Projects / Programmes
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
January 1, 2018
- December 31, 2023
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.04.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
|
| 2.02.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P003 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.04 |
Natural Sciences |
Chemical sciences |
| 2.04 |
Engineering and Technology |
Chemical engineering
|
Materials science, Coordination chemistry, Energy storage and conversion, Medicinal agents with innovative modes of action, Solid electrolyte interface, Materials for solar cells, Metal-organic frameworks, Metal-based anticancer agents, Metal-based antidiabetic agents, Structural characterization
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
September 30, 2023;
A3 for period
2017-2021
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
865 |
20,225 |
17,021 |
19.68 |
| Scopus |
865 |
21,457 |
18,213 |
21.06 |
Researchers (29)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research program »Advanced Inorganic Chemistry« encompasses two highly important research areas of inorganic chemistry – materials science and coordination chemistry. The program is continuation of the program »Synthesis, structure, properties of matters and materials« that has been substantially reorganized and updated. The main starting point of all research will be the synthesis of novel compounds and materials, with the following structural characterization by X-ray diffraction methods, NMR and electron microscopy techniques. The proposed work is divided into two major work packages (WP1, WP2) containing sub-packages (WP1a-c, WP2a-b).
Smart Systems for Energy Storage and Conversion (WP1) deals with solid-electrolyte interfaces (WP1a), inorganic materials for solar cells (WP1b) and metal-organic frameworks (WP1c). This topic is important to overcome our dependence from fossil fuels and therefore, it is necessary to develop advanced technologies for the conversion, storage and further utilization of renewable energy. Main tasks for WP1 include the systematic electrochemical study of the ORR reaction intermediates in organic environments, and of the solid-electrolyte interfaces on various electrodes. It also includes the synthesis of organic-inorganic perovskites for solar cell components and metal-hydride organic frameworks for hydrogen storage as well as their structural characterization by means of single crystal or powder diffraction. Furthermore, electrical, thermal and optical properties of the materials as well as the other reactivity measurements that are crucial for the application of the synthesized materials will be studied.
Medicinal Agents with Innovative Modes of Action (WP2) is dealing with metal-based anticancer (WP2a) and antidiabetic drugs (WP2b). Cancer and diabetes are two diseases that strongly affect mankind but currently no ideal drugs are available. Main tasks for both sub-packages are similar. Firstly, we want to develop libraries of ruthenium, vanadium and zinc coordination compounds with selected ligands (hydroxyquinoline, picoline, pyridine N-oxide and β-diketone). Structural characterization in solid state by single crystal and powder diffraction will be performed in addition to characterization with NMR, UV-Vis, IR and mass spectroscopy. Studies that are important for development of potential drugs will be performed such as bioanalytical characterization, stability and reactivity in aqueous solutions as simulations of physiological conditions and mode-of-action studies.
Despite of the fact that topics studied in WP1 and WP2 differ significantly, they are connected by a common point – structure analysis. The objectives of both WPs is to determine structure-reactivity relationships, as part of a clearly defined set tasks aimed at reaching ambitiously-set objectives which are feasible within the expertise of the research team and the available research infrastructure.
Significance for science
Energy storage and conversion systems together with nanotechnology and advanced materials are one of the prioritary fields of research of the European Research Council. Similarly, western members of EU indicated Energy as a key field for the future development, e.g. Netherlands, emphasized photovoltaics, wind turbines, energy and heat storage, and nuclear power as key technologies form the Energy field. Within this research program we propose to tackle three issues pertinent to the fields of materials science and inorganic chemistry. The research platform that is proposed and will be developed for the structure-properties relation project, might serve as a showcase for other research groups. The novelty of our approach is in the design of a) revolutionary new electrochemical interfaces with tailored properties for fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors, all of which are systems governed by non-equilibrium phenomena, b) combined organic-inorganic light absorbers with perovskite structure as solar cell components and c) light-weight metal-hydride organic frameworks as novel materials for hydrogen storage or gas adsorption and separation.
