Department of Materials Chemistry

Head of the department: Dr. Kamil Lang

Deputy head: Dr. Zbyněk Černý 

Researchers are mostly focused on materials chemistry including their development and tuning for practical applications. The research results are hence not only papers, but also patents and design of novel technologies for practical applications. They are based on own research. The main current topics are:

• fotoactive metal oxides (more in Research section) and metal oxides for degradation of organic compounds (more in Research section, V. Stengl's team)
• practically usable aluminium-based chemical materials, such as geopolymers (Z. Cerny's team)
• nanocomposite materials and oxide ceramics with special physical properties (V. Stengl's team and J. Bursik)
• Nanostructured hybrid materials. We develop topics of layered metal hydroxides (Zn, Mg, Ni, etc.), photoactive oriented films, polymeric nanocomposites, oriented oxide films (e.g., ZnO) and manipulation with hydroxide nanolayers. One of the studied applications are bactericide surface active under daylight due to photophysical properties of incorporated compounds (photoactive composite layers and polymeric nanofibres). More details are in the section of Research.
• Photophysical and photochemical properties of novel molecules, supramolecules and preorganized structures (molybden clusters, porfyrin/phthalocyanin derivatives, boron clusters, calixarenes, carbon nanotubes, etc.). More details ar in the section of Research.

Synthesis laboratories are conventionally equipped for laboratory syntheses, autoclaves (300°C, 20 MPa), tube ovens, high-performance ultrasound generators. It is possible to use a pilot plant and work on transfer of technologies to larger scales for practical applications. Laboratories are equipped for preparation of thin films using sol-gel procedures.

Reaction kinetics with solid catalysts is studied with help of quadrupole mass spectrometer JEOL JMS- Q1000GC, gas chromatograph AGILENT 6890N. Solids are characterised by surface area measurement (Coulter SA 3100), particle size analyser Malvern-ZetaSizer, UV-VIS spectrometer Lambda 35 with integration sphere, colorimeter for solids Hunterlab ColorQuest and fluorescence spectrometer AVANTES.

Catalytic activity of newly prepared chemical materials is studied in photoreactors in liquid/solid and gas/solid systems (more details on reactors).

Laboratory is equipped for inorganic syntheses and subsequent spectral characterization of the products by UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved spectroscopy. EPR spectrometer is available.
 

Most Cited Papers

• J.-L. Rehspringer, J. Buršík, D. Nižňanský, A. Kláriková, Characterisation of bismuth-doped yttrium iron garnet layers prepared by sol-gel process, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 211(1-3) (2000) 291-295 
• K. Lang, J. Mosinger, D. M. Wagnerová: Photophysical properties of porphyrinoid sensitizers noncovalently bound to host molecules; models for photodynamic therapy. Coord. Chem. Rev. 248/3-4 (2004) 321-350.
• S. Bakardjieva, J. Šubrt, V. Štengl, M.J. Dianez, M.J. Sayagues, Photoactivity of anatase-rutile TiO₂ nanocrystalline mixtures obtained by heat treatment of homogeneously precipitated anatase, Applied Catalysis B-Environmental 58(3-4) (2005) 193-202
• S. Bakardjieva, V. Štengl, L. Szatmary, J. Šubrt, J. Lukáč, N. Murafa, D. Nižňanský, K. Čížek, J. Jirkovský, N. Petrova, Transformation of brookite-type TiO2 nanocrystals to rutile: correlation between microstructure and photoactivity, Journal of Mtaerials Chemistry 16(18) (2006) 1709-1716
• J. Mosinger, O. Jirsák, P. Kubát, K. Lang, B. Mosinger: Bactericidal nanofabrics based on photoproduction of singlet oxygen. J. Mater. Chem. 17(2) (2007) 164-166.
• V. Štengl, S. Bakardjieva, N. Murafa, Preparation and photocatalytic activity of rare earth doped TiO₂ nanoparticles, Materials Chemistry and Physics 114(1)  (2009) 217-226

Applied research

• In collaboration with enterprise ČLUZ a.s.: Novel inorganic pigments based on natural alomosilicates with low content of Fe oxides.
• In collaboration with enterprises ČLUZ a.s. and Variel a.s.: Proprietary synthesis procedure to obtain inflammable inorganic material absorbing neutrons, suitable for manufacturing of neutron shields.
• In collaboration with Optaglio s.r.o.: proprietary synthesis procedure to nanosol of hydrated zinc peroxide, either pure or as thin films on inorganic or polymeric supports.