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LAM seminar series

 ABOUT LAM SEMINAR SERIES

Goals: The goal of the seminar series organized by the Advanced Materials Laboratory is to provide UK staff and students, as well as the general public, with the opportunity to learn about the latest advances in materials science, with a particular focus on topics at the interface between chemistry, physics and biology. Seminars are presented by eminent scientists from Slovakia and abroad, from academia and industry, engaged in research in these fields. In order to be informative and attractive to non-specialists, students as well as specialists, the lectures will typically be divided into two parts. In the first part, aimed primarily at non-specialists, the speaker will provide a brief introduction to the basic principles relevant to the discussed research topic and, where appropriate, an overview of potential practical applications. In the second part, the speaker will summarize the latest findings from research in his laboratory.

Where? Seminars are held in the large conference room of the Science Park at Comenius University (or an alternative venue at the PriFUK if the VPUK is not available). [webpage]

When? LAM seminars are typically held on Fridays at 10:00 am. The lectures and speakers are before each lecture anounced by email to all students and employees of the Faculy of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics Physics and Informatics and info flyers are posted at other institutions and public locations.

During the LAM seminars we provide small refreshments for the participants.

We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

Patent application filed

We have filed an international invention disclosure, based on our discovery of a new type of quantum confined nanoparticles with NIR photoluminescence that are suitable for use as contrast agents in bioimaging applications.

Ph.inisheD!

On January 29, 2024 LAM PhD student MSc. Namrata Jaykhedkar successfully defended her dissertation “Theoretical Modelling of Thermodynamic and Electronic Properties of Crystalline Solids” in front of a full conference room at the Science Park of Comenius University, thus fulfilling the final requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Congratulations! May this doctorate be the beginning of a very successful professional career!

New publication

Review article “Chemical aspects of halide perovskite nanocrystals”, by Dr. M. Roy and Dr. M. Sykora, in collaboration with prof. M. Aslam, IIT Bombay, has been accepted for publication in the March issue of Topics in Current Chemistry. Congratulations!

LAM seminar series: Fascinating insights into the Nobel Prizes: Origin, Laureates and Ceremonies

Lecture title: Fascinating insights into the Nobel Prizes: Origin, Laureates and Ceremonies

Presented by: Mgr. Martin Venhart, PhD., Institute of Physics SAS

Time and place: The lecture will take place on Friday, January 26th, 2024, at 10:00 am, in the large conference room of the Comenius University Science Park.

Abstract. The Nobel Prizes for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine, Literature and Peace have been awarded since 1901. In 1969, the Swedish Reichsbank Prize for Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was added, which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize for Economics. As part of the lecture, we will look at how these awards actually came about, how the laureates are selected, we will present interesting cases of awardees and we will not avoid controversies either. Finally, we’ll talk about the ceremony itself, including some of Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria’s evening gowns.

About the speaker. Martin Venhart is an experimental nuclear physicist. He earned his PhD. degree in 2008 at Comenius University. Then he went to Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium, where he spent two years as post-doctoral researcher. Since 2010 he works at Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, where he led Department of Nuclear Physics. His experimental focus is on the nuclear structure of isotopes with odd mass number. He has been pursuing his experimental research program at CERN-ISOLDE facility, Cyclotron laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and at iThemba Labs at Cape Town, South Africa. He is actively collaborating with University of Liverpool, University of Warsaw and Australian National University. He is the author or co-author of approximately 80 original articles in internationally refereed journals. He chairs a successful series of international conferences on nuclear structure ISTROS, held biannually in Slovakia. In 2021, Martin Venhart has been elected for position of the First Vice-president of Slovak Academy of Sciences. He is a member of several scientific councils, boards of supervisors and boards of trustees. He represented Slovak Republic in ISOLDE Collaboration Commitee at CERN and presently represents the Institute of Physics in NUPECC, Expert Committee of the European Science Foundation.