We are sure, however, that creating the proposed research will result in new breakthroughs and in a boost for this scientific field and consequently the discoveries and inventions in the Energy storage and Conversion.
Biological studies involving metal-containing species are a hot topic in current research and many high-impact journals recently dedicated issues to this topic. We must not forget that cisplatin - a metal based drug - is still among the most successful anticancer drugs, although it has been in clinical use for more than 40 years. The challenge in the search for novel drugs is to find efficient drug candidates with high efficacy and low systemic toxicity. However, the mechanisms of action of metal-based drugs still remain unclear and the action through multiple targets is most commonly proposed where the final effectivity and selectivity is the result of synergistic effects. The fast development of analytical and spectroscopic techniques (which either exploit the specific physical properties of metals or have reached sufficient accuracy or resolution) allows us to study the mechanisms of action of metal complexes. These very often act as prodrugs – in aqueous solution or in contact with the target biomolecule – they undergo a chemical transformation which generates the active chemical species.
The central European region is one of the world's leading regions in bioinorganic chemistry. There are long-time collaborations between many of the most prominent teams and this program will continue and strengthen the collaboration between some of those teams as well as reinforce the European position in the field of bioinorganic medicinal chemistry.
Significance for the country
The purpose of this project is not to build energy conversion or storage devices but to gain the scientific insight into the very atomistic structure of the proposed materials and the involved chemical processes e.g. a) the chemical structures and chemical processes in energy storage and conversion devices, b) the development of the methodology. Our approaches carry an enormous application potential. PEM and alkaline fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, Zn-air batteries, supercapacitors, electrolyzes, solar cells - this wide portfolio of technologies that are directly related to the interfaces and interfacial ORR processes under investigation in this project will benefit immensely by extending our fundamental. Our proposal directly addresses several problems articulated in the European development policy. Further, the results of the proposed research should be of enormous technological importance for advanced alternative energy systems. The proposed idea is also closely connected to the new strategic design and synthesis program aimed at development of reliable alternative energy technology. Our research is overlapping with other academic and industrial initiatives, specifically related to the energy sector where energy independence from the fossil fuels is promoted. This work will be beneficial for all of the EU initiatives and will provide fundamental information on novel interfacial structures in aqueous and organic electrolytes not addressed in details until today.
Cancer and diabetes are a vast socio-economic burden for the society and the affected individuals. Drug costs represent a large percent of the health care expenses. In the case of anticancer drugs the resistance development to standard anti-cancer drugs is also a persistent problem, therefore novel drugs that are able to overcome this hurdle are needed. The survival rate of the patients with the life-threatening conditions and the quality of their life are one of the main criteria of a country’s development level. Even though the survival rates of cancer and DM patients has increased dramatically in the last 50 years, there still remains a significant need for the progress. This research program is an integral part of the educational system at the academic level in the country. By implementing it, we wish to establish a solid scientific and educational environment of the highest standard, and strengthen our research capabilities. Even though this project is envisioned in an academic setting where the main goal is the education and training of highly-qualified individuals the economic exploitation of the outcome will be thoroughly considered. As part of the synthetic experimental work novel metal precursors are envisioned as international suppliers of chemicals currently do not offer a wide range of products at easily affordable prices. Demand for such products is rising as, for example, ruthenium complexes are widely studied and used as catalysts in organic chemistry in reactions involving C-H bond activation and olefin metathesis (Nobel prize in Chemistry in 2005). Depending on the outcome of preliminary biological assays of novel compounds, the intellectual property will be protected in form of national and international patents.
Moreover, the involvement of the junior members of the research teams in the study process will allow them, through close contact with undergraduate, graduate, as well as postgraduate students, to encourage their mobility though various mobility schemes supported by the EU (Erasmus, COST, etc.) and the republic of Slovenia. Established research partnerships within the Central European region and the United States of America focusing on existing international collaborations of the research group will also be used for such purposes. Part of the knowledge attained during the course of the project (structural data of novel compounds) will be submitted to databases used worldwide by researchers for computational studies used in prediction o
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
