Multifunctional Nanocomposites
Research Interests
Dr. Vilatela’s group’s work is focused on the development of macroscopic materials made up of nanobuilding blocks in a way that the unique properties at the nanoscale are preserved through the assembly process and a new generation of high-performance engineering materials is produced. He was involved in early developments of a process to make continuous macroscopic fibres made up of CNTs, at Cambridge, and took part in the transfer of this technology to industry.
Since 2011 he has led a research group pursuing molecular control in synthesis of nanostructured fibres; methods to hybridize them with polymers and inorganic materials; the use of advanced X-ray and spectroscopic techniques to establish structure-property relations in these complex hierarchical systems; and the study of reinforcement and energy storage/transfer in composites with CNT fibre fabrics. His research has helped establish the unique combination of properties of CNT fibres, particularly for multifunctional composites that can store or harvest energy.
Academic Career
- 2011 – Present: Head of Multifunctional Nanocomposites group at IMDEA Materials Institute, Spain
- 2009 – 2011: Postdoctoral research associate, University of Cambridge, UK
- 2005 – 2009: Ph.D., University of Cambridge, UK
- 2004 – 2005: Research laboratory manager, Advanced Additives Laboratory, Jumex, Mexico
- 2004: Research internship with Prof. P. Ajayan, Department of Materials Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, US (3 months)
- 2003: Research internship with Prof. M. Terrones, Department of Materials Science, IPICYT, Mexico. (3 months)
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
- 2018: Miguel Catalán Award (under 40) granted by the Madrid Regional Government
- 2016: Young Investigator Award granted by the European Society for Composite Materials 2015 – 2020: Ramón y Cajal Fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Economy
- 2011 – 2013: Juan de la Cierva Fellowship from the Spanish Ministery of Science and Innovation (MICINN)
- 2005 – 2009: “Ph.D. scholarship from the Mexican Science Council (CONACYT)”
- 2004: Research internship scholarship from the US government, RPI, US
