Rafael Omar Torres Mendieta is a Mexican materials scientist specialized in the synthesis and study of nanomaterials through the employment of lasers. Throughout the development of his Ph.D. thesis at the University Jaume I (Spain), he came to appreciate the extensive impact of manipulating matter with ultrafast laser sources. Upon joining the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies, and Innovation in the Czech Republic as a research fellow, he established and led the dynamic FEMTO-NANO group, focusing on employing lasers to tailor-design nanomaterials for various applications. As his work progressed, he developed a strong connection with the field of catalysis, which, in turn, has proved to largely benefit from the versatility achieved by laser-based synthetic strategies.
The development of his MSCA-IF project (LYMON) under the supervision of Prof. Vincenzo Amendola will, thus, delve into the laser-mediated generation of precise magnetic-plasmonic nanoparticles capable of initiating catalytic reactions when exposed to circularly polarized light. These nanoparticles, termed chiroplasmonic nanocatalysts, hold the potential to revolutionize the production of highly specific chemicals, including oncological pharmaceuticals, whose intricate molecular structures are crucial for combating cancer and promoting global health and well-being.