During this section we will post things that are happening or about to happen, that are relevant to us:)
We are organising the
This scientific event, with free registration, is designed for master students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to present their research carried out at ICMol, fostering internal collaboration and contributing to more effective scientific progress in addressing society’s pressing challenges.
New article published
‘‘Promoting photoswitching in mismatching mixed-linker multivariate Zr6 MOFs»
Photoswitching in MOFs’ linkers undergoing important structural transformations is forbidden by the constraints of the framework. This article presents a new approach, so-called multivariate linker-mismatching, in which we introduce linkers of different lengths to MOFs, creating structural distortions (such as dangling linkers) that enable the otherwise constrained photoswitching of azobenzene linkers. Moreover, by tunning the synthetic conditions we can control the unit cell parameters, porosity and electronic structure (supported by computational calculations showing that 25% of azobenzene reduces the bandgap from 3.5eV to 2.2 eV in collaboration with Dr. J. J. Badolví).
Isabel was part of
by Matter (Press Cell)
This article spotlights 35 researchers around the globe, all around the age of 35 or less. This group represents both the diversity and dynamism present in the field of materials science.
Isabel was invited to attend the
This symposium, hosted by Dr Georgia Orton and Prof. Neil Champness, gathered research groups from the University of Birmingham, Limerick and Valencia to start new collaborations.
Thank you very much for the invitation!
Isabel Gives a 4 hour seminar on TGA characterisation
Helping organise this meeting was a very enriching experience!
Isabel Gives an invited seminar at the univeritat autónoma de barcelona
She showcased the lastest results from the Abánades Lázaro Lab, just before heading to ALBA synchrotron with Carmen Rosales Martínez and Marcileia Zanatta!
Carmen and isabel PUBLISH A PREVIEW IN MATTER
C. Rosales- Martínez, I. Abánades Lázaro*, »Unprecedented ultra-complex zeolite-like MOFS using small Magastick-like building blocks» Matter, 2024, 7, 2675. (DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.05.019)
MOFs are not the LEGOS of chemistry, they are the MAGASTIC OF CHEMISTRY!!
THE ABÁNADES LÁZARO LAB IS AWARDED NATIONAL RESEARCH PROYECTO FROM THE SPANISH MINISTERY!
PID-2023 ‘Generación de conocimiento’
100k€ for four years, including 1 year of hiring personnel, stay tunned!
Carmen and isabel attended
EUROMOF2024
Singapore
Isabel was invited to presented her research in the Young Investigators Symposium and Carmen presented her latest results on “Designing the self assembly of Zr Multivariate Metal-Organic Frameworks” with a poster.
It was lovely seeing so many nice research around the world and meeting other researcher in the field!
Carmen’s First article in the group is now accepted in Chemical communications
Inspired by the multivariate modulation of MOFs , my Junior Leader la Caixa Fellowship, entitled »Coding Multivariate Modulated MOFs’ composition, structure and adaptability for enhanced applications» is focused on the most fundamental understanding of the MTVM approach to control heterogeneity, structural arrangement and adaptative response of MOFs through defect engineering. This funding help me to start my research group in later 2023 with Carmen Rosales Martínez as a PhD candidate.
Carmen worked super hard on the project and published her first article at the group within the first year of her PhD (Chem. Comm. 2024).
This contribution, invited to the themed collection Emerging Trends in MOFs, presents the multivariate modulation of MOFs as a versatile method for the in-situ defect multifunctionalisation of UiO-66, while increasing its porosity. It encloses a comprehensive study using p-functionalised benzoate -NO2, -SO3 and -SH modulators, rationalizing the defects introduced and their impact on properties. Introducing functional modulators alters the Zr6 clusters of the MOF, as evidenced by FT-IR and PDF, and tunes their electronic transitions and optoelectronic properties, decreasing the band gap ca. 15%. Importantly, the Zr6 clusters’ structural distortions are reported for the first time. We anticipate that this methodology will impact the control of MOFs’ properties for selected applications.
INVITED TALK AT
EU4MOFs COST Action 1st in person meeting
Bilbao, Spain
Isabel presented her research in biomedical applications of MOFs and participated in a panel discussion regarding MOFs for biomedical applications, such an enriching experience!!
Carmen’s first article in the group is online!!
The first research article of Carmen in the group is online awaiting review, and just on time, Carmen presented it at the International Supramolecular Chemistry Summer School in Cagliari!
