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NICKEFFECT aims to develop novel ferromagnetic Ni-based coating materials to replace the scarce and costly Platinum and ensure high efficiency in key applications.

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Professor Jordi Sort, an ICREA Professor from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and a key partner in the NICKEFFECT project, delivered a compelling Plenary Talk at the international conference “Donostia is Science”, held from May 28–30, 2025. The event, proudly co-organised by project coordinator CIDETEC, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), a cornerstone of scientific research and innovation in the region.   The Donostia is Science conference brought together a distinguished assembly of scientists and professionals from across Europe and beyond, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas across diverse research areas, including energy efficiency, biomedical applications, spintronics, catalysis, sustainable materials, polymer science, and neuromorphic computing. Notable attendees included Nobel Laureate Albert Fert, a pioneer in spintronics, and vice-directors from CIDETEC, a leading technological centre renowned for its cutting-edge applied research.   In this dynamic scientific environment, Jordi Sort presented his latest innovative...

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The NICKEFFECT project successfully showcased its innovative work at the EU-flagship EUIndTech 2025 event, held in Krakow, Poland, from June 2nd to 4th, 2025. Representing the project were Danijel Pavlica and Laura Cyrne from F6S Innovation, who engaged with a diverse audience of researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers.   NICKEFFECT's participation was prominently featured in the event's Poster Session, specifically within Session V: "Advanced Materials and Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Development", which took place on June 3rd. This session provided an excellent platform for NICKEFFECT to present its advancements alongside other innovative European projects dedicated to fostering sustainable solutions.     The team at the poster session engaged in fruitful discussions, sharing insights into the project's objectives, methodologies, and preliminary results. The interest and positive feedback received further validate the importance and potential impact of NICKEFFECT's contributions to advanced materials and sustainable development.   The EUIndTech 2025 event was a good opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and...

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NICKEFFECT recently hosted a highly insightful webinar titled "Industrial Application of Electrodeposition Processes," providing a comprehensive look into the practical aspects and innovative potential of this critical technology. Held on May 26th at 10:00 CET, the session successfully brought together professionals, researchers, and individuals keen on understanding the transition of electrodeposition from laboratory research to industrial implementation. The webinar was expertly led by Dr. Aliona Nicolenco, NICKEFFECT Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher at CIDETEC Surface Engineering. The session was organised by project partner VUB.   Electrodeposition is a cornerstone technique with widespread applications across diverse industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and renewable energy. This webinar served as a vital bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical industrial challenges, offering valuable insights into how these processes are optimized for real-world scenarios.   The well-structured agenda ensured a thorough exploration of the topic: Welcome and Introduction Key Phenomena in Electrodeposition Mind the Gap: Lab vs. Industry R&D ...

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On May 12th, NICKEFFECT project partner Vrije Universiteit Brussel organised a successful webinar titled "Electrodeposition Strategies for Fabricating Porous Alloys," presented by Dr. Eva Pellicer, Full Professor in the Department of Physics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. The hybrid event, co-hosted by our partners at VUB and UAB, welcomed attendees both in person and online.   Eva Pellicer, a key project partner of NICKEFFECT, delivered an insightful session that delved into the intricacies of achieving controlled porosity in electrodeposited metals. The webinar served as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and anyone interested in the advanced fabrication of metallic materials. Dr. Pellicer not only discussed fundamental principles but also presented compelling case studies that highlighted the practical applications and benefits of employing porous alloys.   Participants gained a deeper understanding of key factors influencing porosity in electrodeposited metals, effective strategies for achieving tailored pore structures, and real-world applications showcasing the advantages of...

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NICKEFFECT's upcoming webinar titled "Industrial Application of Electrodeposition Processes", will offer insights into the practical aspects and innovative potential of this technology.   Professionals, researchers, and individuals interested in the transition of electrodeposition from laboratory research to industrial implementation are invited to join on 26th May at 10:00 CET. This session will be led by NICKEFFECT Project Coordinator, Dr. Aliona Nicolenco from CIDETEC.   Why Attend?   Electrodeposition is a versatile technique with applications spanning numerous industries, from automotive and aerospace to electronics and renewable energy. This webinar will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industrial challenges, providing valuable insights into how these processes are optimised for real-world scenarios.   Webinar Agenda:   Welcome and Introduction Key Phenomena in Electrodeposition Mind the Gap: Lab vs. Industry R&D Practical Cases Q&A   Meet the Speaker: Dr. Aliona Nicolenco, NICKEFFECT Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher at CIDETEC Surface Engineering, is a leading expert in the electrodeposition of nanostructured materials. Holding a Ph.D....

