The main objective of the study is to train the highly qualified professionals who will be prepared for independent, creative, scientific and research activities in the field of physical chemistry. Students are trained to formulate a scientific problem independently, propose hypotheses and procedures leading to its solving and attempt its confirmation on an experimental or theoretical level. Critical evaluation of published scientific information and the ability to communicate in English - both verbally and in written form, makes an integral part of the study.

The main objective of the study is to train the highly qualified professionals who will be prepared for independent, creative, scientific and research activities in the field of physical chemistry. Students are trained to formulate a scientific problem independently, propose hypotheses and procedures leading to its solving and attempt its confirmation on an experimental or theoretical level. Critical evaluation of published scientific information and the ability to communicate in English - both verbally and in written form, makes an integral part of the study.

The specialization trains professionals who will be able to participate in highly qualified scientific and research activities based on physically-chemical processes, namely in university departments, the departments of The Academy of Sciences, research institutes, but also in industrial research centres. The graduates are prepared for independent creative work in the area of physical chemistry. Due to a wide range of practical applications of physical chemistry, the graduates can find employments not only in physical and chemical research, but virtually in all chemical or chemistry related specializations.

The admission to the Faculty of Chemistry is conditioned by the completion of the Master's program in the same or a related field. The basic prerequisites for the admission are: interest and aptitude for scientific work, knowledge of the English language and a very good study record achieved in the Master's program (grade point average of all passed examinations usually does not exceed 2.0).

prof. RNDr. František Krčma, Ph.D.

1. Analysis of dielectric barrier discharge products burning in mixtures of nitrogen with organic compounds

   The aim of the doctoral thesis will be the analysis of gaseous products of dielectric barrier discharge, which burns in a mixture of nitrogen and suitably selected organic compounds at atmospheric pressure. GC-MS, FTIR, OES and PTR-MS methods will be used for the analysis of discharge products. The organic substances will be the monomers used for the deposition of thin hard or polymer layers. The goal of the work is to identify the emerging fragments of organic substances and possibly their mutual chemical reactions.

   Tutor: Mazánková Věra, doc. Mgr., Ph.D.

2. Interaction of thin porous semiconducting layers with atmospheric plasma

   Semiconducting materials play a key role in photocatalytic and electrophotocatalytic processes, and have recently been paving the way for successful applications in photonic equipment made by material printing. For this production technology it is most advantageous if the fixing of the layer is carried out by a so-called cold process, ie without heating to temperatures higher than about 150 ° C. Such a manufacturing process then enables mass production in roll-to-roll mode on polymer substrates. Atmospheric plasma treatment is a very promising way to achieve such a cold fixation. The work will therefore be devoted to a detailed study of processes taking place in thin porous layers of semiconductors in interaction with atmospheric plasma with an application view of printed electronics.

   Tutor: Dzik Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Investigation of selfcleaning properties of photoactive coating

   The subject of the study is the preparation of photoactive layers, both based on inorganic semiconductors and organic photoactive materials. The aim of the dissertation is to find suitable methods for testing their effectiveness during their deployment in real working environments. Test methods must allow testing on both horizontal and vertical surfaces, on smooth and rough.

   Tutor: Dzik Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the theory of chemical kinetics

   The results, which have been obtained within the area of macroscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamics, show tighter links between chemical thermodynamics and kinetics than usually supposed. Thermodynamics delineates the general framework which determines, among other, also the form of rate equations and puts some restrictions on coefficients occurring in these equations. The corresponding thermodynamic theory has been elaborated only for the linear fluids to date and even here some interesting questions remain to be answered. During this PhD study, following problems will be solved successively: • kinetics in non-ideal fluid mixtures, applicability of activity in kinetic equations; • application of the thermodynamic theory on reaction mechanisms with activated complex, study of relationships to the corresponding microscopic theory (of activated complex) and to the preceding problem; • application of the theory on several selected published mechanisms, comparison of thus obtained kinetic equations with the published equations, discussion of the contribution of the novel theory to the praxis of reaction kinetics; • extension of the theory outside the linear fluid model, focused particularly on reacting systems with significant effect of diffusion and on the relationship between the rate of reaction and diffusion.

   Tutor: Pekař Miloslav, prof. Ing., CSc.

5. Organic functional materials with advanced optical properties

   The work will be focused on the study of the relationship between molecular structure and non-trivial optical properties, such as singlet-fission, multi-photon absorption, etc. Among the studied features will be light absorption, fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime, time-resolved fluorescence and determination of multi-photon absorption cross-sections and spectra. The experimental work will be based on steady state optical spectroscopy as well as on time resolved techniques including laser-based techniques. Unique apparatus for characterization of fluorescence in magnetic field and laser apparatus will be used during the study. The topic is solved within a research project financed by the Czech Science Foundation.

