• To gain fundamental insight, down to the atomic level, into the synthesis and modification of different advanced carbon materials. Specifically, progress on methods to control the structure and porous texture of ordered carbon materials, as well the characteristics of graphene and other two-dimensional materials, is sought after. Strategies that allow control over the chemical functionalization of both types of materials are also pursued.

• To investigate the potential of the developed materials in energy, environmental and structural applications, while optimizing their performance based on the basic knowledge generated concurrently. Specifically, the porous materials are probed for storage/separation of energy-/environment-relevant gases (e.g., hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide) and for the adsorption of biomolecules of interest in, e.g., medicine. Concerning graphene and related two-dimensional materials, emphasis is placed on their use in energy storage (e.g., electrodes for supercapacitors and batteries), catalysis/electrocatalysis and environmental remediation (e.g., adsorption of contaminants from the aqueous phase).

• To transfer the scientific and technical knowledge generated in the laboratory to the industrial realm, with the aim of developing or improving different products and processes. This includes, e.g., the up-scaling of synthesis methods of the different materials implemented in the laboratory, or their use in specific commercial applications.

Beyond the purely scientific and technical objetives, an additional aim of our group concerns the training of new generations of scientists, both at pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels, in emerging topics in the field of carbon and related materials.