Research projects

of the Laboratory of Nuclear Analytical Methods

  • COST 527.001

    Grant No. COST 527.001 Provider Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy
    2001-2005
    Co-proposer RNDr. Anna Mackova, PhD., UJF, v.v.i. Název Analýza plasmaticky připravených polymerních tenkých vrstev jadernými analytickými metodami. Title Analysis of Plasma Polymer Thin Films by the nuclear analytical methods
    The proposed project was focused on the analysis and characterization of thin films prepared by plasma polymerization or plasma deposition. Study of polymer composites synthesis, metal/polymer structures and materials for wear resistant, optical and electronics applications as well as for sensors. The NPI team served in characterization of prepared polymers, composites using ion beam analytical methods for elemental depth profiling, provided irradiation modified polymers and investigated diffusion processes within. The work on the project was accomplished in close collaboration with the Charles University – Department of Macromolecular Physics (production of polymer films and plasma deposited thin films), the J.Evangelista Purkyne University (Atomic Force Microscopy of film surface), Masaryk University in Brno and foreign partners within broad COST frame work. The results obtained by nuclear analytical methods at NPI will be correlated and combined with the results obtained by other alternative techniques (AFM, STM) to obtain more complete characterization of the thin films. The main goal of the proposed investigation is to optimize the deposition technique of plasma deposited and polymeric thin films and to improve their properties.

  • GA 15-01602S

    Grant No. GA 15-01602S Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2015-2017
    Proposer doc. RNDr. Anna Macková Ph.D., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i. Co-proposer RNDr. Jan Lorinčík CSc., UFE AV ČR, v.v.i.
    Ing. Pavla Nekvindová Ph.D., VŠCHT Praha         Název Příprava a charakterizace optických nanostruktur energetickými iontovými svazky Title Creation and characterization of optical nanostructures by energetic ion beams

    Nanostructures for optics and photonics will be deposited in crystals and amorphous materials using ion implantation, which offers a many possibilities of the functional devices preparation. We will focus on a more detailed study of single crystal materials and glasses implanted by metal and light ions. The combination of appropriate substrate and implanted ion enables us to prepare materials with the desired properties (optical, electrical). Our intention is to define relation between the nano-particles morphology and the optical properties (band gap, photoluminescence), structural changes and dopant positioning in the host matrix. Energetic ions modifying solid materials will be used for the fundamental study of stopping powers of ions in solid compounds and simultaneously will be provided validation of semi-empirical models used in simulation. The simulations and knowledge of empirical stopping powers are irreplaceable in nanostructure synthesis using ion implantation. Measurement of ion stopping in compounds will be realized using transmission and backscattering ion beam methods.

  • GA 16-05167S

    Grant No. GA 16-05167S Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2016-2018
    Proposer Prof. Zdeněk Sofer, PhD., VŠCHT Co-proposer doc. RNDr. Anna Macková, Ph.D., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i. Název Použití iontových svazků pro modifikace struktur založených na grafenu Title Ion beam moficiation of graphene based structures

    Project main topics was graphene synthetization on various substrates, tunig and modification of surface morphology, electrical and structural properties using ion beam lithography, ion beam irradiation, intentional defekt design and optimization for particular functional application. The project was awarded by GACR’s president’s award in 2019 as an appreciation of outstanding results achieved within projects funded by GACR and focused on basic research.

  • GA 18-03346S

    Grant No. GA 18-03346S Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2018-2020
    Proposer doc. RNDr. Anna Macková, Ph.D., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i. Co-proposer Doc. Ing. Pavla Nekvindová, Ph.D., VŠCHT Praha Název Vytváření optických center a mikrostrukturování v ZnO a kubickém ZrO2 Title Optical active centers and microstructuring in ZnO and cubic ZrO2

    The project is dealing with the intentional synthetization of optical active centers using energetic ion beams in ZnO and ZrO2. Nowadays ZnO is highly attractive material prospective in the form of thin layers or nanowires for nanosized optical devices with functionalized semiconductor surfaces as a recently established breakthrough concept. Both materials are highly resistant to radiation exposure. The ion beam induced defects, color centers, created defect stability and dynamics is mandatory to be studied for the proposed applications as inert matrix for actinide transmutation or optical applications. Both materials will be intentionally modified by ion beam irradiation in the broad spectrum of masses and energies which will be accompanied by detailed structural, optical studies, simulation of ion and matrix ballistic processes induced by ion beams and DFT simulations. The high attention will be paid to the influence of various crystallographic orientations behaviour under ion beam irradiation and its different physical feedback under the ion beam is expected.

  • GA 19-02482S

    Grant No. GA 19-02482S Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2019-2021
    Proposer doc. RNDr. Anna Macková, Ph.D., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i. Co-proposer Doc. Ing. Petr Slepička, Ph.D., VŠCHT Praha Název Syntéza pokročilých mikrostruktur v inovativních polymerech a nanokompozitech. Title Ion beam writing synthesis of novel microstructures in advanced polymers and nanocomposites

    The project is dealing with the intentional synthetization of microstructures in novel polymers for novel electronics, optics and microfluid systems application using focused ion beams with the basic attempt on ion beam modification of various chosen polymers and nanocomposites containing nanoparticles as well as the ion microbeam analysis of the prepared microstructures. The prepared microstructures will be synthetized by ion beam and laser writing in polymers and in nanocomposites; furthermore swift heavy ion irradiation will be used for modification nanoparticle size and morphology in nanoparticle-polymer composites with attempt to prepare the micro-systems with the advanced optical and electric properties. Inorganic (oxides, noble metal) or organic nanoparticles shape and size modification in nano composites will be accomplished energetic focused ion beam treatment. The ion beam induced microstructure morphology, chemical and structural modification of irradiated polymers and nanocomposites, created highly crosslinked structure, stability and dynamics is mandatory to be studied.