»Tuning the electronic properties of Zr UiO-66 through defect-functionalised multivariate modulation’‘ is a collaboration with Dr Marcelo Assis and Dr Celia Castillo-Blas, in which the multivariate modulation of Metal-Organic Frameworks is presented as a valuable tool to introduce multiple functional units into UiO-66 while increasing its porosity. This manuscript encloses a comprehensive study using p-functionalised benzoate -NO2, -SO3 and -SH modulators, rationalizing the defects introduced (with Pair distribution Funtion measured at ALBA synchrotron) and their impact on properties.
ISABEL GIVES AN INVITED TALK AT
II Workshop: Multifunctional Materials: From Basic Research to the Development of New Technologies”
Universitat Jaume I, Castellón
Isabel showcased the group’s research in a Workshop that combined different techniques and applications of multifunctional materials.
CARMEN GIVES A FLASH TALK AT
XV Conference of Young Researchers in Atomic and Molecular Physics
Carmen has given a great Oral Flash presentation showcasing her recent results regarding the understanding of the growth of Zr Multivariate defective MOFs, including synchrotron in situ characterisation.
Isabel meets with all the awardees of the XI Young Talent Awards for a symbolic presentation of awards
The chief of ‘la Caixa’ in Comunitat Valencia, Olga García, and the president of Chief of Diario Levante-EMV, José Luis Valencia, handed over a symbolic check and discussed the different initiatives with the awardees. The future is female.
It was great meeting with all the new ‘la Caixa’ Fellows and the management staff. A day of celebration!
Isabel received her Junior Leader ‘la Caixa’ Fellowship in a moving ceremony
Isabel has been nominated for the Young Talents Awards (Comunidad Valenciana)
Isabel is one of the four nominees for the Young Talent in Science, awarded by CaixaBank and Levante. The results will be known this 28th of February, during a gala.
This is an achievement by itself, the other candidates are outstanding!!!
Isabel has been invited to the Young Investigators Simposium of MOF2024 conference in Singapore!
This is a unique opportunity to showcase the research that Isabel has been doing throughout her career, and especially now as an independent researcher!
Book your date for 13-14 of July!
The group goes to ALBA Synchrotron!
Only two months after starting her PhD, Carmen was measuring in-situ and ex-situ techniques at ALBA synchrotron!! Congrats for being such a fast learner and a hard worker Carmen!
Great results coming soon!!
Isabel was awarded the ‘Impulso a Jóvenes Talentos’, by COPE Castilla la Mancha.
The best things of prizes, is being able to celebrate them with family and friends
Isabel was awarded a Ramón y Cajal Fellowship
The purpose of this fellowship (5 years) is to promote the incorporation into research organizations of research personnel with an outstanding career for them to acquire the skills and abilities that allow them to obtain a stable position in a research organization of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation. Carmen Joins the group!!
Carmen Rosales Martinez has just joined the group this September 2023 to start her PhD under the direction of Isabel, in the Junior Leader la Caixa Fellowship frame! Carmen has a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Granada, and will be studying the growth of defective multivariate modulated MOFs!
Wellcome Carmen!!
invited talks for Jun 2023…
INVITED talk
UNIVERSITAT JAUME I, CATELLÓN
Jun 2023
Isabel gave an invited oral presentation that summarised her research journey, from her PhD to her latest results.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
This contribution is based on the design of mesoporous MOFs for selective delivery of the macromolecular drug paclitaxel (PTX).
Paclitaxel is one of the most effective chemotherapeutics, but due to its reduced solubility has associated side effects, which leads to the urgency of finding alternative formulations. MOFs have been considered as encapsulating PTX materials, but given the notable molecular size of this drug, the number of reported studies of PTX@MOF formulations remains limited.
With this contribution we present the synthesis of nanostructured MUV-2 (MUV stands for Materials of University of Valencia), a hierarchical mesoporous iron-based MOF that can store high payloads of the macromolecular drug paclitaxel (ca. 23% w/w), increasing its selectivity towards HeLa cancer cells over HEK non-cancerous cells. Moreover, NanoMUV-2 permits full degradation under simulated physiological conditions while maintaining biocompatibility, and is amenable to specific surface modifications that increase its cell permeation, efficient cytosol delivery and cancer-targeting effect, further intensifying the cancer selectivity of paclitaxel.
ISABEL WAS AWARDED THE JUNIOR LEADER LA CAIXA FELLOWSHIP (RETAINING)!!!!!!!
