2025 FEMS Master Thesis Award – Finalists

Marta Zarzuela Amor

SOCIEMAT, Spain – University of Antwerp

Combining luminescent halide perovskite nanocrystals with plasmonic nanoparticles

Cesium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized in terms of their morphological and optical properties. A strategy was developed to improve the stability of luminescent perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in polar solvents by using CTAB as a protective coating. This approach enabled the NCs to remain stable for up to two weeks in ethanol and one month in isopropanol. Both materials were successfully combined. These findings led to a European patent (EP24382839), were presented as a poster at the Complex Nanophotonics Science Camp 2024, and are the basis of two articles currently in preparation.

Marta obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Physics in 2023 and completed a Master’s in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology & Photonics at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Materials Science at EMAT, University of Antwerp, under the supervision of Prof Sara Bals. Her research focuses on the 3D morphological characterization of chiral metal nanoparticles using electron tomography.
Prior to starting her PhD, she participated in two research projects. The first involved the development of perovskite-based emitters with tailored optical properties through their integration with plasmonic nanoparticles. During this time, she gained hands-on experience in nanomaterial synthesis and advanced characterization techniques, with a particular focus on stabilizing perovskite nanocrystals in polar environments. The second project focused on the development of a hybrid nanosonde-based sensors and actuators, where she used dark field microscopy to visualize and analyze the motion of plasmonic nanoparticles.