For students

Supervisor: dr hab. Paweł Głuchowski, prof. ILT&SR PAS

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Description:

The rapid development of advanced water treatment methods is driving growing interest in processes that use light and ultrasound to initiate chemical reactions. Photocatalysis and sonocatalysis, although often studied separately, exhibit strong synergistic potential, the physicochemical foundations of which remain only partially understood. A key yet insufficiently explored issue is the energy transfer between nanostructures active in these processes and its impact on reactive oxygen species generation and the efficiency of organic pollutant degradation.

The aim of this PhD project is to design and synthesize advanced nanostructures (including heterostructures, 2D materials, and composites) that operate efficiently under both photo- and sonocatalytic conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying and controlling energy transfer mechanisms between material components, such as electron transfer, excitation energy transfer, and processes coupled with cavitation effects induced by ultrasound.

The project involves comprehensive experimental studies, including the synthesis of materials with controlled structure and morphology, their advanced characterization (spectroscopic techniques, electron microscopy, optical property measurements), and the evaluation of catalytic activity in the degradation of organic pollutants in water. A key aspect will be correlating structural and electronic properties with the efficiency of reactive oxygen species generation and the kinetics of degradation reactions.

The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to work at the intersection of materials engineering, physical chemistry, and nanotechnology, developing expertise in the design of functional nanomaterials and the investigation of complex energy transfer processes. The topic aligns with current environmental challenges and offers a real opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation catalytic technologies and to publish results in high-impact scientific journals.