My name is Julio Chacón and I am Assistant Professor of Nanotechnology at Yachay Tech University in Ecuador. I was successful in winning a fellowship from the Research Alumni Program 2020-2021 to conduct a research stay at Freie Universität Berlin. During this period joint publications within the Experimental Physics group of Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich were accomplished. In addition, projects, research stays and experiments were planned for the 2022-2023 period to strengthen research lines related to the functionalization of carbon nanostructures, two-dimensional materials and Raman spectroscopic techniques.

The importance of studying carbon and two-dimensional materials such as graphene lies in my interest to develop new research and technologies in Ecuador. In particular, these materials can be integrated in the development of sensors for the detection of heavy metals in drinking water or for their integration in the study of novel materials for batteries and/or renewable energies. The installed capabilities and experience of the Experimental Physics group of Prof. Stephanie Reich, together with different FU-Berlin collaborators open the door to develop an international cooperation for the fundamental study and development of advanced nanostructured materials.

I am completely convinced that Freie Universität’s Alumni Program helps in providing continuity and follow-up to projects and collaboration ties with postdocs established in different parts of the world. A vivid example are a couple of my graduated students from Nanotechnology Engineering at Yachay Tech University, who are now conducting their master's degree program in Prof. Stephanie Reich's group. I am happy to have had this opportunity to gain international research cooperation that allows for the scientific advancement in nanotechnology and materials science in Ecuador, as well as the conception of young Ecuadorian researchers in Germany.