Public lecture for VedoMost Trnava

On January 12, 2024, LAM Director, Dr. Sykora delivered an invited public lecture, promoting the LAM research and more broadly the recent advances in the development and application of nanomaterials, in the Garden Reading Room of the Juraj Fándly Library in Trnava. The recording of the lecture can be found here.

New publication

The article “Type-II CdSe/ZnO Core-Shell Nanorods: Nanoheterostructures with a Tunable Dual Emission in Visible and Near-Infrared Spectral Ranges” authored by LAM researchers Dr. Anamul Haque, Mgr. Filip Zechel, Dr. Mrinmoy Roy and Dr. Milan Sýkora in collaboration with Dr. V. Vretenar from the Center for Nano-Diagnostics STU, has been accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials, Congratulations!

LAM seminar series: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

Lecture title: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

Presented by: doc. MUDr. Ing. RNDr. Peter Celec, DrSc., MPH,

Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University

Time and place: The lecture will take place on Friday, December 15, at 10:00 am, in the large conference room of the Comenius University Science Park.

 

You can find more in the invitation here:  [.pdf]   [.jpg]

 

LAM seminar series: Nobel Prize for chemistry 2023

Lecture title: Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

Presented by: RNDr. Milan Sýkora MBA., PhD.,

Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University

Time and place: The lecture will take place on Friday, December 8, at 10:00 am, in the large conference room of the Comenius University Science Park.

The recording of the Nobel laureates’ lectures can be viewed here. Congratulations to the Nobel laureates!

 

You can find more in the invitation here:  [.pdf]   [.jpg]

LAM Director invited conference presentation at University in Košice

On November 24, 2023, LAM Director, Dr. Sýkora, delivered an invited lecture about LAM research titled “Green Synthesis and Optical Properties of Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Nano-heterostructures” at the conference “Novel Trends in Chemistry, Research and Education 2023”, at the Faculty of Science, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik in Košice.

Patent application filed

An international patent application was filed based on LAM discovery of new method for preparation of chalcogenide perovskite materials, suitable for development of next generation of solar cells and optoelectronics.

It’s official

LAM graduate Dr. Filip Zechel, received his diploma at the Comenius University graduation ceremony on November 9, 2023. Congratulations Filip!

Outreach activity

Director of LAM, Dr. Milan Sýkora participated as an invited guest at a career and networking event for natural science enthusiasts organized by the NextStepScience association in Campus City Bratislava. Science students had the opportunity to make new contacts, learn more about the work of a scientist and get important information for their career decision making in the natural sciences.

Discussion show Experiment on Slovak Television

Dr. Sýkora was an invited guest on the discussion show Experiment, which was broadcasted by Slovak Television on 9 October 2023. Dr. Sýkora introduced the audience to the chemistry and physics behind the discoveries that led to the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2023. The recording of the show can be viewed here.

Elders to younger ones lecture at Gamča

LAM Director, Dr. Sýkora delivered an invited public lecture to talented high school students at a premier high school at Grösslingová (Gamča) Gymnasium in Bratislava, as part of the 4th year of the science-popularization school conference “Older to Younger”, a is a relatively unique concept in Slovak high schools. The lecture focused on establishing of LAM and LAM research, particularly in the area of nanomaterials. The lecture generated great interest among the students and was very interactive and engaging. One of the main objectives of this project is to stimulate interest in science and inspire students in their choice of future profession. More information can be found here and here.

New publication

A new publication by LAM researchers, Filip Zechel, Peter Hutár and Milan Sýkora, titled, “Green Colloidal Synthesis of MoS2 Nanoflakes” has just been accepted by Inorganic Chemistry. Congratulations and thank you also to our collaborators, Viliam Vretenár (STU), Karol Végsӧ (SAS), and Peter Šiffalovič (SAS).

Summer School ELI 2023

During Aug 28 to September 2, 2023, LAM researcher Dr. Hutár attended a summer school ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure) in Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic to learn more about the opportunities to utilize high powered lasers within the recently established user facility in materials research.

