Polymer Institute
Design of Novel Composite Polyelectrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications.
Návrh nových kompozitných polyelektrolytových membrán pre aplikácie palivových článkov.
| Duration: | 1.11.2024 - 31.8.2026 |
| Program: | |
| Project leader: | MSc. Ghonim Randa PhD. |
| Annotation: | Renewable and sustainable energies are deemed to play a key role in resolving the crisis of traditional fossil energies and environmental pollution in our societies. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have emerged as promising future power sources due to their high efficiency, high energy densities, modular construction, low operating temperatures, and quick start-up capabilities. However, there are many factors preventing PEMFCs from commercialization. Issues of durability and performance aside, operating temperature, reducing the manufacturing costs must involve reduced materials costs, especially as regards the Nafion membrane and the platinum catalyst content, and simplification of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication process by reducing the number of processing steps. Thus, the scientific community has focused its efforts on the development of high-performing polymeric membranes as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cell applications. In particular, high conductivity at different humidity and temperature levels and enhanced chemical and mechanical stability under operative conditions are considered the main goals to be reached. The design of mixed-matrix membranes based on conductive polymers and inorganic fillers is an approach commonly used for achieving materials with improved conductive and mechanical properties owing to their high porosity and surface area. In this project, new conducting polymeric membranes based on functionalized polyvinyl alcohol and modified cellulose acetate derivatives will be used owing to their excellent properties, such as low cost, availability, biodegradability, ecofriendliness, and outstanding mechanical characteristics. In addition, functionalized graphene oxide derivatives (like graphene quantum dots and sulfonated graphene) and Metal organic framework (such as ZIF-8 and UIO-66) materials will be incorporated into the fabricated membranes to improve their conductivity and fuel cell performance. The developed composite membranes will be thoroughly characterized using several characterization tools, including FTIR, SEM, XPS, TGA, DSC, XRD, and TEM. Furthermore, mechanical properties, thermal oxidative stability, dimensional stability, chemical stability, contact angle, solvent uptake (water and methanol), permeability, selectivity, and conductivity will also be investigated. On the other hand, factors affecting the synthesis and formulation processes will be optimized. Finally, electrochemical measurements (i.e. polarization curves) and fuel cell performance will be measured and compared with standard Nafion membranes. Thus, the proposed project will be expected to provide new, straightforward, high-performance, and low-cost polyelectrolyte membranes with significant potential for fuel cell applications. |
Biopolymers for the development of innovative treatments and energy self-sufficiency
Využitie biopolymérov pre vývoj inovatívnych liečebných postupov a energetickej sebestačnosti.
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Eckstein Anita PhD. |
Use of natural vegetable oils and extracts for food packaging.
Využitie prírodných rastlinných olejov a extraktov pre potravinové obaly.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Eckstein Anita PhD. |
3D printing of filaments with "non-common" fillers for special applications
3D tlač filamentov s „nevšednými“ plnivami pre špeciálne aplikácie
| Duration: | 1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kováčová Mária PhD. |
Biobased Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives by Photomediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.
Akrylátové lepidlá citlivé na tlak na biologickej báze pomocou foto-sprostredkovanej radikálovej polymerizácie s prenosom atómov.
| Duration: | 1.10.2024 - 31.8.2026 |
| Program: | |
| Project leader: | MSc. Zain Gamal PhD. |
| Annotation: | The general objective of the project is to exploit the available renewable and biobased monomers for acrylic PSAs production. Biopolymers will be used as well for production of PSAs. Photochemically induced atom transfer radical polymerization as a straightforward and eco-friendly method will be used for providing well-defined and high-performance PSAs. The obtained PSAs will be tested for serving as biobased tapes. |
Two-dimensional nanomaterials in hybrids and polymer composites for advanced applications
Dvojdimenzionálne nanomateriály v hybridoch a polymérnych kompozitoch pre pokročilé aplikácie
| Duration: | 1.1.2022 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Omastová Mária DrSc. |
Non-antibiotic approach for the treatment of tick-borne infections.
Eliminácia kliešťami prenášaných infekcií bez použitia antibiotík.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Špitálsky Zdenko PhD. |
Nanoengineered Trojan hybrid for site-responsive phototherapy of recurrent glioblastomas.
Fototerapia rekurentných glioblastómov s nádorovo špecifickým trójskym hybridom optimalizovaným na nano-úrovni.
| Duration: | 1.9.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kroneková Zuzana PhD. |
Gradient copolymers containing functional groups for biomedical applications.
Gradientové kopolyméry s funkčnými skupinami pre využitie v biomedicínskych aplikáciách.
| Duration: | 1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kronek Juraj PhD. |
In situ reduction of graphene oxide assisted by polymer chains: computational and experimental study.
In situ redukcia grafén oxidu asistovaná polymérnymi reťazcami: výpočtová a experimentálna štúdia.
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Benková Zuzana PhD. |
Injectable shear-thinning polymeric hydrogels by supramolecular and dynamic covalent networks for cartilage tissue regeneration.