Isabel was one of the 15 candidates among the 292 applicants that obtained a Junior Leader Retaining Fellowship in the 2022 call. This fellowship (292500€ for 3 years) will allow Isabel to establish her independent research career (she is hiring a PhD!!).
The project, entitled »Coding Multivariate Modulated MOFs’ composition, structure and adaptability for enhanced applications» is focused on the most fundamental understanding of the MTVM approach to control heterogeneity, structural arrangement and adaptative response of MOFs through defect engineering.
ISABEL WAS AWARDED AN HONOUR MENTION BY CIUDAD DE ALGEMESÍ
ISABEL GIVES AN INVITED TALK AT TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN (IRELAND)
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
This contribution is based on the design of ultramicroporous MOFs for selective gas separation. Their reduced pore space (<4Å) decorated with pendant pyridines from tangling isonicotinic ligands enables the combination of size-exclusion kinetic gas separation (their small pores allow the adsorption of CO2 molecules and forbids N2) with thermodynamics (due to the interaction of the linker with CO2 molecules). This results in efficient materials for dynamic breakthrough gas separation with infinite CO2/N2 selectivity in a wide operando range and with complete renewability at room temperature and ambient pressure. This positions these materials as some of the best candidates for CO2/N2 separation, with complete selectivity, and energy-free complete renewability.
talk regaring multivariate modulated titanium mofs in mof2022 conference!
Although this project is sadly over, Isabel gave an oral presentation in the prestigious Global conference MOF2022 to showcase her results regarding the innovative multivariate modulation approach to produce multifunctionalised Titanium structures through defect engineering, enhancing the catalytic performance of the materials and opening the doors for this approach to be used for any applications!
ISABEL ATTENDS THE 71ST NOBEL LAUREATE LINDAU MEETING ON-SITE!!!
This experience was unique, allowing her to meet with her Sciathlon friends, and get to know amazing young scientists and Nobel Laureates, leading to science discussions but also hearing about their personal lifes and difficulties.
I really encourage any young scientist to apply for this opportunity.
invited talk
MULTIMAT, GRANADA, SPAIN!
May 2022
Isabel gave an invited oral presentation that summarised some of the results of her JdC-I so far!
SOLVENT-DEPENDENT BREATHING BEHAVIOUR OF FLEXIBLE METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
Among multivariate metal–organic frameworks, multivariate modulated (MTVM) MOFs offer the possibility of introducing multiple functionalised units into the MOFs as defect-compensating ligands promoting porosity among other defect-related properties. However, there are no studies that rationalise the incorporation of multiple functionalised modulators and their resultant properties, hindering their molecular design and multi-applicability. In this manuscript, we introduce up to five functionalised modulators bearing NO2, F, tBu, OH and NH2 units in significant quantities (up to ca. 31 mol%) into the Ti heterometallic MOF MUV-10 in one-pot synthesis, increasing the porosity by up to ca. 1.3-fold in comparison with the pristine material. We have rationalised the incorporation ratios of the different combinations of modulators among other properties. As a proof-of-concept, we have shown that there is up to a 1.7-fold enhancement in the catalytic activity of MTVM MOFs for the regioselective opening of epoxides, anticipating that this protocol can be used to produce multi-functionalised materials with a wide range of applications.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
The influence of composition and textural characteristics of a family of ultra-small isoreticular UiO-type metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with different functionalized and extended linkers on their catalytic performance is evaluated. Two direct amide bond formations across four different substrates (benzylamine + phenylacetic acid and aniline + formic acid) are employed as proof-of-concept reactions to test the activity of the Zr-MOF nanoparticles. The reaction rates of amide bond formation are evaluated against physico-chemical properties such as crystallinity, porosity, particle size or linker functionality, alongside the Lewis acid and hydrophobic properties of the MOFs, in order to gain insights into the catalytic mechanism and optimal properties for its enhancement.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
FIRST IN PERSON CONFERENCE for almost two years!
WISC, CAGLIARY, ITALY!
September 2021
Isabel gave an oral presentation that summarised some of the results of DefTiMOFs puzzling project!