Master’s Thesis defended

On Aug 28, 2023, LAM Master’s student, Bc. Daniil Zinoviev, successfully defended his Master’s thesis “Organic Photocatalysis with Quantum Confined Inorganic Nanocrystals”. Congratulations, Daniil!!! We congratulate you on your academic achievement, cheers to your well-deserved success!

Ph.inisheD!

On Aug 28, 2023, LAM PhD student, Mgr. Filip Zechel, successfully defended his dissertation thesis “Colloidal Syntheses of Quantum Confined Nanocrystals and Nano-heterostructures with Various Dimensionality” and is now a Doctor of Philosophy. Congratulations, Filip!!! May this be a stepping stone of your future scientific endeavors! Happy Graduation!

International conference presentation

LAM PhD student Namrata Jaykhedkar presented her research results in the poster session at the 14th European Conference on Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (EuChemS CompChem 2023), organized by European Chemical Society at Thessaloniki, Greece. More information about the conference can be found here.

 

New LAM publication

A new LAM publication by: Namrata Jaykhedkar, Roman Bystrický, Milan Sýkora and Tomáš Bučko, titled, “How the Temperature and Composition Govern the Structure and Band Gap of Zr-Based Chalcogenide Perovskites: Insights from ML Accelerated AIMD” was just published in Inorganic Chemistry. Congratulations!!!

 

LAM organizes the 2D WORKSHOP / 9 JUNE 2023

The workshop will focus on important current trends and activities in the area of preparation, characterization and application of 2D materials in general as well as on current capabilities in the field of 2D materials in Slovakia. It will also serve as a networking opportunity, aiming to facilitate possible scientific collaborations.

When: 9 June 2023

Where: Comenius University Science Park, (link: https://cusp.uniba.sk/en/), Ilkovičova 8, Bratislava

Registration: There are no registration fees. We kindly ask the participants to register via the following link – REGISTRATION no later then 8 June 2023.

Programme: The workshop programme will be organized into two morning sessions and one afternoon session. Two coffee breaks are included, lunch will not be provided.

Confirmed speakes:

Milan Sýkora (Bratislava, SK)

Establishing Laboratory for Advanced Materials at Comenius University

Jaroslav Fabian (Regensburg, DE)

Current trends in physics of 2D materials

Peter Šiffalovič (Bratislava, SK)

Overview of applied 2D materials research at Institute of Physics SAS

Ľuboš Mitaš (North Carolina, USA)

Quantum Monte Carlo for systems with strong correlations and spin-orbit interactions

Ivan Štich (Bratislava, SK)

DFT and Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of 2D materials

Marius Kadek/ Michal Repiský (Tromsø, NO)

First-principles modelling of 2D materials using relativistic all-electron Dirac-Kohn-Sham theory based on Gaussian-type orbitals

Martin Gmitra (Košice, SK)

Aspects of proximity effects in van der Waals heterostructures

Ján Minár (Plzeň, CZ)

Electronic structure, correlations and excited states of topological quantum materials

Michaela Sojková (Bratislava, SK)

Preparation of 2D Materials by CVD and PVD methods

Milan Sýkora (Bratislava, SK)

2D Nanomaterials Prepared by Bottom-up Chemical Methods

Martin Hulman (Bratislava, SK)

Raman Spectroscopy of 2D Materials

Viera Skákalová (Bratislava, SK)

Synthesis and properties of 2D metal iodides/graphene heterostructures

LAM director on Slovak Radio

Dr. Sykora was a guest of the series “Knowledge, Education, Science” in Radio Regina Zapad on May 15, 2023, where he talked about nanotechnology, nanomaterials and the possibilities of their use in everyday life. You can find the recording here 

CVTI public lecture

On April 27th, 2023, LAM Director, Dr. Sykora, gave a public lecture “Nanomaterials for New Technologies” at the Centre of Scientific and Technical Information of the Slovak Republic (CVTI SR) in Bratislava, Slovakia. In his lecture he explained what are nanomaterials, how are they produced and how they can be used in the development of innovative technologies. The recording of the lecture can be found here.

