Leonard Deepak Francis

Leonard Deepak Francis serves as Research Scientist and Principal Investigator leading the Nanostructured Materials Group at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal. His expertise centers on advanced electron microscopy for nanomaterials characterization and fundamental nanoscale phenomena.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Materials Science from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (2005)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (2006–2008)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Texas (2009–2011)

Dr. Francis's research spans Nanomaterials, Electron Microscopy, and Nanoscale Dynamics, with emphasis on in situ characterization of catalytic processes, crystal growth, and light-matter interactions. His work bridges fundamental physics with applications in energy conversion and nanotechnology.

His 2017–2023 publications reveal a consistent focus on atomic-scale in situ microscopy, particularly using TEM to observe dynamic processes like CO₂ conversion catalysis and 2D material behavior. Key journals include ACS Nano, Advanced Materials, and Chemical Reviews, reflecting interdisciplinary impact across materials science and chemistry.

His primary recognition includes:

• Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials

Dr. Francis actively mentors junior researchers within his group and secures substantial funding through European and national projects. His grant portfolio includes:

• Horizon Europe Project FUNLAYERS
• PRR Projects: New Generation Storage (NGS) and Moving to Neutrality (M2N)
• Previous European projects: NANOHVAC and NANoReg
• National projects funded by FCT/COMPETE2020

He directs the Nanostructured Materials Group at INL, which operates cutting-edge electron microscopy facilities for nanomaterials analysis. The team collaborates internationally on projects spanning energy storage, environmental catalysis, and fundamental nanoscale phenomena.