Participation with the task: Development and optimization of high-resolution neutron scattering instruments dedicated to characterization and testing of materials of relevance to nuclear energy sector and related experiments in SANS, residual strain/stress and texture studies.

Gold and silver polyhedral particles with narrow size distribution and average diameter ranging from micrometer to nanometer dimensions will be prepared and securely deposited on titanium containing substrates (Ti or its alloys). The particles assembled into a consistent film with controlled roughness and morphology will be modified with selected thiol derivatives of boron hydrides. These substrate surfaces will be additionally treated with cell adhesion-mediating peptide-based ligands for cell adhesion receptors in order to promote and control the adhesion, growth and differentiation of osteogenic and vascular cells in cultures on the developed layers. Gold or silver nanoparticles will be tested in combination with fullerenes C60, i.e. carbon allotrope which proved to be a good substrate for the adhesion and growth of bone and vascular cells in our earlier studies. Potential cytotoxicity of silver containing layers in correlation with their antimicrobial properties will be tested.

Participation on multilateral project with the task: Development and optimization of a curved wide wavelength band monochromator based on strongly cylindrically bent perfect Si-slabs in a sandwich for microfocusing small-angle neutron scattering (mfSANS) device.

The main goal of the project is synthesis and characterization of promising nanostructured composites (mainly of carbon allotropes and synthetic polymers) exhibiting important biological and other (electrical, optical) properties that would be possible to utilize in the interaction with biological systems. The synthesized composite materials (based on fullerenes and metals, carbon and polymers, modified nanocrystalline diamonds, carborans, etched ion tracks and ion implantation or irradiation) will be inspected from the viewpoint of biocompatibility, adhesion and growth of cells and other bioapplications. Another goal of the project is demonstration of the active hybrid system based on combination of a cell (biomolecule) and microelectronic device with a modified nanocrystalline diamond as an interface.

Program interní podpory projektů mezinárodní spolupráce AV ČR (spolupráce ÚJF AV ČR, v.v.i. a KAERI Daejeon)

In the last decades many papers have been published in which successful employment of curved perfect Si crystals as neutron monochromators or analyzers in particular diffraction experiments has been reported. It has been found that due to the spatial condensation of neutrons (because of asymmetric diffraction geometry or focusing in real space), one may obtain a high monochromatic-beam density comparable to that of the mosaic monochromators. Taking into account reflectivity and the resolution properties of curved crystals Popovici et. al. (Missouri University) demonstrated a feasibility of the optimized curved crystal three axis spectrometer having the properties generally better than those of spectrometers employing flat mosaic crystals. New interest in the reflectivity and focusing properties of curved  perfect crystals has been evoked also by successful testing of the bent  perfect crystals employed in double-monochromator systems, or for medium-resolution small-angle scattering diffractometers. Favourable properties of bent Si crystals for short wavelength monochromatization have been reported and very efficient original double and triple axis arrangements employing the bent perfect crystals have been proposed and then tested for residual stress measurements of polycrystalline materials. In the last decade the neutron diffraction group of NPI ASCR, v.v.i. has been concentrated on the development of new unconventional types of neutron monochromators permitting significantly to increase figure of merit of some dedicated neutron scattering instruments. In this way a cooperation with colleagues from HANARO Centre in KAERI has appeared very fruitful.