LAM seminar series: Electrochemical sensors

Lecture title: Electrochemical sensors

Presented by: prof. RNDr. Renáta Oriňaková, DrSc.,

Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovakia

Time and place: The lecture will take place this Friday, 21 April at 10:00 in the Presentation Center AMOS at FNS CU, (room B1-313).

 

You can find an abstract and a short biography of the lecturer in the invitation here [.pdf]

Mid-term thesis defended

LAM PhD student MSc. Sameer Kumar Tiwari successfully completed and defended his mid-term thesis on April 12, 2023. Congratulations and best of luck in the second half of your PhD studies!

Student Grant Awarded

Our doctoral student, Sameer Kumar Tiwari was selected in a competition for student grants and was awarded a financial fund. Congratulations Sameer and good luck with the project!

LAM at the NextStep Science Conference

On March 22, 2023, PhD students and researchers from the Laboratory of Advanced Materials participated in the NextStep Science Conference, which focuses on creating contacts between those interested in career opportunities in the natural sciences, people from the field of science and the private sector. Members of the LAM team introduced the visitors to the scientific focus, work in the laboratory, and the possibilities of future use of nanomaterials and new materials that are being developed at LAM.

LAM director at MSCA Workshop in Regensburg

On March 22, 2023, LAM Director, Dr. Sykora delivered a pitch talk at the workshop Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks and Twinning – Advanced Materials & Processes and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability, promoting Material Research Opportunities at the LAM. The workshop was organized by the Bavarian Research Alliance, Bayhost, and the Czech-Bavarian University Agency.

LAM at the Faculty Open Day 2023

The annual Open Day at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Comenius University took place on February 10. More than 400 high school students from all over Slovakia had the opportunity to learn about study programmes and research that is ongoing at the faculty. Several LAM employees presented our research to the students and showed them our laboratories, where the new materials and nanomaterials are developed.

New LAM publication

A publication by LAM researchers, R. Bystricky, S.Tiwari and P. Hutár titled “Synthesis of Sulfide Perovskites by Sulfurization with Boron Sulfides”, has just been published in ACS journal Inorganic Chemistry. Congratulations, Roman, Sameer, Peter!

LAM research at Conference NANOP 2022 in Paris

LAM Director, Dr. Milan Sykora presented LAM research, at the International Conference NANOP 2022 (Nanophotonics and Micro/Nano Optics) held in Paris on October 25-27, 2022. LAM PhD student Mr. Gokul Raj Mini Rajendran presented his research results at the Poster Session, with the title of his poster “Effect of charging on electronic structure and plasmonic properties of derivatized anthracenes”. More details about the conference can be found here.

LAM research at NFA 2022 Conference – Nanomaterials Fundamentals and Applications

Members of LAM team participated in the 6th year of the international conference NFA 2022 – Nanomaterials Fundamentals and Applications, which was held under the High Tatras at Štrbské pleso. Ten scientists from LAM had the opportunity to present the latest discoveries in their research and share their knowledge with many other participants from Slovakia and abroad. The conference was organized by PF UPJŠ and the Slovenská chemická spoločnosť. You can find more information about the conference here and the abstracts here.  

European Researchers’ Night 2022

The LAM team participated in a Europe-wide one-day public outreach event, European Researchers’ Night 2022, which took place in Bratislava’s Stara tržnica. The goal was to stimulate the interest of general public, particularly elementary and high-school students, in science and also to highlight the importance of critical thinking. The visitors had opportunity to learn about various scientific disciplines through interactive demonstrations and experiments. In LAM presentation booth we showed visitors what are nanomaterials, how are they prepared and what is their importance and use in our daily lives. You can find more information about the event here.

