Rafael Roldán

Rafael Roldán is a Researcher at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, specializing in nanoscale materials and two-dimensional heterostructures. His work explores electronic, optical, elastic, magnetic, and superconducting properties of graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g., MoS₂), and black phosphorus, with significant contributions to strain engineering and quantum phenomena in low-dimensional systems.

He earned his PhD at ICMM-CSIC (2003-2007) under M.P. López Sancho, with research stays at Boston University, UC Riverside, and ETH Zurich. Postdoctoral positions followed at Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (Université Paris-Saclay, 2007-2009) and Radboud University's Institute for Molecules and Materials (2009-2011).

Roldán's research integrates theoretical modeling and experimental analysis to investigate piezoelectric effects in hexagonal boron nitride, hyperbolic plasmons in black phosphorus, and defect-induced quantum states in transition metal dichalcogenides. His work reveals how strain, defects, and anisotropy tune optoelectronic properties for applications in nanoelectronics and quantum technologies, emphasizing fundamental mechanisms in 2D material heterostructures.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in manipulating 2D material properties through strain engineering, defect control, and plasmonic design, with strong focus on black phosphorus anisotropy, transition metal dichalcogenide bubbles, and valley-dependent phenomena. These studies bridge condensed matter theory with practical device applications in flexible electronics and quantum information.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Ramón y Cajal fellowship (2017)
• Juan de la Cierva fellowship (2012-2015)

As Principal Investigator of project FIS2014-58445-JIN (2015-2018) on 2D crystal applications, he secured competitive national funding. While no formal student advising is documented, his collaborative network spans ICMM-CSIC, international universities, and research institutes, evidenced by extensive co-authorship in high-impact journals. He contributes to CSIC's leadership in theoretical condensed matter physics through active participation in the institute's materials science division and specialized workshops on 2D quantum materials.