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Seeing the invisible: How electron microscopy reveals the hidden structure of battery electrodes

Seeing the invisible: How electron microscopy reveals the hidden structure of battery electrodes

Lithium-ion batteries power much of modern technology, yet their performance is still strongly shaped by something that remains difficult to observe: the internal structure of their electrodes. At the nano/microscopic scale, the arrangement of the active solid particles, carbon binders, and pores determines how electrons and ions move, how reactions unfold, and how efficiently a battery can operate. Capturing this internal architecture in three dimensions is challenging. “Focused Ion Beam–Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) has been employed in tomography of battery electrodes, yet poor contrast between key electrode components has long limited reliable 3D reconstruction”, explains João Cunha, who led the study as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow at INL. INL researchers have now demonstrated a practical way to overcome this limitation. In a recent work, published in Energy Storage Materials, the team introduced an in-situ contrast-enhancement strategy that greatly improves the visibility of porous battery electrodes during FIB-SEM tomography. By enabling 3D observations into electrode microstructures, this work supports the development of better-informed models and design strategies for next-generation batteries. Developed by INL researchers João Cunha, Ihsan Çaha, Francis Leonard Deepak, and Paulo Ferreira, the study reflects INL’s focus on practical advances in energy storage characterisation. “The approach enhances contrast directly […]

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2025 INL Awards Wrap-Up: Honouring Scientific Excellence

2025 INL Awards Wrap-Up: Honouring Scientific Excellence

The pursuit of scientific excellence is a shared ambition among all INLers. Every day, our researchers step into the laboratory with unwavering dedication and laser-focused expertise, determined to advance the frontiers of science—and, ultimately, improve the future of society. In 2025, their efforts earned widespread recognition within both national and international scientific communities. The following overview celebrates the achievements, grants, and awards that marked an exceptional year for INL. Triumph season began in February when Maria Relvas, a research associate from the Dieguez group, received a Research Initiation Grant by the Portuguese Cancer League to advance cancer diagnosis. Soon after, Begoña Espiña was appointed as a Water Europe expert, acknowledging INL group leader’s exceptional contributions to water quality research, particularly in developing portable and automated devices for the selective detection and quantification of chemical and biological contaminants in water. In April, the laboratory welcomed an ERC Consolidator Grant recipient. Rui Domingues, now group leader at INL, serves as the scientific project manager of the EU-funded FORTIFy project, which aims to develop wireless nanoswitches to control PIEZO channels—specialised cell force sensors—to restore tendon function. Summer brought further acclaim as Clivia Sotomayor won the Bloch Prize 2025. As a pioneer in the field of phononics, Sotomayor was […]

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2025 INL Research Wrap-up: Breakthroughs & Milestones

2025 INL Research Wrap-up: Breakthroughs & Milestones

As 2025 draws to a close, we are incredibly proud to present a compilation of INL’s research spotlights from the past 12 months. This extensive collection reflects INL’s ongoing commitment to scientific excellence, technological innovation, and positive societal impact. How could microalgae transform the way we produce photonics?— INL researchers, working within the NASCADIA project, have discovered a sustainable low-cost alternative to traditional cleanroom fabrication of photonic crystals, by using diatoms, a type of microalgae. Exploring new ways to predict breast cancer metastasis— The 3DSecret research project has been exploring innovative methods to predict breast cancer metastasis by analysing tumour cells circulating in the bloodstream. More importantly, the output of this study has the potential to improve already existing cancer therapies. INL advances skin engineering with the European network NETSKINMODELS— Reducing animal testing and promoting ethical research practices are central goals for INL teams developing skin-on-chip models—microfluidic devices that replicate human skin. Beyond advancing skin model research, the work carried out within NETSKINMODELS is placing Europe at the forefront of sustainable skin engineering. Can Earth’s gravitational field monitor climate change?— Through the uPGRADE project, INL is developing a high-precision MEMS accelerometer to detect subtle changes in Earth’s gravitational field, enabling […]

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2025 INL Events Wrap-Up: The Moments That Mattered

2025 INL Events Wrap-Up: The Moments That Mattered

As we turn the page on 2025, INL reflects on the moments that made this year worth remembering! Driven by a commitment to scientific progress, world-class innovation, and a strong sense of community, INL welcomed over 5,000 event visitors and nearly 3,000 conference participants throughout the year. Winter: Qualifying the next-generation of scientists The year set off strong for early-stage researchers. The INL Postgraduate School held its grand opening, following an immersive 30 hour communication course, designed to equip PhD students with essential skills beyond the lab. Soon after, the 3 MT Competition returned to INL. In a race against the clock, PhD students were challenged to pitch their theses in under a three minute mark. Spring: Expanding the frontiers of science Spring 2025 was the perfect season to celebrate and advance scientific knowledge. In March, INL hosted the 2nd annual meeting of the IDEAL Cluster for Indoor Air Quality and Health, amplifying the impact of Horizon Europe projects. April brought the high-level workshop on advanced materials for medical devices, gathering leading experts, policymakers, and innovators across Europe to discuss pathways to successful health-tech adoption. In May, INL celebrated the International Day of Light 2025. Through a series of engaging presentations, […]

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Celebrating FORGING Project Conclusion: From Major Outcomes to JRC Collaboration

