My research interests focus on the magnetic and superconducting properties of materials, particularly of transition metal oxides. The phenomenology investigated range from ferrimagnetism, geometric magnetic frustration, spin glasses, nanoparticles, metal-insulator transitions, colossal magnetoresistance in manganites to vortex matter properties in superconductors in relationship with microstructural features. My research has involved, during the last 20 years, a large spectrum of experimental techniques and materials preparation approaches. This includes structural studies with X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic structures with neutron diffraction, magnetization and transport properties at low temperatures under high magnetic fields and under pressure. I have been involved in the use of several materials preparation procedures including ceramic powders, bulk materials, including directional solidification and high pressures, and more recently thick and thin films from chemical solutions. The relationship between materials processing and microstructural investigations by means of electron microscopy has been one of my major concerns in view of developping practical applications based on the investigated materials. During my career I have been scientific visitor in CNRS-Grenoble (France), INSA-Toulouse (France), University of Liverpool (U.K.), Argonne National Laboratory (USA) and University of California at San Diego (USA). I have also developed a large number of international scientific collaborations mainly with teams from France, Germany, USA, Argentina, Brasil, U.K. and Austria. From my position of head of the Department I have promoted an interdisciplinary team having a global approach to the scientific and technological problems. Most of the research projects developed in the Department range from the roots of materials preparation to the physical properties,with a close relationship with the microstructure. Finally, when industrial interest is raised, we develop device demonstrators and we investigate materials integration into electrotechnical systems. The generation of proprietary knowledge and its transfer to the european industry, through collaborative research, has been very intense in the last 10 years. At present the focus of my research is on high temperature superconductors, particularly on melt textured materials and its applications (fault current limiters, motors, levitation) and on low cost preparation of high critical current coated conductors.

Telephone:
+ 34 935 801 853
Internal Phone Number:
216
Office:
1.7
P.O. Box:
22
Fax:
+ 34 935 805 729
E-mail:
obradors (at) icmab.es
Laboratory/Department:
Superconducting Materials and Nanostructure at Large Scale
Address:
Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

08193 Bellaterra

Catalunya, Espanya