What is invisible to our eyes also exists. It is difficult to imagine a world made up of particles that are no more than a few billionths of a meter, particles that surround us every day, but which go unnoticed by the eye. It is in this small dimension, on a minimal or “nanoscopic” scale, that many scientists are working to decipher and modify the properties of materials. In our everyday environment, this research is often not sufficiently appreciated or valued. However, these studies have a significant impact on the public, since they enable progress to be made in many areas that are within our reach. It is not in vain that the analysis of nanomaterials is applied to the storage, production and conversion of sustainable energies; it is used to improve the performance of computer readheads; it is used to develop biological sensors and photonic materials; or it helps to increase the resistance of ceramics subjected to high temperatures.
Read the full report and the interview with Asunción Fernández.