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NICKEFFECT project partner IRES just launched a new webinar focused on "Life Cycle Assessment: methodology and practical application in metal coating development." This insightful session is a key deliverable within IRES's responsibilities in the NICKEFFECT project, where they are leading the development of the Decision Support Tool incorporating a sustainable by design approach.   As a crucial partner in NICKEFFECT, IRES plays a vital role in ensuring the project's commitment to sustainability and safety. Their objectives within the project include:   Thoroughly assessing the chemical risks associated with the production of selected materials; Rigorous evaluation of the environmental impact and economic aspects of the developed products throughout their entire life cycle; In-depth investigation into the recovery and valorisation of the innovative Ni-X materials; Implementation of advanced high-throughput computational methods to design materials with enhanced performance and durability, meeting specific project targets; Development of a user-friendly online decision support tool to guide material...

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NICKEFFECT invites you to watch the latest training session on Next-generation HT-PEM Fuel Cell Technology, presented by Nikolas Theodoropoulos from ADVENT. This insightful webinar is now available for on-demand viewing on NICKEFFECT's YouTube channel.   In this engaging presentation, Nikolas Theodoropoulos expertly guides viewers through the intricacies of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HT-PEM) Fuel Cells. The session provides a comprehensive overview of ADVENT's innovative work in this critical area, highlighting their current advancements and unwavering commitment to making the PEM fuel cell process increasingly sustainable.   As a key innovator in the fuel cell landscape, ADVENT shares valuable perspectives on their methodologies and the progress they are making towards a greener energy future.   Explore the frontier of HT-PEM technology: Gain a deep understanding of the next generation of High-Temperature PEM fuel cells and their important role in the evolving clean energy landscape. Discover ADVENT's sustainable innovations: Learn directly from Nikolas Theodoropoulos about ADVENT's dedication...

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NICKEFFECT was represented by its Project Coordinator, Aliona Nicolenco, from CIDETEC, at the 9th International Congress on Surfaces, Coatings, and Interfaces, held from 23 to 25 April in Albufeira, Portugal. The event served as a platform for leading researchers and industry stakeholders to exchange knowledge on the latest developments in surface and coating technologies.   On 24 April, during the FreeMe project workshop dedicated to Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) coating solutions, Aliona Nicolenco delivered a keynote presentation titled: “Boosting the Research and Development of Safe and Sustainable-by-Design Ni-Based Materials for Energy Applications”   Her presentation highlighted how NICKEFFECT is leveraging advanced modelling tools, digital twin methodologies, and CRA/LCA-LCC analyses to develop high-performance, Ni-based materials for PEM water electrolysers. These efforts are aimed at enhancing material efficiency, reducing reliance on critical raw materials, and enabling industrial scalability — all while supporting Europe’s green energy goals.   The FreeMe workshop featured contributions from several Horizon Europe projects addressing...

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Magnetoelectric actuation is a burgeoning topic nowadays given the need for energy-efficient devices. Magnetoelectric actuation refers to the control of magnetic properties of materials using voltage. Several mechanisms contribute to the magnetoelectric response including surface charging, ionic migration (referred to as ‘magneto-ionics’), reduction/oxidation reactions, and ferroelectric/ferromagnetic coupling. In magneto-ionics, certain ions (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, or lithium) migrate within a material when an external voltage is applied. Since electric fields, rather than electric currents, drive ionic motion, this process is more energy efficient. Potential applications of magneto-ionics include magnetic memory devices, neuromorphic computing, and adaptive magnetic materials. Electrodeposited films, micro- and nanostructures are promising candidates for oxygen magneto-ionic investigations, particularly those with high surface-to-volume (S/V) ratios. Ferromagnetic Ni, Co and their alloys can be electrodeposited from aqueous solutions. It has been demonstrated that mesoporous Ni-Cu films with ultranarrow pore walls enable the entire film (and not just the utmost surface) to contribute...

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Modeling materials from first principles, i.e., without the need to fit or depend on experimental data, has taken on great importance in the last twenty years. Such methodology allows a deeper understanding of the physico-chemical phenomena dictating how materials behave. Density-functional theory (DFT) has been the tool of choice for computing the properties of materials at the nanoscale for decades. Indeed, ground-state properties such as phase diagrams, magnetism, or band gaps (determining whether a material is an insulator, semiconductor, or metal) and structures as well as more advanced properties such as charge carrier mobilities, ionic conductivity, or light emission/absorption spectra are all reachable within DFT and its extensions.   Because such computations are very demanding, both in terms of CPU power and human efforts, in the last 15 years additional tools have been developed to handle hundreds of thousands of such calculations and store them efficiently in databases. For example, the Materials...

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