientific dissemination in national and international forums.
The department has ten researchers, eight permanent positions, which three of them have been honoree with a level III of National Research System (SNI), three more with a level II and finally two with a level I. Additionally, it has two researchers who are part of the Cátedras Conacyt program. Besides, it has eight technicians collaborating, two of them are SNI level II and two more are SNI level I.
Magnetic Materials
Advanced Ceramics
Funtional Nanostructures
Nanofibers
NanophotonicsSuccess stories
Researchers are developing gold nanoshells to be incorporated into cancerous tissue, once inside the body, radiation is applied in order to increase gold nanoshells temperature so that it will destroy malignant cells. It’s a way of indirectly burn the tumor. Radiation is applied through thermal imaging, it is an emission technic using light, avoiding with it the use of nuclear radiation.
Gold is a biocompatible metal to human body so, after a while, it is absorbed as waste material without decreases the generation any damage. This research, in collaboration with Universidad de Sonora, México and researchers of CIMAV realized the development and characterization of gold nanoshells, while scientists of the Universidad de Sonora make biological tests to prove the effectiveness of the procedure.
Dr. Matutes from Cimav in coordination with a specialized in electronic, mechanical and software design company had developed a prototype of magnetic refrigerator able to save up to 25% of its electric energy consume, it makes less noise (than a conventional model), reduces mechanical vibrations and is more environment friendly. It is a system, that competes in efficiency with actual refrigerators that are fabricated based on mechanical procedures and using gas.
Development of magnetic materials is one of our research lines that has reached success for basic science developed in the Materials Physics Department.
Material Property Open Database, MPOD is an international database that gather specialized information about characteristics of the crystalline materials structure.
This online catalogue provides scientist, technologist and academics an important volume and it’s in continuous growth of quantitative information, it allows to register new discoveries. The Database is managed by France, Italy, Lithuania and México.
CIMAV today is one of the international representative of MPOD because of its valuable contribution for a software that allows data display as well as its distinguished collaboration for the catalogue. Research it’s defined as the gateway to this online catalogue: http://mpod.cimav.edu.mx/
Human Resources
The Department contributes to develop highly trained human resources within Cimav’s graduate programs. Master and Doctorate degree in Materials Science.
Physics, mathematics, introduction to materials science, materials characterization and other optional lines are part of the assigned task in this matter. As well as to propose improvements for the curriculum and to increase the enrollment for post-doctoral stays.
Technology development
The Research Center of Advanced Materials, through the Materials Physics Department, develops projects oriented to solve specific problems for the industry. Its objective is to encourage companies to invest in research, development of high technology and innovation with the purpose of create new products, processes, services and additional economic resources.