Nanomaterials, nanocomposites, advanced materials – synthesis and characterizations
The research is focused on the synthesis of nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and advanced materials. The synthesised materials include metal nanoparticles, metal oxides/sulphide NPs, biologically active compounds and drugs, nanoparticles anchored on aluminosilicate or nanocarbon carriers, carbon nanomaterials, and organoclays. These materials are also further used in the preparation of advanced materials such as multifunctional and conductive polymeric nanocomposites, nanocomposites for energy storage (e.g., Li-ion batteries), biosensors, drug delivery systems, antimicrobial materials, and coatings. Different synthesis approaches are using physicochemical procedures, mechanochemical processes, and “green synthesis”.
Applications and environmental safety of nanotechnology and advanced materials
Design, development, and testing of applications of advanced materials in environmental sciences, biomedical sciences, as well as for energy harvesting and storing. The identification and elimination of hazardous toxic substances in the environment is one of the main areas of research. In close collaboration with other institutes of the VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, methods of hazardous organic and inorganic substances removal from the environment have been developed based on highly efficient sorption processes using fixed-bed columns or catalytic and photocatalytic processes. Polymeric and ceramic nanocomposites based on phyllosilicates, hydroxyapatite or carbon nanomaterials modified with functional organic or inorganic substances are studied to combat antimicrobial resistance. They are tested for use in biomedical and sanitary applications as oral disease treatment, stents, and implants or as advanced materials for antimicrobial coatings and membranes preventing biofilm formation. Nanocarbons and ceramic-layered materials are studied for applications in energy storage. Catalysts for hydrogen and hydrocarbons production and a solar cell based on silicon nanowires are designed and developed.
Nanophysics - magnetooptics, optical and terahertz fundamental research and applications, plasmonics, spintronics
The study focuses on acquiring and interpreting new physical knowledge about magnetic nanostructures perspective for information recording, non-reciprocal functions, and sensors using spectral ellipsometry, magnetooptics, and plasmon wave techniques in the development of advanced nanostructures for optical and terahertz applications and physics, and development of nanostructured spin lasers.
HPC calculations, molecular modelling and simulations