For the past 10 years, we have built a strong, competitive, and expanding research and education network in materials science linking Linköping University (LiU) and the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). The network involves a dynamic team with members from both institutions, and exchange of research visits, joint supervision of PhD students, joint execution of graduate courses, joint publishing of findings in new material phenomena with impact on an international level for a variety of applications, and jointly organized high-level professional events
Leadership
The LiU – UFBA research and education network in materials science is led by:
- Dr. Gueorgui Gueorguiev, Senior University Lecturer, LiU
- Dr. Roberto Rivelino, Associate Professor, UFBA
- Dr. Anelia Kakanakova, Senior University Lecturer, LiU
In addition to this, the network enjoys the kind help of:
- Prof. Fernando de Brito Mota, UFBA
- Prof. Caio M.C. de Castilho, UFBA
Agreement on Academic, Cultural, and Scientific Cooperation
In recognition of the collaboration between the Federal University of Bahia, in Salvador, Brazil, and Linköping University, in Linköping, Sweden, a cooperation agreement was signed on 23 March 2016 by:
- Prof. João Carlos Salles Pires da Silva, Rector of UFBA and
- Prof. Peter Värbrand, Vice President of LiU
with the objective of strengthening the ties of cooperation between Brazil and Sweden.
The signing of this agreement recognizes the achievements of the LiU-UFBA network and provides a highly interactive platform for students, teachers, and researchers to enhance the core values of research and education.
Funding
The network, as well as the activities organized by the network, receive funding from agencies in both Sweden and Brazil. Examples of funded grants for projects and activities include:
- STINT 2009-2014, Institutional grant for younger researchers
- CAPES 2012-2015, PDSE scholarships for shared PhD between Brazilian and foreign partner to Maria Isabel Oliveira, Renato Batista dos Santos, and Rafael Rodrigues de Queiroz Freitas
- VR 2014-2018, Research grant
- VR 2015-2018, Swedish Research Links
- CNPq 2015-2018, Research Fellowship
- CAPES PrInt 2020-2021, Sabbatical visit to Linköping University
Prime research areas
While the LiU-UFBA network contains a broad spectrum of material science topics, some topics have emerged as focal. These include, but are not limited to:
- 2D carbon-based systems for the nanoelectronics and metal-organic interfaces
- Inherently nanostructured carbon-based thin films for protective coatings, including hard/elastic and self-healing coatings (for applications in e.g., magnetic reading devices, nanomachines, and aeronautics)
- Silicon-metal cages as templates for the next generation of Si-based nanoelectronics
- 2D materials based on silicon, including silicon boride and towards a metal-semiconductor transition in two dimensions (furthermore applications as e.g., high capacity anode materials in lithium-ion batteries)
- Biomolecules interaction with metal surfaces
- New knowledge to the rational metal-organic-chemical-vapor-deposition of modern-technology-relevant group III nitrides
- Emerging 2D group III nitrides and oxides
- Topological insulators and 2D group III bismide
Outreach
In order to strengthen and enhance the network, the leadership of the LiU-UFBA research and education network has conducted a number of outreach activities, examples of which are:
- The jointly organized Symposium on “Low-dimensional systems based on graphene and III-nitrides” at the XIII Brazilian MRS Meeting (João Pessoa, PB, September 2014).
The XIII Brazilian MRS Meeting attracted more than 1800 participants. Anelia Kakanakova was Chairperson of the plenary session presented by Prof. Sir Colin Humphreys "How gallium nitride can save energy, purify water, be used in cancer therapy and improve our health!" - The seminar at the Manufacturing and Technology Integrated Campus SENAI CIMATEC (Salvador, BA, January 2016), which is one of the most advanced centers for education, technology and innovation in Brazil.
- Presentations and collaborative discussions at Sweden Brazil Excellence Seminar, (Brasília DF, May 2016) hosted by Swedish Academic Collaboration Forum (SACF), CAPES, CNPq, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science & Technology, with the sponsorship from STINT and representatives from VR, VINNOVA, and SSF.
- The jointly organized workshop on “2D and layered materials: from honeycomb sheets to nanocomposites” (Catussaba Business, Salvador, BA, Brazil, April 2017).
During the venue, the LiU – UFBA research and education network in materials science had the opportunity to expand by involving research leaders from other Brazilian Universities including University of São Paulo (USP), Federal University of São Carlos, SP (UFSCar), Federal University of Santa Maria, RS (UFSM), and Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) - Invited presentations at the XL ENFMC Brazilian Physical Society Meeting (Armação dos Búzios, RJ, August 2017), the largest Physics meeting in Brazil held yearly since year 1978.
- The seminar at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), LiU presenting the research and educational exchange within the LiU-UFBA network with the participation of the Director of Graduate Studies and Director of Agora Materiae Graduate School Prof. Per Olof Holtz, and IFM Pro-Prefect Prof. Kenneth Järrendahl (September 2017)
- Promotion of the LiU-UFBA network at the Sweden Brazil Innovation Weeks in November 2018 at the UFABC-Santo André and MackGraphe-Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo by Angela Sanseverino, Coordinator for Brazil, Strategic Collaborations Office, International Affairs and Collaborations Division, LiU.
- Presentation “LiU-UFBA network and expanding” by Anelia Kakanakova at Workshop Welcome to Scholars CNPq-CISB-SAAB with the participation of the LiU leadership (December 2020).
- Successfully completed Master of Science Thesis in Applied Physics “Indium Bismide heterostructures: perspective on structural properties from molecular dynamics calculations”, Christoffer Lundgren, LITH-IFM-A-EX–21/3919–SE, supervisor G.K. Gueorguiev (September 2021).
