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INL Celebrates International Day of Light 2025 with Focus on Quantum Science and Technology

On May 16, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) held a public event dedicated to quantum science and technology, marking the International Day of Light 2025. This year’s edition aligned with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025), commemorating a century since the foundation of quantum theory. The event featured engaging presentations from INL researchers on key topics in quantum research, including photon-based quantum computing, diamond quantum sensors in neuroscience, and the role of topological materials in light detection. These talks aimed to make cutting-edge quantum technologies more accessible to the general public. Visitors also took part in guided tours of INL’s advanced research facilities, including labs for electron microscopy, nanofabrication, and quantum sensing technologies. Live demonstrations gave attendees a closer look at how INL scientists use light at the quantum level to drive innovation in nanotechnology and materials science. The event was organised in collaboration with UNESCO’s International Day of Light, the MICRODIA node of the Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging (PPBI), and the IYQ2025 global initiative. It concluded with a networking coffee break, an interactive science quiz, and a Q&A session with researchers, encouraging dialogue between the scientific community and the public. Through events like this, INL […]

Interview with António Costa: Where 2D Materials Meet Quantum Innovation

Since earning his PhD in 1998, António Costa—Associate in the Rossier Research Group—has dedicated his research to the theoretical exploration of low-dimensional magnetic systems, with a particular emphasis on spin excitations. By combining analytical approaches with computational modeling, he investigates how magnetic materials respond to external influences such as magnetic fields and electrical currents, uncovering fundamental mechanisms that underpin their behavior. Your research focuses on 2D materials and the interface between plasmonics and magnonics. What recent breakthroughs stand out in your work?On the magnonics side, we have been studying the spin excitations of a new kind of magnetic materials called altermagnets. These have properties that are sort of in-between ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. We have demonstrated that the lifetime of magnons in metallic altermagnets can be highly anisotropic, a property that can be exploited technologically to guide magnons along certain paths in the material. Further details can be found in the publication here.On the magnonics/plasmonics interface, we have shown that graphene plasmons can couple strongly to the low-energy magnons in a 2D insulating ferromagnet, which can be uses as a new way to probe magnons in 2D materials, and also as a way to convert a magnetic into an electric signal and […]

INL co-organises high-level scientific workshop on in situ electron microscopy in Porto

This week, Porto received the 5th International Workshop on In Situ Electron Microscopy (InSituTEM 2025), co-organised by INL and the Portuguese Society for Microscopy (SPMicros). Over the course of three days, the workshop brought together nearly 100 participants from more than 40 institutions across over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and discussion on the latest advancements in real-time, atomic-scale imaging techniques under realistic environmental conditions. The scientific programme featured contributions from internationally recognised researchers and high-level experts in the field of electron microscopy. The speakers, affiliated with leading institutions worldwide, shared cutting-edge research and insights into emerging methods and applications of in situ TEM, STEM, and cryoEM. Key topics included: “In situ electron microscopy is unlocking new frontiers in materials research by allowing us to observe matter in action — as it responds to real-world conditions,” said Paulo Ferreira, Research Scientist Group Leader at INL and co-organiser of the event. The success of the event was made possible with the generous support of the workshop’s 11 sponsors: By co-organising events like InSituTEM 2025, INL reinforces its commitment to supporting global collaboration in nanoscience, advanced instrumentation, and materials innovation. […]

INL and Spain’s Escuela de Organización Industrial Explore Strategic Collaboration

INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory hosted a delegation from the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI) to discuss future collaboration in areas of mutual strategic interest, including advanced training, innovation, and industrial development. The visit marks the beginning of a dialogue aimed at formalizing cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). EOI is a Spanish public business school operating under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. It plays a key role in aligning executive education, public policy programs, and industrial foresight with Spain’s broader economic and innovation strategies. The institution’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan places strong emphasis on building international partnerships—particularly with research organizations that support industrial competitiveness, sustainability, and technological leadership. The meeting was organized by INL’s Patrícia Oliveira (HR Unit) and Lorena Diéguez – Research Group Leader. During the visit, both institutions presented their priorities and explored common ground in areas such as sustainability, the energy transition, advanced materials, semiconductors, digital transformation, and industrial competitiveness. The agenda featured presentations from key representatives of both institutions. INL’s work in education and training was presented by Manuel Mañobre – Research Group Leader and Helena Macedo, while Francisco Guimarães highlighted INL’s approach to innovation and collaboration with industry. EOI’s Director General, Mr. José […]

INL Hosts 2025 International Day of Light Event with a Focus on Quantum Science and Technology

INL will celebrate the International Day of Light 2025 with a focus on quantum science and technology—an afternoon of exploring how light at the quantum level transforms innovation. The event is aligned with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, a global initiative highlighting the transformative role of quantum science in shaping the future of technology, innovation, and human understanding.This year’s theme explores the quantum foundations of light and their growing impact across scientific disciplines. From quantum computation and communication to sensing and imaging, light at the quantum level reveals new ways to address some of today’s most complex technological challenges.The International Day of Light 2025 promises an engaging afternoon of knowledge-sharing and discovery. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear from leading researchers in quantum materials and photonics, including talks on quantum computation with photons, diamond-based quantum sensing for neuroscience, and the role of topological materials in light detection. Participants can also take guided tours of INL’s laboratories, including live demonstrations of quantum sensing experiments, and explore facilities dedicated to electron microscopy and micro- and nanofabrication. A coffee break and informal networking session will provide opportunities for dialogue, while a science-themed quiz and interactive Q&A session will conclude […]

