The laboratory of nanostructure materials does research in the area of preparation and optimization of the preparation of different types of nanostructure materials such as metal oxides or carbon materials, in different macroscopic forms, especially for photocatalytic and catalytic decomposition of organic pollutants in the environment and photocatalytic reduction of greenhouse gases. Nanostructure powder, thin layers or monoliths are prepared not only with the use of conventional methods, but new unconventional preparation and processing methods are also developed and optimized, e.g. using supercritical and subcritical fluids. Preparation processes and their optimization are investigated on the basic research level, focusing on the influence of individual preparation or processing steps or of the feedstock/chemical precursor on the physicochemical properties of the prepared material and, consequently, on photocatalytic or catalytic efficiency. Our laboratory also uses microwave pyrolysis to prepare carbon sorbents, which are then characterised with the use of physisorption. We focus on inter-disciplinary research, using knowledge and information from material engineering, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, solid state physics, photochemistry, organic technology, as well as environmental and chemical engineering.
Research activities
- Preparation of powder catalytic materials by sol-gel, precipitation and co-precipitation methods.
- Preparation of catalytically active thin films in nanometric scale.
- Preparation of nanostructured transition metal oxides by high temperature calcination and by using pressurized/supercritical fluids.
Basic equipment
- High-temperature laboratory equipment for processing by pressurized hot and supercritical fluids with different high-temperature stainless-steel cells.
- Laboratory instruments and magnetic stirrers for materials preparation.
- Ovens for drying and calcining of samples.
- Equipment for the deposition of thin layers.
- High pressure extractor.
- Ultrasonic cleaner.
- Thin Film Measurement - NanoCalc - Ocean Optics.
- Fiber Optic Spectrometer - DH-mini + Flame - UV-VIS Measurement - Ocean Optics.
Offered services
- Preparation of various macroscopic forms of nanostructured metal oxides and lanthanides by using pressurized/supercritical fluids.
- Determination of specific surface area and meso- and microporous structure of solids by using physisorption of nitrogen as well as other gases, performed on fully-automated physisorption set-up reaching vacuum of p/p0=10-9. Interpretation of results.
- Testing of photocatalytic activity of the prepared materials and their correlation with the microstructure of materials.
Research team
Ing. Lenka Matějová, Ph.D.
Ing. Zuzana Jankovská, Ph.D.
Ing. Ivana Troppová, Ph.D.
Ing. Michal Vaštyl, Ph.D.
dr. Haripal Malhi
Antonio Moscol
Ing. Adéla Šlachtová
doc. Ing. Jonáš Tokarský, Ph.D.
Contact
Ing. Lenka Matějová, Ph.D.
e-mail:
tel.: 00420 597 32 7310
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