List of Abstracts 2023: WORKSHOP NANOENVICZ
Date: October 19, 2023
Nanocrystalline oxides have emerged as promising materials for various applications, particularly in the field of pollutant removal. Their unique properties, such as high surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and exceptional reactivity, make them highly effective in removing contaminants from diverse environments. This talk focuses on applying nanocrystalline oxides in pollutant removal and the significant role of their surface chemical properties in a selected pollutant removal.
Several factors, including the type and concentration of contaminants and the surface chemical properties of the oxides, influence the effectiveness of nanocrystalline oxides in pollutant removal. Specifically, the focus is on understanding the role of surface functional groups, surface area, and crystallite size in pollutant removal (i.e., adsorption or degradation). The surface chemistry of nanocrystalline oxides plays a crucial role in determining their adsorption and catalytic properties, directly influencing pollutant removal efficiency. Understanding the interplay between these factors is essential for designing optimized nanocrystalline oxide materials for efficient pollutant removal applications. Various analytical techniques can be used to evaluate the surface properties of the oxides, and the “classical” analytical techniques can provide valuable insights into oxides' surface chemical properties.
In conclusion, nanocrystalline oxides have great potential in pollutant removal due to their unique properties and tunable surface chemistry. Understanding this relationship can help design and develop efficient nanocrystalline oxide-based materials for environmental remediation applications. The close mutual correlation between the surface chemistry, adsorption and catalytic properties of nanocrystalline oxides is shown. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Authors acknowledge the financial support by NanoEnviCz (LM2023066), and GreenWaterTech (ERA-NET GA Nº 869178).
The Technical University of Liberec (TUL) has on offer a large variety of equipment through NanoEnviCz, including GC/MS, HPLC/MS, Femtosecond-Pulsed Laser, Real-Time PCR, Respirometer, Raman Spec., FT-IR Spec., TGA, NMR with Solid- and Liquid State Probes, HR-MS, and BET are all available. Available equipment and their various spectroscopy techniques can be employed in all fields of research and industry to study physical, chemical, and biological properties of compounds and matter. The resources available can contribute largely to projects, whereby the Femtosecond-Pulsed Laser is capable of synthesizing novel nanoparticles through green technologies. The synthesized nanoparticles could then be analyzed and characterized through Raman and FT-IR spec. for determination of the chemical composition of said nanoparticles, with BET analysis giving the specific surface area of produced particles. From here, the nanoparticles could be further functionalized, for example, that allows for the nanoparticles to contain water/soil remediation properties. Again, Raman and FT-IR spec. would be useful for confirmation of functionalization, along with NMR, TGA, and BET. NMR could potentially further be employed to determine modes of interaction with potential contaminants, with GC/MS, HPLC/MS, and HR-MS would possibly be employed to determine the effectiveness of the nanoparticles for remediation. Taking this project one step further, Real-Time PCR and Respirometer observations would allow for influences of the nanoparticles on various environmental bacteria, allowing for determination if said nanoparticles has potential to be viable in real-world remediation processes. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the Research Infrastructure NanoEnviCz, supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under Project No. LM2023066.
Carbon materials such as activated carbons and graphitic materials constitute the major group of materials used for decades in heterogeneous catalysis as catalyst supports. Graphene based materials in comparison with the traditional carbon allotropes offers significantly greater theoretical surface area with excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Moreover, graphene materials enable preparation of supported metal and metal-oxo clusters with structure defined on a molecular level. These characteristics make graphene materials promising in the development of superior heterogeneous catalytic systems. However, stabilization and functionalization of graphene are necessary to avoid the known undesired aggregation (stacked graphitic structures) and to provide a good accessibility to the active centres. In this contribution, we focus on the studies that were carried out with the assistance of the NanoEnviCz infrastructure, and which significantly contributed to the development and understanding of the stability, structure and functionality of new catalysts based on highly structured carbon materials. Studies show how individual structural parameters determine the stability of carbon materials, the capacity for the formation of active centers and their accessibility and specific activity in representative heterogeneously catalysed reactions important for energy-efficient chemical production and a carbon neutral society. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the Research Infrastructure NanoEnviCz, supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under Project No. LM2023066.
The NanoEnviCz infrastructure serves as a cornerstone in the Czech Republic's scientific landscape, unifying and enhancing the capabilities of multiple research organizations dedicated to nanomaterials and nanotechnology sciences. This platform of multi-institutional cooperation is intended to promote progress in the field of science. The entire NanoEnviCz infrastructure is made up of several scientific institutions and is covered by experts dealing with various issues. The collaboration allows the Czech research institutions to propel advancements in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Each of the participating institutions of NanoEnviCz has a rich instrument representation, and therefore it is possible to quickly obtain results and progress in your research. NanoEnviCz infrastructure is a simple way to get quick cooperation with experts in the given issue. The supported research was so far in cooperation with applicants from research institutions, universities, companies, and other infrastructures.
This work will mostly focus on thermal analysis and mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) is a powerful analytical technique that combines the precise measurement of weight changes with the simultaneous identification and quantification of evolved gases during thermal processes. This synergistic approach enables the comprehensive characterization of materials across a wide range of industries and research fields. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the Research Infrastructure NanoEnviCz, supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under Project No. LM2023066.
Galectins, a class of glycan-binding proteins, and their carbohydrate ligands are pivotal in modulating various biological functions. A profound comprehension of ligand-protein recognition mechanisms is imperative for advancements in galectin-targeted therapeutics. This research introduces a novel synthetic approach for lactose-functionalized carbosilane glycodendrimers (Lac-CS-DDMs) utilizing carbosilane dendrimers, the nanoscaffolds known for their minimal toxicity. Our findings highlight the exceptional affinity of these glycodendrimers, driven by dendritic effects, towards tandem-type galectins, with a notable preference for Gal-9. Quantitative analysis via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that the third-generation dendritic ligand, equipped with 32 lactose units, exhibited a remarkable binding affinity to Gal-9 (IC50 = 970 nM), outperforming monovalent lactose by a factor of 1400. This underscores the transformative potential of multivalent presentations in enhancing ligand inhibitory effects. Additionally, through dynamic light scattering measurements, we established a correlation between the augmented affinity of glycodendrimer ligands for Gal-3, Gal-8, and particularly Gal-9, and the formation of consistent and stable galectin/Lac-CS-DDM aggregates. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and The European Union - European Structural and Investments Funds in the frame of Operational Programme Research Development and Education - project Pro-NanoEnviCz (project no. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_013/0001821). The authors acknowledge the project COST LTC19049, the Czech Science Foundation project no. 23-05146S, and the Research Infrastructure NanoEnviCz (project no. LM2018124).
Batteries serve as electrochemical rechargeable energy storage systems that dominate the market for portable electronics, such as those used in telecommunications and information processing. The increasing demand for electric vehicles, grid energy storage, and the continued use of portable electronics necessitates the development of novel battery materials and the corresponding testing equipment, such as Novonix. These testing systems enable precise measurement of electrochemical processes within controlled temperature environments, facilitating accurate predictions of battery lifespan. Additionally, experimental techniques provide non-destructive insights into how battery chemistry evolves from one cycle to another, during various charge-discharge rates, and under stability tests. Novonix battery testers also permit the examination of charge transport, redox activity, ion intercalation properties, and diffusion. Ultimately, Novonix's technology contributes to the advancement of new technologies, including lithium-ion batteries incorporating graphene acid and lithium-sulfur batteries, which can effectively address the growing demand for portable power sources. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the Research Infrastructure NanoEnviCz, supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under Project No. LM2023066.