ChemoUK Summer School

Mgr. Ivana Božeková and Mgr. Filip Zechel participated in ChemoUK summer school – an outreach activity aimed at talented high school students. Ivana and Filip prepared and guided students during a laboratory exercise focused on “green” synthesis and characterization of Copper nanocrystals.

New LAM publication

LAM PhD student Namrata Jaykhedkar’s paper “Understanding the structure-band gap relationship in SrZrS3 at elevated temperatures: A detailed NPT MD study”, has just been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C. Congratulations, Namrata!

LAM at NextStepScience Conference

LAM Director, Dr. Sykora and several LAM PhD students and researchers participated in the annual Conference organized by NextStepScience, which took place at Comenius University Science Park on March 16, 2022. The conference focused on professional networking between people looking for career opportunities in natural sciences and local companies, start-ups, entrepreneurs, initiatives and inspiring individuals from science and technology. At the conference Dr. Sykora presented to the attendee’s information about the goals, scientific focus and career opportunities at LAM and answered number of questions to interested participants.

LAM research presented at the Student Science Conference at STU

LAM PhD students, Mgr. Ivana Božeková and Mgr. Filip Zechel, presented their latest research results on preparation and applications of metal and semiconductor nanocrystals at the 23rd Slovak Student Scientific Conference, which took place on November 24, 2021, at the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology STU in Bratislava under the title “Chemistry and Technologies for Life“.

LAM seminar series: Photocatalysis and Photocatalytic reactions

Lecture title: Photocatalysis and photocatalytic reactions

Presented by: Prof. Ing. Kamila Kočí, PhD. Laboratory of heterogeneous photocatalysis, Institute of Environmental Technology, CEET, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic

Time and place: Friday, 27 August at 11:00 in the large lecture room of the Comenius University Science Park (room 187).

 

You can find an abstract and a short biography of the lecturer in the attached invitation [.pdf]

LAM research at the CU Student Science Conference

LAM students Mgr. Ivana Božeková, MSc. Mini Rajendran Gokul Raj and Mgr. Filip Zechel participated in student science conference organized by the Faculty of Natural Sciences on April 19-23, 2021. At the conference the students presented results of their research results on metal nanocrystals, graphene quantum dots and semiconductor nanocrystals, respectively.

LAM students awarded UK Student Grants

Research proposals developed by LAM PhD students Mgr. Ivana Božeková, MSc. Namrata Jaykhedkar, MSc. Mini Rajendran Gokul Raj and Mgr. Filip Zechel for the Comenius University Student Grant competition were all funded. Congratulations to all and good luck with your projects!

LAM at NextStepScience Conference

LAM Director Dr. Sykora and LAM research administrator, Mgr. Žárska particpated at the online Conference organized by NextStepScience (https://nextstepscience.org/), which took place via Zoom on 17. March 2021. The conference focused on professional networking between people looking for carrer oportunities in natural sciences and local companies, start-ups, enterpreneurs, initiatives and inspiring individuals from science and technology. LAM was one of the thirteen invited organizations. At the conference Dr. Sykora presented to the attendess information about the goals, scientific focus and career opportunities at LAM and answered number of questions to  interested particpants.

LAM at Faculty of Natural Sciences Open Day 2021

The Open Day event – a unique opportunity for the Faculty of Natural Sciences to present its research and educational programmes – was held online this year, with more than 220 active participants and several members of LAM team. The Laboratory for Advanced Materials and its research activities was presented by the LAM director, Dr. Milan Sýkora. Thank you to all participants & we are looking forward to welcome you next year! More information can be found here.

 

LAM at CHeMoUK & A day in the life of a scientist 2020

Researchers from the Laboratory for Advanced Materials participated in the CHeMoUK summer school for high school students at the Faculty of Natural Sciences during Aug 27 – 31, 2020.