Celebrating FORGING Project Conclusion: From Major Outcomes to JRC Collaboration

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is proud to announce the successful completion of the FORGING Project— Forum for Emerging Enabling Technologies in Support to the Digital and Green Transitions through Value Sensitive Innovations. Project Overview and Milestones Supported by Horizon Europe and led by INL, the initiative was launched in 2022 with the ambition to accelerate the responsible adoption of emerging enabling technologies across Europe. To achieve this, FORGING introduced a new methodology based on a value-sensitive innovation journey— one fully aligned with the Industry 5.0 paradigm, ensuring that technological development respects societal values, environmental sustainability, and human-centric design. Over its three-year duration, the project achieved several milestones:  :: Established a sustainable multi-stakeholder FORGING Forum with 600 active members representing the quadruple helix: academia, industry, civil society, and public sector institutions.  :: Engaged the Forum in 6 foresight and scenario planning exercises, 12 co-creation workshops, and a series of podcasts and webinars to explore future societal and environmental challenges of emerging technologies, and design responsible adoption pathways. :: Developed a suite of tools, including the FORGING Toolbox, Playbook, Key Value Indicators (KVIs), Actor Cards, and the Theseus Foresight Simulator.  :: Facilitated the creation of 22 use cases across six strategic technology frameworks, including AI, […]

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INL Propels Europe’s Agenda on Advanced Materials and Emerging Technologies at the IAM-I Symposium

INL Propels Europe’s Agenda on Advanced Materials and Emerging Technologies at the IAM-I Symposium

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is honoured to spotlight the participation of INLer Andrea Capasso at the inaugural IAM-I Symposium, held in Brussels on 11 December. This landmark brokerage event falls under the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I), a major European effort driving the IAM-I4U partnership and supporting Europe’s industrial leadership and sustainability goals. With over 300 participants, the full-day symposium served as a dynamic platform for dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers within Europe’s advanced materials ecosystem. The programme featured Working Group and Task Force breakout sessions, fostering high-level discussions on the future of advanced materials in Europe. Key topics included the forthcoming Advanced Materials Act, the EU Advanced Materials Strategy, and the most pressing challenges faced by industry and research communities. Beyond his role as Research Scientist and Principal Investigator, and as coordinator of the transversal line on advanced materials at INL, Andrea Capasso is co-leader of Working Group 4 – Electronics within the IAM-I. At the symposium, he presented the status of WG4 activities and the first consolidated results of the community survey. WG4 focuses on advancing materials for next-generation electronic technologies, including semiconductors, flexible devices, and quantum components. At a broader level, Dr Capasso’s contribution underscores […]

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INL Delegation Visits Fiocruz to Strengthen Cooperation

INL Delegation Visits Fiocruz to Strengthen Cooperation

Between the 1st and the 5th of December 2025, a delegation from the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory carried out an institutional visit to the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fiocruz is Brazil’s leading public health institution and has expanded its activities in nanotechnology, namely through the Translational Research Network in Nanotechnology – Fio-Nano. The mission was part of the ongoing collaboration established through the Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025, between Professor Ado Jório de Vasconcelos, Deputy Director-General of INL, and Dr Mário Santos Moreira, President of the Fiocruz Foundation. The INL delegation included Dr Begoña Espiña, Dr Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno, Dr Rui Domingues, Dr Manuel Bañobre and Dr Lorena Diéguez, research group leaders in the Life Sciences Grand Thematic Area, and accompanied by Dr Carolina Baptista, International Relations and Internal Affairs Communication Officer of the DG Office. Part of the programme, visits to several units were held, including Biomanguinhos, Farmanguinhos, the National Institute for Quality Control in Health and the clinical and research facilities at the Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Aside from the technical and scientific interest, these highlighted the integrated ecosystem of Fiocruz, which spans from basic research to full production capabilities. A central element […]

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When less is more: a minimal approach to low-noise circuits

When less is more: a minimal approach to low-noise circuits

Electronic systems, from brain-monitoring implants to precision sensing devices, rely on an unseen but fundamental element: a stable voltage reference. If this reference drifts with changes in the chip’s process, supply voltage, or temperature, even the most advanced circuit can struggle to detect subtle signals or correctly interpret biological activity. Engineers have spent years refining these reference circuits, making them less sensitive to process, voltage, and temperature variations, while also reducing noise and shrinking their footprint. Yet the challenge remains – how do you design something stable enough to deliver clear signals, but small and energy-efficient enough for sensitive applications like neural implants? Researchers from Piteira’s Engineering Group at INL have shown that a simple idea can deliver meaningful results. Instead of adding complexity for noise reduction, i.e. adding more circuitry which implies more area and more power, they asked a different question: could noise be controlled with just a single, simple element? Piteira’s group proposes a bandgap reference design where noise performance can be tuned using just one resistor placed between two points in the circuit’s core. That single element reshapes how different sources of noise behave, shifting low-frequency flicker noise into a range where it does less harm. […]

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INL and BME announce the launch of a Joint Research Programme

INL and BME announce the launch of a Joint Research Programme

INL is pleased to announce the launch of a joint programme with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). Scheduled to begin on 1 January 2026, the BME-INL collaboration initiative will support 5 research projects to be carried out over a period of 12 to 18 months. Last May, INL welcomed a prestigious Hungarian delegation, including representatives of the Embassy of Hungary in Lisbon and the BME. The meeting resulted in the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a significant landmark in the partnership of the two institutions. Following this commitment, INL and BME opened a call for proposals, inviting submissions for targeted, small-scale R&D activities, researcher exchanges (including competence transfer and PhD training), the creation of consortia, and support for joint research projects. After due assessment, by a bilateral evaluation committee, 5 scientific projects were approved to receive a €6,000 grant each. Covering themes such as plasmonic sensing, graphene surface functionalization, detection of microplastics in water, supramolecular assembly of graphene materials, and hybrid 2D catalytic heterostructures, the awarded projects are: :: Investigation of Novel Nanomaterial Systems for Plasmonics SensingLeaders: Attila Bonyár (BME VIK) and Sara Abalde (INL- Diéguez Research Group) :: Fluorescence detection of microplastics in aqueous mediaLeaders: […]

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