Department of Materials Chemistry

Materials engineering at ICPF is a relatively new and dynamically developing field, in which we focus on the study and development of materials primarily originating from fundamental research in chemical sciences. Our teams investigate the structure, properties, and functionality of advanced materials with the aim of optimizing them for specific applications. The materials we develop find use across a broad spectrum of fields, including organic and hybrid electronics, photovoltaics, catalysis, and biomedical applications (e.g., systems for targeted drug delivery or bioactive coatings). In these areas, we actively collaborate with numerous universities, research organizations, and industrial partners both in the Czech Republic and abroad, engaging in bilateral projects as well as international research consortia. By bridging fundamental research with the application sphere, we effectively transfer new knowledge into practice and contribute to technological innovations with high added value.

The Department of Materials Chemistry comprises three Research Groups (see Organizational Structure) focused on the following areas:

Study in the field of inorganic materials at the ICPF takes place almost exclusively in the Research Group of Laser Chemistry, which focuses on the preparation of thin layers and nanostructured materials by numerous deposition techniques. Among them, laser ablation, radiofrequency, and chemical vapor depositions are the main methods. Laboratories of the DLC are fully equipped with both vacuum deposition chambers for the preparation of new materials and analytical techniques for the characterization of the prepared materials and reaction products.

The research is focused on the deposition of material based on (i) silicon and germanium for photovoltaic applications, (ii) oxides, suboxides, oxy-carbides, and oxynitrides for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical applications, (iii) nanostructured silicides and germanides in forms of nanoplatelets and nanowires for photocatalytic applications.

The material prepared is characterized by means of spectroscopic (Fourier-Transform Infrared, UV-Vis, Raman, photoelectron, and EDX), microscopic (scanning electron microscopy), and diffraction (X-ray powder diffractography) techniques. Gaseous and liquid samples are analyzed by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The Group affords analytical support to other departments of ICPF.

Studies in the field of organic chemistry and new organic materials are conducted at the ICPF in two scientific groups.

The Research group of Advanced Materials and Organic Synthesis (GAMOS) is mainly focused on studying photochemical synthesis, transformations, and properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, most notably [n]helicenes and [n]phenacenes, and their subsequent application in various research areas. In cooperation with research partners (ICT Prague, UPOL, MU, etc.), works to develop new applications of thin layers of these materials, especially for biomolecule sensing, enantiodiscrimination of small chiral molecules, or in the research of chiral polymers. The results with commercial potential are the subject of cooperation with the private sector (Immunotech, Watrex, Lach-ner, and others). The group participates in several grant projects and industrial and international cooperations and provides opportunities for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students in the aforementioned areas.

The Research Group of Bioorganic Chemistry and Biomaterials combines methods of organic synthesis, molecular biology, spectroscopy, and physical and computational chemistry to prepare and evaluate novel bioactive molecules, primarily those based on mono- and multivalent carbohydrates and their synthetic analogs or glycomimetics. Carbohydrates found at the cell surface mediate molecular recognition processes that are important in the progression of many pathologies. Glycomimetics are synthetically modified carbohydrate analogs designed to improve or modulate their interactions with carbohydrate-binding targets and improve the drug-like character of the analogs compared to endogenous carbohydrates. In addition, the using of glycomimetics to manipulate carbohydrate metabolism, which in turn results in defined and controlled alterations in the composition and functions of cellular glycome. The research in the group aims mainly at the development and biological evaluation of monovalent and multivalent glycomimetics. This necessitates the preparation of multivalent platforms based on new classes of dendrimers, dendritic molecules, and molecular wedges of accurate molecular weight and supramolecular structures resulting from supramolecular phenomena such as self-assembly and micelle and liposome formation. The main interests of the research are currently centered on the following areas: fluorinated carbohydrates, carbohydrate – organometallic conjugates, and development and application of multivalent dendritic platforms.

Department of Materials Chemistry

Other areas of our research

Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Environmental Engineering

Department of Materials Chemistry