In this year 2023, the research Group of Optical Properties of Materials GPOM-CIO, one of the most consolidated research groups of the Optics Research Center (CIO), celebrates 25 years of being created: 1998-2023. The GPOM-CIO created in 1998 with three young researchers under the invitation of Oracio Barbosa, a former researcher at the Center (now retired). Currently the researcher’s members are Marco-Antonio Meneses, Mario-Alejandro Rodríguez and José-Luis Maldonado together with the academic technician Martín Olmos. For the development of research projects and postgraduate and undergraduate thesis, the group has two laboratories, the Materials laboratory and the Spectroscopy laboratory, located in three areas: two 80 m2 areas and another 18 m2areas.
At the beginning of the GPOM , work was done on resonant energy transfer problems in laser crystals and some spectroscopic techniques were implemented for production processes in the food industry. Additionally, during those early years the GPOM-CIO implemented a methodology to discriminate tequilas from mezcals, white/rested/aged tequilas, and adulterated spirits. This methodology uses absorption spectroscopy and chemometrics. In parallel, organic photonics and opto-electronics developed.
Currently, the GPOM-CIO is recognized nationally/internationally as the leading group in the country in the manufacture of solar cells (SCs) and LEDs with organic materials; more recently, it has also ventured into the field of solar cells based on hybrid materials such as perovskites (PSCs).
With organic cells, efficiencies of 11% have been achieved and with perovskites close to 13%, while for OLEDs the luminances have been > 5000 candelas/m2 and high current efficiencies of 38 candelas/ampere. We also work on sensors and various spectroscopies for the characterization and analysis of different types of organic and inorganic materials. With various economic funds, obtained mainly through awarded external projects, throughout these 25 years it has been possible to have the necessary equipment to maintain this leadership and the development of spectroscopic techniques. This equipment is around 3 M USD including annual consumables; our institution (CIO) has given partial support for the maintenance of the laboratories and a smaller percentage for the existing infrastructure, around 0.6 M USD.
The GPOM-CIO works in a multidisciplinary and inter-institutional way, mainly with collaborators from areas such as chemistry and with various engineering and materials sciences, maintaining national and foreign cooperation. Teamwork is not easy but it is more difficult to work in isolation and face the challenges/problems in this scientific environment in Mexico. Those of us who make up the GPOM-CIO feel proud to work together and hope to continue for many more years, collaborating and advancing our lines of work within the CIO.
From 2008 to 2018
+40 Millions of pesos MX