Pioneering Nanomaterials for Energy and Sensing: Symposium Announced for EMRS 2025 Fall Meeting

The symposium titled “Nanomaterials of the Future – Advancements in Energy and Sensing”, which will be part of the 2025 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), will take place from September 15–18, 2025, at the University of Technology in Warsaw, Poland. Co-chaired by an esteemed international team of researchers, the event will spotlight the latest breakthroughs in nanomaterials science and their transformative applications in energy, photonics and sensing technologies. Along with Pedro Salomé, the team leader of Salomé research group at INL, the organizing committee includes Maria Josè Lo Faro from Physics Department “Ettore Majorana” of University of Catania and Maria Caterina Giordano from Physics Department of Università degli Studi di Genova, both in Italy, and Sabrina Sartori from Department of Technology Systems of University of Oslo in Norway. “The EMRS meetings are among the most important events in materials science in Europe and this symposium will help to strengthen collaborations in the areas of nanomaterials for energy applications” said Pedro Salomé, underlining the relevance of the event for Europe’s innovation landscape. The symposium will bring together leading scientists, early-career researchers, and technologists to explore advancements in growth techniques, nanofabrication and computational modelling of nanomaterials that exhibit exceptional physical and chemical properties. The ultimate goal: unlocking their […]

INL Colloquia Series Explores Living Materials with Leading Researcher Dr. Anna Sandak

INL will host Dr. Anna Sandak as the featured speaker for the May edition of the INL Colloquia Series 2025. A leader in sustainable architecture and advanced materials, Dr. Sandak will share her visionary work on Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) — a new class of bio-integrated materials that bring adaptability, self-regeneration, and environmental responsiveness into the built environment. Her talk will highlight groundbreaking research from two major EU-funded projects: ARCHI-SKIN, which develops living coating systems for buildings using fungal biofilms, and REMEDY, a new initiative exploring bespoke, living layers for architecture — so-called archibiome tattoos — that blend aesthetics with functionality. By merging biotechnology with material science, Dr. Sandak’s work is redefining sustainability in architecture and opening the door to a future where buildings can grow, heal, and evolve with their surroundings. About Dr. Anna Sandak Dr. Sandak is the Deputy Director for Science and Head of the Materials Department at InnoRenew CoE in Slovenia, and an Associate Professor at the University of Primorska. With a strong background in biology and wood science, she has led over a dozen major research projects, including the ERC Consolidator Grant project ARCHI-SKIN and the EIC Pathfinder project REMEDY. Her research focuses on integrating living systems into construction materials to create eco-adaptive and regenerative buildings. About INL Colloquia Series 2025 The INL Colloquia Series 2025 is an inspiring monthly […]

Graphene-based biosensor breaks detection records for non-invasive monitoring of diabetes

A breakthrough biosensor detects glucose in human tears at ultra-low concentrations, opening new avenues for wearable health monitoring technologies. In a significant leap toward the future of diabetes care, INL researchers have developed a graphene-based biosensor capable of detecting glucose at attomolar levels—representing the lowest detection limits ever achieved for this crucial biomarker. It’s comparable to finding a single grain of sugar dissolved in an entire lake. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and led by Dr. Andrea Capasso at INL, introduces an ultra-sensitive glucose sensor based on graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) technology. Engineered to operate with extremely small volumes of biological fluid – down to a single tear -, this device has the potential to revolutionise glucose monitoring, particularly in non-invasive and wearable systems. The researchers developed a targeted graphene functionalisation using glucose oxidase (GOx), enabling highly selective glucose recognition. They then employed advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to analyse the graphene’s chemical composition and surface modifications at each stage of functionalisation, from enzyme immobilisation to interaction with the target analyte. “While finger-prick sensors remain the clinical standard for diabetes monitoring, they are often perceived as uncomfortable and invasive,” says Dr. Capasso. “Our goal […]

Registrations Now Open for INL Open Day 2025

Step Inside the Future of Science – May 31, 2025 | Braga, Portugal The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) invites the public to a unique and immersive journey into the world of science and innovation at the INL Open Day 2025, taking place on Saturday, May 31, in Braga, Portugal. For one day only, INL opens its doors to curious minds of all ages — offering a rare glimpse inside one of Europe’s leading research centres in nanotechnology. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore cutting-edge laboratories, interact with world-class researchers, and experience how science is shaping a more sustainable and connected future. From interactive experiments and artistic installations to live performances and family-friendly workshops, the event promises to ignite curiosity and celebrate the power of discovery. Highlights include: Participation is free of charge, but registration is required to ensure access to guided tours and hands-on activities. 📍 Join us at INL, Braga | 🗓️ Saturday, 31 May 2025 Reserve your spot now! Let’s explore the future of science — together. + REGISTER + PROGRAMME

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