Defect Engineering of Titanium MOFs for enhanced catalytic applications
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
The Ti–Ca heterometallic MOF MUV-10 exhibits good dispersibility in phosphate buffer and low phosphate-induced degradation in comparison to other MOF systems. It induces no cytotoxicity towards cells of the immune system and no inmune response, making it an attractive candidate for biomedical applications and demonstrating its safe use for other applications.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
We show that the molar percent of defects, either as missing linkers or as a part of missing cluster defects, is related to the acidity of a modulator and its subsequent incorporation into the UiO-66 structure. Modulators with strong acidity and small size result in a considerable defect induction that causes an increase in the external surface area and mesopore volume, which is beneficial for the ring-opening of epoxides with amines, using UiO-66 defect-modulated MOFs as heterogeneous catalysts.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
We report a systematic study on the ability of mono- and dicarboxylic modulators (benzoic and isophthalic acid) to promote defect creation in the heterometallic Ti-MOF of the MUV-10 family. Our results indicate that both acids behave as capping modulators at high concentrations, but isophthalic acid is a more efficient defect promoter, yielding defective phases with nearly 40% of missing linkers. Our computational results suggest that this difference cannot be solely ascribed to relative changes in acidity but to the ability of this bidentate linker in compensating the structural distortion and energy penalty imposed by breaking the connectivity of the underlying framework.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
We describe the preferential formation of missing cluster defects in heterometallic titanium–organic frameworks of the MUV-10 family when synthesised in sub-stoichiometric linker conditions. Correlation of experiment with computational models reveals the dominance of missing cluster vacancies in the pore size distribution of defective MUV-10. These same models were used to investigate the correlation of defects by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The diffraction at low reflection angles is dominated by diffuse scattering that is indicative of short-range order and cannot be indexed to the defective structural models generated. In addition to the low atomic scattering factor of titanium, these results confirm the need for high-resolution electron microscopy methods for modelling nanoscale disorder in titanium MOFs.
Isabel meets diana morant, the Spanish minister of science and education
Isabel had the opportunity to meet Diana, discuss matters that concern scientists and speak about the future of science in Spain, especially regarding funding and tools to stop unprofessional behaviour in academia.
Isabel attends the open science days (70th Nobel laureate Lindau meeting online version) and participates in the sciathlon!
Although due to the covid pandemic the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting had to be online the experience was beyond any expectations, full of meaningful conversation with young scientists and Nobel Laureates, inspiring talks and much more! If you want to know more about it please read the interview below 🙂
ISABEL IS INTERVIEWD BY CHEMISTRYVIEWS
During this interview, Isabel speaks with Vera Koester about her views on the Lindau meeting, her expectations and what she wants to do in the future.
stemfartes wins the second prize of wisibilizalas!!!
STEM Fartes is an association of high school students working -together with their teacher Laura Vilar- on a project to give visibility to women in STEM. Isabel had the pleasure to be interviewed by them and talking about science and gender equality.
Science is for everyone!!!
The 11deFebrero association organises talks in high schools aiming to overcome the gender imbalance in STEM!
CREATIVE SCIENCE WEBINAR
The seminar creative science introduces scientific careers beyond research, with, as the title introduces, a significant amount of creativity!!
Don´t miss it!! You can also watch it online!
12th November 2020
During this event, four Women in STEM will give short dissemination talks (10 min) related to the work they are performing. These talks are directed at adults, especially to teachers.
NEW PAPER PUBLISHED!!
Women in Research
Ulrike Boehm performs interviews with young female scientists attending the Nobel Laureate Meetings.
- What inspired you to pursue a career in Chemistry?
- Who are your role models?
- How did you get to where you are in your career path?
- What is the coolest project you have worked on and why?
- What’s a time you felt immense pride in yourself / your work?
- What is a “day in the life” of you like?
- What are you seeking to accomplish in your career?
- What do you like to do when you’re not doing research?
- What advice do you have for other women interested in science / in your discipline?
- In your opinion, what will be the next great breakthrough in in your discipline?
- What should be done to increase the number of female scientists and female professors in your discipline?
Isabel has been interviewed regarding her attendance to the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Interdisciplinary) by eldiario.es, Castilla La Macha Media and UAH.
Isabel is one of the ca. 600 young scientists who will attend the 70th Nobel Laureate Lindau meeting, an inspiring week with around 70 Nobel Laureates to exchange experiences and establish contacts in science and beyond. The meeting will cover the areas of Chemistry, Physics and Physiology or Medicine.
Due to the events of Coronavirus the event has been postponed to next year, with the posibility of an online event during this summer.
12th May 2020
Participation in the PhD course entitled ´A career in research´ at by Universitat Jaume I
Marie Curie Fellows from different areas will lead a colloquia based on research opportunities after the PhD , especially focused on the MSCA program. The colloquia will be followed by questions and discussion with the PhD students.