Projects / Programmes
Inorganic Chemistry and Technology
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2018
| 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 |
Inorganic chemistry, hybrid compounds, hybrid materials, fluorides, nanostructured materials, high oxidation state, noble gases, Lewis acids, fluorine, catalysts, chemometrics, chemical technology, modelling, optimization, pollution prevention, major accidents, thermochemistry
Researchers (25)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,753 |
Abstract
The Programme "Inorganic Chemistry and Technology" consists of three interconnected research fields: a) Synthesis of novel inorganic compounds, b) Hybrid materials with functional properties, c) Technology research for sustainable development.
a) Synthesis of novel inorganic compounds
This part will deal with the preparation of new inorganic fluorides with the elements in the highest oxidation states. The purpose of the study of reactions between F- ion donors AF2 (A2+ = Mg-Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Hg), MnF3, CeF4, XeF2, XeF6, ClF3 and Lewis acids MF5 (M = As, Sb, Bi, Ru, Au, Nb, etc.), MF4 (M = Ge, Ti, Sn, Pb, Mn), etc., is the structural characterisation of products together with the possibility of their further use as starting materials for the preparation and characterization of coordination compounds with various ligands (XeF2, XeF4, H2O, etc.).
In cooperation with foreign partners, the investigations of the structural and magnetic properties of alkali metal Ag(II) ternary fluorides and of new Ag(II) oxo-compounds will be continued.
b) Hybrid materials with functional properties
Reactions between various organic ligands or cations with inorganic anions or molecules will be attempted, with the purpose of preparing various fluoride and oxyfluoride hybrid materials. Anhydrous solvents will be used. With systematic investigations of newly prepared compounds containing fluoride and oxyfluoride metal (M) anions (M = V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, Cu, Ag, Sn, Pb, La-Lu) and a determination of their crystal structures with inorganic and organic counter ions and ligands, we intend to determine the structural-chemical properties for planning the syntheses of materials with the desired morphology.
Within the research on hybrid materials, the preparation of relatively poorly investigated nanostructured fluorides and other materials will be investigated (e.g., FeF3, LaF3, aerogels/xerogels), which could be used as catalysts, surface-active substrates or as materials for optical and other applications.
c) Technology research for sustainable development
The purpose of the technology-related research will be to support Slovenian industry and governmental agencies by maintaining a technological laboratory and the use of developed knowledge and available process and measurement equipment. The research includes the analysis, treatment and transformation of various industrial secondary raw materials and wastes, with their utilization and the development of environmentally friendly integrated solutions. This will be complemented with major-accident risk management for the process industry, with our participation at the national and international levels in the development, implementation and standardization of the methods and procedures for risk assessment and management.
Our knowledge and experience in the field of fluorine chemistry will be used to detect pollution with fluorides and search for new bio-indicators to monitor environmental pollution with fluorine.
Significance for science
The programme group Inorganic Chemistry and Technology is one of the leading groups in the world in the field of the syntheses of new inorganic compounds, especially in the area of fluorine chemistry. The group is one of the few worldwide with the experience to handle even the most challenging and demanding syntheses, and therefore has a very rich cooperation with a number of laboratories in Europe, Japan, Canada and the USA. The high importance of the long-standing programme is also reflected in some of the other activities of the group. In 2010, we organized 16th European Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry in Ljubljana, which brought together chemists from all the research areas of fluorine chemistry. Another indicator of the group’s reputation is the Zois Award for Lifetime Achievement, received by B. Žemva.
Some of our research results have been very important for basic knowledge in the field of the inorganic chemistry (for example, the synthesis of new binary fluorides NiF3, NiF4, AgF3, research on the noble-gas fluorides as ligands). The preparation of new ternary fluorides of the transition elements in the highest oxidation state is still one of the major challenges in this field.
The impact of the research group for the development of science is visible from many publications, including the most prestigious journals, such as Angewandte Chemie, Journal of American Chemical Society, Chemical Communication, Dalton Transactions, Inorganic Chemistry, and others. We should also highlight other activities of the members of the group: invited lectures at international meetings, referees for scientific journals, members of the editorial boards of journals (Central European Journal of Chemistry, Acta Chimica Slovenica, Structural Chemistry ). We are proud of the members who presented their research work and reviews in several chapters in books. Here, a chapter in the book Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry II (Elsevier 2013) should be emphasized. Our work is frequently cited in the books that are important for the development of chemistry and knowledge transfer. Fundamental research work is a good basis for the research of the materials with special properties and their subsequent use in industry.
Applicative research successfully solves specific technological and developmental problems in line with the main EU strategic priorities, such as sustainable development and environmental protection, and at the same time provide the industrial partners a better understanding of their production processes, cost reduction or improved product quality, and thus improving the partner’s competitiveness in the market. In this sense the research goes beyond the national and even the European framework and addresses global concerns. In the area of process safety, one of the major challenges remains the development of detailed validated safety performance indicators (for proactive and reactive parts of the actual safety outcomes), useful for operational use (quality of the safety measures), as well as for the dynamic risk assessment, which shall reflect the actual situation. An additional challenge is to incorporate knowledge about meaningful safety indicators and risks into the concept of "organizational learning", meaning the active assessment and management of such a long-term process.
Significance for the country
The Programme group Inorganic Chemistry and Technology is one of the best in Slovenia in the field of technological research for sustainable development, which is very important for our industry. On the other hand, it is one of the leading groups in the world in the field of inorganic fluorine chemistry, which is excellent for the promotion of our country. Research in the field of inorganic and hybrid materials provides a good basis for the development of new materials with special properties. Knowledge and experiences in such demanding research work can contribute to finding solutions to the needs of Slovenian industry.
Sustainable development research in the environmental protection field and also connected to process safety, conducted in the frame of this programme, have direct importance for the economic sector. In close collaboration with industrial partners and governmental agencies the programme ensures that we remain a part of global development. The analyses and research of processes, procedures and products will be performed with the final objective of cost reduction and the increasing competitiveness of industrial partners or their associations. Process-safety-related research provides the transfer of new knowledge directly to the industrial partners (e.g., analyses, consultations) and technical support to the governmental agencies appointed for the enforcement of the legislation (e.g., expert reviews, analyses). The connection also applies vice-versa, as the process safety research is usually carried-out in close cooperation with industry.
An important influence for the further development of Slovenia in the future is also linked to education. Members of the programme group are involved in all levels of education. They actively participate in the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School as lecturers and as mentors to M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. It is worth noting that B. Žemva received a Mentor of the Year Award in 2012 from the Society of Young Researchers of Slovenia, which is also a reflection of the quality of the pedagogical work with young people. In addition, the School of Experimental Chemistry maintained its very important relations with elementary, secondary schools and even kindergartens through experimental courses performed in a specialised laboratory or through direct demonstrations at the schools. Such forms of non-formal education are following the European guidelines to arouse more interest in technical and natural science studies among young people.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
