Research team
Expertise
Degree in Chemistry and in Art History (both in University of Barcelona, Spain). Master in Polymers and Biopolymers in Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain. During my PhD (2016, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain) I was specialized in the analysis of organic materials from cultural heritage objects, in particular in the molecular characterization, alterations and aging processes of natural products like natural resins and drying oils. The main analytical techniques I have used are vibrational spectroscopies (micro-FTIR and micro-Raman) assessed with complementary analytical techniques and using also the synchrotron sources of Diamond Light Source (UK) and ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility (Spain). From 2016 to 2019 I had a post-doctoral project in the laboratory IPANEMA (CNRS, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France) centered in the study of the chemical composition and the structure of varnishes from historical musical instruments using micro-FTIR combined with the synchrotron source in Soleil Synchrotron (France). I also collaborated with other projects developed in Ipanema about the characterization of archaeological samples and fossils. In 2019 I have started a postdoc at the University of Antwerp, centered in the analysis of samples from historical objects and the degradation of pigments used in historical paintings using vibrational spectroscopic techniques.
Methodological advancements for nanoscale detection and distribution of organic colorants in historical objects
Abstract
Historical objects and works of art are composed of complex mixtures of materials, including pigments, varnishes, fillers, and binders, as well as degradation products formed over time. Among these, organic colorants are particularly significant for reconstructing the original visual appearance of artefacts. However, their identification is challenging due to similar functional groups, low concentrations, susceptibility to degradation, and heterogeneous distribution, often confined to layers less than 10 μm thick. Conventional analytical methods, such as chromatography, are destructive and limited in their ability to map the spatial distribution of these compounds. μFTIR and synchrotron-based μFTIR (SR-μFTIR) offer non-destructive alternatives with the capability to map molecules, but their spatial resolution (30 × 30 μm² for μFTIR, 10 × 10 μm² for SR-μFTIR) remains insufficient for detecting the small colorant particles commonly present in heritage objects. This project addresses these limitations by optimizing nanoscale infrared spectroscopies—optical photothermal infrared (OPTIR) and atomic force microscopy-based infrared (AFM-IR)—for the characterization of organic colorants and their spatial distribution. These emerging techniques achieve spatial resolutions far below the diffraction limit (0.5 × 0.5 μm² for OPTIR and 20 × 20 nm² for AFM-IR) and produce spectra comparable to conventional FTIR. Current challenges include low signal-to-noise ratios, spectral artifacts, and long measurement times. To overcome these, the project focuses on two main strategies: (i) optimization of sample preparation to achieve flat surfaces for improved spectral quality, and (ii) integration with AFM, μFTIR, and SR-μFTIR to preselect regions of interest and enhance measurement efficiency. This project will be carried out with the collaboration of Synchrotron soleil (France), the University of Paris-Saclay (France) and the University of Venice (Italy). The results are expected to provide accurate, spatially resolved identification of organic colorants in heritage materials, advancing both the methodological capabilities in heritage science and the broader application of nanoscale IR spectroscopy in materials research.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beltran Victoria
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project