Contact:
Materials Science Institute of Madrid
Department of Porous Materials and Intercalation Compounds
C/ Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, 3
28049 Madrid
phone: +34 91 334 9000 X126
fax: +34 91 372 0623
email: ffernandes@icmm.csic.es

Academic Career:

1997-2004  Degree in Chemistry
Minho University, Braga, Portugal

2005-2007  MSc Environmental Sciences
Thesis: “Synthesis and characterization of carbon based nanoparticles for industrial wastewater treatment”
Chemistry Department
Minho University, Braga, Portugal

Since 2007  PhD Physical Chemistry
Thesis: “Development of functional and structural clay-biopolymer composite materials for biocompatible applications” 
Department of Porous Materials and Intercalation Compounds
Materials Science Institute of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Research Interests:

Clay based nanocomposites are well known materials that present remarkable mechanical properties when compared to the neat polymer matrix. Although attention has been centred in layered clay minerals, other mineral morphologies such as fibrous clays are now under investigation. The main research interest concerns the compatibilization of these fibrous clay minerals with biopolymer matrixes in order to improve its mechanical properties without compromising biocompatibility. This goal is addressed by chemically modifying the inorganic fibres via silane grafting to enhance compatibility and matrix-fibre adhesion.

Publications:  

1. Galvez E.M., Matt M., Cebolla V.L., Fernandes F, Membrado L., Cossio F.P., Garriga R., Vela J.S., Guermouche M.H., "General contribution of nonspecific interactions to fluorescence intensity", Analytical Chemistry 78, p3699, 2006
2. Fernandes, F. M., Araujo, R., Proenca, M. F., Silva, C. J. R., Paiva, M. C., "Functionalization of carbon nanofibers by a Diels-Alder addition reaction" J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 7, p3514, 2007
3. Araújo, R., Fernandes, F. M., Proenca, M. F., Silva, C. J. R., Paiva, M. C., "The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction in the functionalization of carbon nanofibers", J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 7, p3441, 2007
4. Darder, M., Aranda, P., Ruiz, A.I., Fernandes, F.M., Ruiz-Hitzky, E., "Design and preparation of bionanocomposites based on layered solids with functional and structural properties", Mat. Sci. Tech. 24, p1100, 2008
5. Fernandes, F.M., Darder, M., Ruiz, A.I., Aranda, P., Ruiz-Hitzky, E., "Gelatin-clay bionanocomposites: structural and functional properties as advanced materials", J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 9, p221, 2009