  • GA106/09/0125

    Grant No. GA106/09/0125 Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2009-2013
    Proposer RNDr. Anna Macková, PhD., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i. Co-proposer Prof. Ing. Václav Švorčík, DrSc., VŠCHT
    Doc. Ing. Olga Bláhová, Ph.D., ZCU         Název Příprava a vlastnosti struktur kov/polymer Title Preparation and characterization of metal/polymer structures

    The interactions between metals and polymers will be studied using complementary analytical techniques on different metal-polymer and metal-polymer-metal systems. The research is of interest from the fundamental point of view and for broad practical utilization of metal coated polymers in analytical chemistry, electronics, food packaging etc. The specimens will be prepared by sputtering or vacuum deposition of 10-100 nm thick layers of different metals Au, Ag, Pd and Pt on various polymers PET, PMMA, PE and PTFE. The structure characterization will be provided using profilometer, TEM, AAS spectroscopy, RBS, ERD). The electrical resistance and magnetic properties will be measured. Nanointendenter device will be used for the determination of the layers adhesion. The layer morphology will be studied using AFM and SEM. Ion implantation and ion assisted mixing of metal particles and polymer structure will be used for composite preparation. For mobility and diffusion study of metals in polymer substrate RBS, XPS will be used.

  • GAP108/11/0958

    Grant No. GAP108/11/0958 Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2011-2015
    Proposer Doc. Mgr. Jakub Čížek, Ph.D., MFF UK Co-proposer RNDr. Vladimír Havránek, CSc., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i.
    Ing. Ján Lančok, Ph.D., FU AV ČR, v.v.i.         Název Výzkum bodových defektů v ZnO a studium jejich interakce s vodíkem a dusíkem Title Investigation of point defects in ZnO and their interaction with hydrogen and nitrogen

    Complex investigations of point defects in ZnO are proposed in the present project. Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) including also variable energy PAS using slow positron beam will be used as a principal technique for defect studies. State-of-art ab-initio theoretical calculations will be employed for interpretation of PAS data. Defects in ZnO single crystals will be compared with those in epitaxial and nanocrystalline ZnO thin films. Defects studies will be combined with electrical (temperature-dependent Hall effect, deep level transient spectroscopy) and optical (photoluminescence, optical transmission) measurements in order to find a link between predominant defect configurations and specific electrical and optical properties of ZnO samples. Moreover, in the present project we intend to investigate interaction of hydrogen and nitrogen with point defects in ZnO and influence hydrogen and nitrogen on electrical and optical properties. A new UHV chamber for on-line sputtering of ZnO films will be constructed and connected to slow positron beam. This novel setup enables to perform variable energy PAS investigations of thin ZnO films in-situ during film deposition. It gives us an exclusive possibility to investigate formation of defects and incorporation of impurities into ZnO lattice during film growth.

  • LC06041

    Grant No. LC06041 Provider Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy
    2006-2011
    Proposer Doc. Ing. Vladimír Hnatowicz, DrSc., UJF AVČR Název Příprava, modifikace a charakterizace materiálů energetickým zářením Title Preparation, modification and characterization of materials by energetic radiation.

    Preparation and characterization of prospective materials and structures by energetic radiation, upgrading of experimental base of partners, interconnection of universities and academic institutes in research and student education. Basic research topics will be: Modification of polymers by ion beams, plasma and chemical dotation; Electric properties of semiconductors modified by ion beams;Radiation degradation of selected materials;Development and usage of new types of detectors of ionizing radiation; Latent ion tracks in polymers and their usage in construction of sensors; Nano- and micro-structures based on polymers and carbon allotropes and their usage in bio-medicine;Diffusion processes on metal-dielectric boundaries and selforganization in metal-carbon allotropes systems;New materials for opto-electronics based on LiNbO3, LiTaO3, GaN, SiC and polymers; Modification of metal films and nanoparticles by carboran derivatives and controlled chemical reactions on surfaces

  • P108/12/G108

    Grant No. P108/12/G108 Provider Grantová agentura České republiky
    2012- 2018
    Proposer Prof. Ing. Václav Švorčík, DrSc., VŠCHT Co-proposer Ing. Alexander Kromka, Ph.D., FU AV ČR, v.v.i.
    MUDr. Lucie Bačáková, CSc., FGU AV ČR, v.v.i.
    Mgr. Jiří Vacík, CSc., UJF AV ČR, v.v.i.         Název Příprava, modifikace a charakterizace materiálů zářením Title Preparation, modification and characterization of materials by radiation.

    This project, aiming at preparation of novel micro- and nano-structured materials and systems, their modification by radiation and other techniques, their characterization by full arsenal of diagnostic methods available at participant laboratories, and the study of their chemical, physico-chemical and bio-properties, is inherently multidisciplinary and its goals cannot be achieved under standard research financing. Cooperation of 4 participants will lead to strong synergetic effect on common research. Attention will be paid to systems with potential application in medicine, tissue engineering, microelectronics, optoelectronics and sensor construction and further to processes of diffusion, aggregation, self-organization, material degradation by irradiation, interaction of cells with new materials and effects of radiation on biological objects (e.g. living cells). Nuclear analytical techniques will be used in material and biomedical and environmental research. The project will involve master and PhD students, who will asquire partical experience in multidisciplinary research.