   Tutor: Vala Martin, prof. Mgr., Ph.D.

6. Plasma applications in conservation

   The thesis goal is study of plasma applications for the corrosion removal from various archaeological objects. Plasma will be generated in gases and liquids at low and atmospheric pressure. The artificially corroded samples will be prepared by different procedures for the study of removal efficiency of different corrosion kinds. The plasma diagnostics and in case of liquids also their diagnostics will be parts of thesis, too. The material analyses will be done using different analytical techniques, mainly SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR a LA-MS.

   Tutor: Krčma František, prof. RNDr., Ph.D.

7. Plasma chemical surface treatment of nano and micro materials

   The thesis is focused on the surface treatment of nano and micro materials for technological applications, mainly in agriculture, aiming at the improved dispersion of these materials in water environment. The main part is supposed to be carried out using electrical discharges in/with liquids; gaseous discharges will be only a minor part of the work. Besides the plasma characterisation and the treatment efficiency for homogeneous colloid solutions formation, the broad field of material analyses will be completed to understand the plasma initiated processes with respect to the process optimisation.

   Tutor: Kozáková Zdenka, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Printed chemical code

   The subject of the study is the compilation of a chemical code, readable in at least 256 variants. The chemical code must be invisible in both light and UV light, readable only by spectral methods. The aim of the dissertation is to compile such a code, to check the spectral overlaps with the components of the paper and selected materials to which the chemical code will be applied. The use of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is contemplated. The elimination of spectral interactions of components, a high number of chemical code combinations and the automation of the processing of measured data into code form will be the main goals of the dissertation.

   Tutor: Veselý Michal, prof. Ing., CSc.

9. Printed indicators of atmosphere quality in food packaging

   The subject of the study is the preparation and calibration of indicators of the state of the atmosphere in food packaging. It is an indicator of oxygen, CO2 concentration, pH of the environment, specific reactions to the presence of ammonia and biogenic amines. The aim of the dissertation is to study the available literature, design these indicators, prepare them by printing and calibrate for the selected cut-off concentration of the relevant analyte. Emphasis is placed on the health safety of the polymers and other substances used.

   Tutor: Veselý Michal, prof. Ing., CSc.

10. Study of chemical processes initiated by electrical discharges in extra-terrestrial atmospheres

    The goal of thesis is study of chemical processes initiated by electrical discharges in gaseous mixtures relating extra-terrestrial atmospheres. The plasma analysis will be carried out by optical emission spectrometry; chemical analyses of discharge products will be done mainly using in situ mass spectrometry with reactive ionization.

    Tutor: Krčma František, prof. RNDr., Ph.D.

11. Study of the plasma activated water application on soil organic components

    The environmentally friendly farming methods and procedures became a hot topic during the last years. One of possible ways is the application of plasma activated water. Water exposed to plasmas contains not only oxidative species (mainly hydrogen peroxide) but also species with antibacterial and fungicide properties (like peroxynitrile), all in dependence on plasma conditions. Moreover, it is possible to generate nitrites and nitrides that can be applied in form of spray through on leaves as fertilizers. A part of this spray terminates on soil and there is unknown up to now how this application changes the soil properties, especially properties of soil organic parts. The PhD study will be dialled on the detail study of plasma activated water application on different soil types with focus on the soil organic matter and microorganisms. The experimental work will use diagnostics available not at home faculty, only, but also at other European laboratories under the frame network of COST Action CA19110. The work will be continuously discussed with soil specialists from Mendel University in Brno.

    Tutor: Krčma František, prof. RNDr., Ph.D.

12. Study of the properties of transistors based on ionic liquids

    The work will deal with the preparation of transistors with ionic liquids. They will be studied by optical, electrical and dielectric properties of thin film structures prepared with different intovými liquids.

    Tutor: Zmeškal Oldřich, prof. Ing., CSc.

13. Study of thermal properties of bulks materials

    The research work will focused on the study of thermal properties of materials used for heat storage based on phase change materials. The experimental part will focus on the measurement of heat accumulation in different materials by using of dot and surface temperature sensors (e.g. thermocouples, thermocamera). The new method based on the measurements of temperature responses to pulse or jump of the heat supplied to enable a comprehensive assessment of the substance properties will be used. To measure the absorption and emission properties listed PCM materials will be used thermocamera. The data processing will be performed using the methods of image analysis.

    Tutor: Zmeškal Oldřich, prof. Ing., CSc.