Our research aims at getting fundamental understanding of laser/ matter interaction processes to guide the choice of strategies for the control of laser fabrication of nanomaterials and of chemical reactions.

Main research lines: 

• Laser fabrication of soft matter polymer nanostructures and polymer-based nanocomposite materials with tailored properties.  We use laser induced periodic surface structuring (LIPSS) and pulsed laser transfer techniques, such pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL).
• Generation of nanostructured deposits by PLD with magnetic ordering based on iron oxides and transition metal doped semiconductors. We develop strategies to channel the laser excitation energy into selected ablation pathways, in the spirit of a bottom-up control approach of the laser synthesis of nanostructured materials.
• Experimental and theoretical research on the growth mechanisms and properties of clusters formed in laser ablation plasmas, to develop schemes to achieve “cluster assembled” synthesis of nanomaterials.
• Development of novel methodologies for in situ determination of the growth and self-assembly processes of laser generated nanomaterials. An approach consists in overall assessment of laser ablation plasmas based on the combination of nonlinear optics, optical emission spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Another strategy involves developping procedures for in situ monitoring and optimizing LIPSS on thin films by grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS) using synchrotron light.
• Studies of photodissociation processes in simple molecules focusing on the influence of the environment on energy channelling processes and on laser control strategies to tailor molecular dynamics towards a specified goal. This goal may be the optimization of a reaction channel in a multichannel process, the control of time scales, opening of new channels, etc. 
• Development and application of laser-based methodologies for the study and conservation of material heritage.