We study the gas phase reactivity, energetic, interactions and structure of neutral and ionic species with fundamental, biological and technological relevance.

The general goal of our research is to understand molecular recognition events involving nucleic acids. Such events are of key importance in a myriad of processes in Biology and Nanoscience.

The Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Surface Analysis Group is devoted to research of thin and ultrathin films, surfaces and nanostructures. The group employs a remarkable variety of experimental approaches that include both the production of films and / or their surface modification by molecular beam epitaxy or magnetron sputtering and the characterization of their physicochemical properties by spectroscopic techniques (XPS, AES, Mössbauer), diffraction (LEED) and microscopy (STM, LEEM).

This group is composed of researchers from different backgrounds and interests which gives it a marked multidisciplinary character. The group was a pioneer, in our country, in the application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to the resolution of structural problems of interest in Chemistry and Biology. Our research is aimed at elucidating the chemical-physical bases that determine the structure, dynamics, stability and folding of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes.

Structure, dynamics, interactions and reactivity of biomolecules, using advanced methods of laser-induced fluorescence with high temporal (ps-s) and spatial (nm-µm) resolution: fluorescence micro-spectroscopy (FLIM, FLIM-Phasor, FRET, TRA-IM, FCS) and second harmonic generation (SHG). Applications to native and synthetic macromolecular systems, cellular organules and living cells

The Photolysis and Chromatography group research is focused on the development of innovative analytical methodologies for the determination of compounds of environmental and atmospheric relevance, as well as on the study of their reactivity. The Group manages the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory of the IQFR (http://serviciomasas.iqfr.csic.es/), which has a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer and an ion trap LC-MS system with electrospray and APCI sources.

The activity of the Group is focused in the investigation of the physicochemical processes involved in the micro- and nanofabrication of materials by laser ablation and irradiation in the nano- and femtosecond temporal domains and in the ultraviolet to infrared spectral range. Our interest is the understanding and description of the mechanisms that govern the laser-material interaction from a fundamental perspective, in the ablative and sub-ablative regimes, and the development of laser control strategies by application of advanced methods of manipulation of the pulsed laser radiation.

The scientific interests of our research group are focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of new “tailor-made” photosensitized nanostructured materials with improved biophotonic behavior for advanced biomedical applications, as well as to enhance the knowledge on the processes governing their synthesis, behavior and properties in regarding their structure and nanostructure and their biological response.

This activity is related to the use and development of tools of statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics to the study of the interrelation between microscopic structure and dynamics and the equilibrium macroscopic properties of systems of physico-chemical interest, with particular emphasis on the analysis of phase transitions and critical behaviour.

Development and characterization of active materials as heterogeneous catalysts. Study of processes of energy and environmental interest: Reforming of Hydrocarbons, Hydrogen Production and purification, fine chemicals, agricultural waste recovery and lignocellulosic biomass. Group¿s Web page: http://matproner.icms.us-csic.es/