LAM designed and sponsored a laboratory excercise for the CHeMoUK summer school, where the students could fabricate and test a functional solar cell. The program of the summer school also included a „Day in the life of a scientist”, providing students with an opportunity to experience research work in the actual scientific laboratory. Dr. Lukáš Petra and Mgr. Ivana Božeková of LAM guided students in preparation and characterization of metal nanoparticles. At the end of the CHeMoUK summer school, students presented their work to their student colleagues during a miniconference.

 

LAM at the Faculty of Natural Sciences Open Day 2020

Each year, the Faculty of Natural Sciences opens its doors to the general public to showcase the opportunities and information about research and study programmes.

Aiming to kindle interest in materials science and nanomaterials research among the visitors, Mgr. Filip Zechel presented various areas that LAM scientists focus on. Thank you for visiting!

LAM at CHeMoUK / LAM – lab exercise.

Students participating in the CHeMoUK summer school tried out some interesting experiments this week. In the LAM designed and sponsored lab exercise participants prepared and tested their own solar cells using some commonly available materials, such as pigments extracted from blackberries.

LAM takes part in the Summer school for high school students – CHeMoUK

Laboratory for Advanced Materials is now a partner of the Summer school – CHeMoUK. During the first week of July students will have an opportunity to learn more about research in the field of novel materials during a lecture and a discussion led by the head of the LAM, Dr. Milan Sýkora. The participants will also take part in an interesting practical lab exercise, sponsored by LAM. More details about the CHeMoUK program and this year’s summer school can be found here and here.

 

LAM at Open Day 2019

Members of the LAM presented overview of LAM research at the Open Day at the Faculty of Natural Sciences on 22 Jan 2019 and for this occasion, a propagation flyer was prepared and distributed. The same flyer was also distributed among students from several high schools.

The president of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science visited Bratislava

The Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University received a visit from the president of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science (IAQMS), Prof. Odile Eisenstein. The main goal of IAQMS is to provide a forum for international contact and collaboration and a periodical evaluation of the main developments, advances and promising directions of research in the broad field of its interest – the application of quantum mechanics to the study of molecules and macromolecules. It was established in Menton, France in 1967 and among it’s members there are 14 laureates of the Nobel prize.

On December 14th Prof. Eisenstein gave a lecture about her research involving chemical shifts in NMR spectra of organometallic compounds. NMR is without any doubt one of the most versatile methods for characterization of chemical species. It is used widely in all domains of chemistry and biology. Prof. Eisenstein showed, that by combining the information derived from solid state NMR with simple molecular orbitals analysis it is possible to understand specific reactions associated with transition metal complexes.

Prof. Odile Eisenstein currently performs her research at the Institut Charles Gerhardt, University Montpellier and at the Hylleraas centre for Quantum Molecular Science, University of Oslo. In her scientific work she focuses on theoretical chemistry, reaction mechanisms, organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis.

The university periodic My University informed about the visit in the January 2019 issue.

RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. will be appointed as a head of the Laboratory for Advanced Materials

Laboratory for advanced materials (LAM), established 1.10.2018 as a part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences will be lead by RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD., as of 1.2.2019. The head of LAM (the ERA-chair position within the LAMatCU-H2020-WIDESPREAD-03-2017-ERAchairs project) was chosen in an international selection process from several other candidates.

RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. is an internationally recognized expert in the area of material chemistry. The results of his research were published in prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals, for example Nature, J. Am. Chem. Soc. and ACS Nano and are highly cited. He has also contributed to the development of eight patent applications, all in the area of materials science. His research includes number of important advances/breakthroughs in the field of materials science.

RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. obtained his master’s degree in chemistry at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava. He received his PhD. in chemistry from Marquette University, Milwaukee in USA and later moved to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he performed a postdoctoral research. Prior to his return to Slovak republic he held a position as a permanent technical staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico, USA. As the head of LAM, he will establish a research program in the field of advanced materials. Particular focus will be on materials for applications in energy conversion and storage, optoelectronics, electronics and related applications.

The information was published in the Our University periodic.