Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry
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Hybrid and Inorganic Materials for Energy Conversion (abolished department)

The department finished its work under IMC.
 
 

In the department, the main focus is on research and teaching of preparation, structural characterization and physical properties of layered-like materials with the dual nature of cohesive forces due to covalent and intermolecular interactions.

The methods of preparation used in our department include hydrothermal synthesis, single crystals preparation by Bridgman method, polycrystalline materials preparation by powder metallurgy methods, thin films preparation by thermal evaporation and glasses preparation by controlled cooling.

Hybrids based on non-graphite intercalates, layered semiconductors with tetradymite and skutterudite-like structures and amorphous chalcogenides and glasses based on heavy metal oxides that is the materials resembling inorganic polymer networks are studied.

Following items are currently mainly considered:

  1. Proton conductivity of hybrid inorganic-organic materials based on layered metal phosphonates which can be applied for energy conversions.
  2. Quest for new, prospective materials/compounds suitable for use in thermoelectric applications.
  3. Interaction of the light with amorphous chalcogenides leading to luminescence and to structural changes inclusive nano-phase changes.
  4. Heavy metal oxide glasses prospective for non-linear optical applications.

The work is divided into the following parts:

  • Preparation and characterization of alkaline-earth metal organophosphonates serving as host materials into which optically, pharmaceutically etc. interesting compounds can be intercalated. 
  • Preparation and characterization of functionalized tetravalent-metal organophosphonates with increased protonic conductivity 
  • Optimizing of transport properties of prospective thermoelectric compounds and/or reduction of thermal conductivity by proper tailoring of phonon disorder to maximize their thermoelectric figure of merit.
  • Optimizing of amorphous chalcogenides matrix to improve dissolution of rare earth elements and increase luminescence efficiency.
  • Photo-induced changes of amorphous chalcogenide films namely photo-darkening, photo-expansion and photo-refraction.
  • Optical band gap and structural make-up of new heavy metal oxide glasses with high linear refractive index and with promising non-linear refractive index..

Following typical diagnostics are mainly used:

Energy dispersive analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS and far infrared FTIR spectroscopy, DC, AC conductivity, Hall effect and thermoelectric power measurements, Digital holographic microscopy, Atomic force microscopy, thermal analysis.

The department resides in Pardubice. It has its own web.