In a recent article published in Physical Review Letters researchers from CIC nanoGUNE, the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics of Oxford, together with colleagues from Wuerzburg and Stanford University reported new insight into the electronic conduction and interference on 2D-topological insulators - an exotic kind of insulators that conduct only at the edge and that could be key for the development of a new generation of electronic devices.

NanoGUNE is set to participate in two new projects on quantum electronics and hybrid coatings in one of Europe’s most competitive programs, the European Union’s Initial Training Networks (ITN), starting January 2018. Through this participation the center will be receiving nearly half a million euros for each project for the coming four years.

The Secretary of State for R&D+i, Carmen Vela, chaired the kickoff meeting of the new Severo Ochoa and Maria Maeztu Alliance of Excellence. The alliance’s target is to internationally promote and strengthen the centres and units accredited with this distinction, to give their research a higher profile.

NanoGUNE researchers have developed a photovoltaic device that is 14% more efficient thanks to the magnetism of its contacts. The device is also capable of providing alternating current directly.

The new headquarters of the first start-up company founded by nanoGUNE in April 2010 in a joint venture with a group of private investors, has been inaugurated by the Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu. The new facilities of the company occupy an area of ​​600 square meters and are located in the Scientific and Technological Park of Gipuzkoa.

Ikerbasque Professor Luis Hueso, accompanied by the Director General of nanoGUNE, José M. Pitarke, has collected the distinction Maria de Maeztu for research excellence on behalf of the Basque research center in nanoscience. This distinction will bring nanoGUNE a financial envelope of 500,000 euros per year for four years.

With the co-authorship of nanoGUNE’s Nanomagnetism group leaders Dr. Andreas Berger and Dr. Paolo Vavassori, the Journal of Physics D – Applied Physics just published the 2017 Magnetism Roadmap. As a whole, the 2017 Magnetism Roadmap, which is an Open Access article, is intended to act as a reference point and guideline for emerging research directions in modern magnetism.

The Nanobiomechanics group of CIC nanoGUNE takes San Sebastian to the cover of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. The picture introduces a research that infers the size of animals dating back 100-350 million years ago from resurrected proteins.

Eduard Carbonell, Pre-doctoral Researcher at the nanoimaging Group at CIC nanoGUNE, received his PhD at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) after the defense of his thesis project on 28 July 2017. His research work, entitled “Electronic tailoring of graphene nanostructures via on-surface synthesis", has been developed under the supervision of Dr. José Ignacio Pascual, nanoimaging group leader.

Iban Amenabar, Pre-doctoral Researcher at the Nanooptics Group at CIC nanoGUNE, received his PhD at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) after the defense of his thesis project on 12 July 2017. His research work, entitled “ Infrared nanospectroscopy and hyperspectral nanoimaging of organic matter", has been developed under the supervision of Dr. Rainer Hillenbrand, Nanootpics group leader.