Research
Research at the Department of physical chemistry is aimed on synthesis, characterization, and modification of nanomaterials, further then on analysis and modification of surface properties, behaviour of molecular systems, biomacromolecules and computational chemistry. The research is targeted fields of a great application potential from molecular electronics to molecular medicine. From numerous outputs let´s highlight at least the following ones:
- Synthesis and modification of iron and iron oxide nanoparticles, which are used as magnetic carriers of drugs, contrasting agents for magnetic resonance, for theranostic applications or as active particles for water treatment, degradation of pollutants or as a tool for cyanobacteria treatment,
- Synthesis and characterization of 2D insulators – fluorographene, which is used as a precursor of other graphene derivatives,
- Tailored synthesis and covalent immobilization of silver nanoparticles, which are used in antimicrobial and antifungal applications,
- Synthesis, characterization, and modification of carbon quantum dots, which are used as extraordinary stable luminofors e.g. in imagine techniques or in LED diodes,
- Development of new methods and progress in the field of computational chemistry, e.g. the developed force fields are used for RNA and DNA simulations or the tool MOLEonline for analysis of cavities in biomacromolecules.
The undoubtedly high research quality can be demonstrated by numerous publications in prestigious journals (e.g. Chemical Reviews, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nature Chemical Biology, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Angewandte Chemie, Small, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, ACS Nano, Chemistry of Materials, Journal of Materials Chemistry, Chemistry A European Journal or Langmuir) and financial support from national and international projects. Researchers from the Department of physical chemistry are engaged in research in the framework of Excellence Centres (Czech Science Foundation) and Competence Centre (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic) and many other either national or international projects. The researchers cooperate with numerous national and international institutions and great number of industrial partners. The Department employs experts with international reputation, e.g. prof. Ing. Pavel Hobza, DrSc., FRSC, who was given a national award of Czech Head (2008) and who is one of 1% of the most cited researchers in the world. He is a renowned researcher with a specialisation in the field of noncovalent interactions. Furthermore, let´s mention prof. RNDr. Jiří Šponer, DrSc., who is a renowned expert in the field of RNA simulations. In the field of nanomaterials it is undoubtedly prof. RNDr. Radek Zbořil, Ph.D., who needs to be mentioned and prof. RNDr. Michal Otyepka, Ph.D., who has significantly contributed to the development of modelling methods of complex molecular systems.
The research programs can bet hen summarized as follows:
- Study of specific physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials with emphasize on their application,
- Nanoparticles iron oxides and zerovalent iron and their applications,
- Carbon based nanostructures (synthesis of graphene and its derivatives, carbon quantum dots, modified carbon nanotubes),
- Synthesis and toxicity of silver nanoparticles,
- Heterogeneous catalysis,
- Study of structure, dynamics, and properties of proteins and nucleic acids,
- Theoretic study of noncovalent interactions and their applications in biodisciplines and nanomaterials,
- Study of excited states connected with electron and energy transfer,
- Theoretical study of properties of 2D materials and nanoparticles,
- Study of substance interactions with biological membranes,
- Development of force fields for DNA and RNA simulations.
The Department of physical chemistry is closely interconnected with Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials (RCPTM).
Would you like to participate in our reasearch?
High school, students can participate in the project Explorer. Students in bachelor’s and master’s study programmes can participate through the elaboration of bachelor’s papers and diploma thesis. To graduates from chemical and corresponding fields of study we offer can Ph.D. study. If you are interested in any participation in our research, please, feel free to contact us.