Welcome to
FEQX Lab at UVigo

We are a team of researchers with interest in the chemistry and the physics of biopolymers. From an applied perspective we aim to connect fundamental properties of biomaterials with the behavior of macroscopic configurations to find out the underlying mechanisms which determines the optimal conditions for different manufacturing process.

From the material side, we have focused on cellulose conversion into textile fibers or the doped chitosan casted into films. We are also interested in the understanding of protein-based fibers such as silk. On the resulting products, we evaluate mechanical and optical properties together with the specific aspects of each application e.g. biocompatibility or antioxidant capacity.

Located in the Newton Building, our facilities foster a collaborative environment where researchers are encouraged to design experiments, build setups, and interpret results to uncover chemical patterns in biopolymers—guiding their transformation into innovative materials.

Our workspaces are designed for seamless integration: offices blend with laboratories, meeting areas connect with flexible rooms, and senior and junior researchers collaborate in a horizontal, team-driven structure. Dedicated zones for chemical synthesis and analysis, as well as the assessment of optical and mechanical properties, manufacturing, and scale-up, are interlinked to support continuous and efficient research workflows.

Six papers in six years

1

Film with induced halochromic properties engineered by grafting neutral red on silk backbone

2

High-Quality Cellulosic Fibers Engineered from Cotton–Elastane Textile Waste

3

Hydrolytic-Assisted Fractionation of Textile Waste Containing Cotton and Polyester

4

Rapid in situ quantification of rheo-optic evolution for cellulose spinning in ionic solvents

Jianyi Du, Javier Páez, Pablo Otero, Pablo B. Sánchez.

5

Dissolution kinetics of cellulose in ionic solvents by polarized light microscopy

6

Understanding the Dynamics of Cellulose Dissolved in an Ionic Liquid Solvent Under Shear and Extensional Flows

Crystal E. Owens, Jianyi Du,  Pablo B. Sánchez.