Injektovateľné pseudoplastické polymérne hydrogély založené na supramolekulárnych a dynamických kovalentných sieťach pre regeneráciu chrupavkového tkaniva.
| Duration: | 1.7.2023 - 30.6.2027 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Heydari Abolfazl PhD. |
| Annotation: | The goal of this project is to develop tissue-engineered articular cartilage using an injectable shear-thinning hydrogel administered in a minimally invasive way into living bodies, with the ability to match irregular defects and fulfill most of the requirements for cartilage regeneration. This hydrogel will be formed based on bioorthogonal chemistry through the combination of both dynamic supramolecular and covalent crosslinks. The intention is to improve the mechanical properties to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of articular cartilage without compromising the biocompatibility of the hydrogel. Simultaneously, the hydrogel composition will be modulated to meet the fundamental requirements of the scaffold in treating cartilage, including (i) bioadhesion, (ii) promotion of chondrogenesis, and (iii) biodegradation without toxic by-products. The performance of the proposed platform will be tested in a rabbit model for cartilage regeneration. Dosiahnuté výsledky: Throughout this year, our main focus was on different aspects of polymer library preparation. We synthesized the essential polymer library crucial for the development of injectable hydrogels. As an initial experiment, we devised and created crosslinked injectable hydrogels utilizing both non-covalent and covalent bonds. We assessed the impact of covalent bonds, particularly hydrazone bonds, on the properties of the injected hydrogel, including its chemical and mechanical stability. |
Compostable starch-based plastic materials.
Kompostovateľné plastové materiály na báze škrobu.
| Duration: | 1.9.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Mičušík Matej PhD. |
Alginate-based microcapsules with enhanced stability and biocompatibility for encapsulation of pancreatic islets in diabetes treatment.
Mikrokapsuly na báze alginátu so zvýšenou stabilitou a biokompatibilitou pre enkapsuláciu pankreatických ostrovčekov v liečbe cukrovky.
| Duration: | 1.7.2023 - 30.6.2027 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Lacík Igor DrSc. |
Modification of surfaces as barrier to protein adsorption.
Modifikácia povrchov ako bariéra pre adsorpciu proteínov.
| Duration: | 1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Benková Zuzana PhD. |
Multifunctional composite materials for detection, adsorption and decontamination of hazardous organic molecules.
Multifunkčné kompozitné materiály pre detekciu, adsorpciu a dekontamináciu nebezpečných organických molekúl.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kronek Juraj PhD. |
Novel guanidine-based polycations used for preparation of multicomponent alginate-based microcapsules for cell encapsulation.
Nové polykatióny na báze guanidínu používané na prípravu viaczložkových mikrokapsúl na báze alginátu na zapuzdrenie buniek.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: | DoktoGrant |
| Project leader: | Ing. Hájovská Pavla PhD. |
Advanced functional polymers from biorenewable monomers.
Pokročilé funkčné polyméry z bioobnoviteľných monomérov.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Mosnáček Jaroslav DrSc. |
Towards Superior Perovskite-based Solar Cells via Optimized Passivation and Structure.
Pokročilé perovskitové solárne články s optimalizovanou pasiváciou a štruktúrou.
| Duration: | 1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kollár Jozef PhD. |
Polymers with Active Chiral Topology and NANOTEChnology.
Polyméry s Aktívnou Chirálnou Topológiou a NANOTEChnológia.
| Duration: | 1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Račko Dušan PhD. |
Self-healing implantable polymeric microspheres crosslinked via bioorthogonal click chemistry for cell encapsulation in diabetes treatment.
Samoregeneračné implantovateľné polymérne mikrosféry sieťované prostredníctvom bioortogonálnej klik chémie pre bunkovú enkapsuláciu v liečbe cukrovky.
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Heydari Abolfazl PhD. |
| Annotation: | The goal of the project is to develop biocompatible alginate-based microspheres stabilized by dual ionic and dynamic covalent crosslinks with self-healing characteristics. The intention is to enhance the chemical and mechanical durability of the microspheres by incorporating dynamic bonds into their network and mitigating foreign body responses using anti-fibrotic agents located on the microsphere surface. These crucial features of microspheres will be tuned through alterations in the alginate backbone by introducing various contents of bio-clickable and anti-fibrotic agents. |
Scholarships for excellent PhD students (R1) – Polymer Institute SAS
Štipendiá pre excelentných PhD. študentov a študentky (R1) – Ústav polymérov SAV, v.v.i.
| Duration: | 1.9.2023 - 31.8.2026 |
| Program: | |
| Project leader: | MSc. Moghaddam Omid |
Effect of the application of organic molecules on the properties of perovskite thin-film structures.
Vplyv aplikácie organických molekúl na vlastnosti perovskitovských tenkovrstvých štruktúr.
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kronek Juraj PhD. |
The influence of varying humidity conditions on the structure and mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch-based materials.
Vplyv meniacich sa vlhkostných podmienok na štruktúru a mechanické vlastnosti termoplastických materiálov na báze škrobu.
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | MSc. Peidayesh Hamed PhD. |
The effect of solvent composition on kinetics and mechanism of radical polymerization for water-soluble monomers.
Vplyv zloženia rozpúšťadla na kinetiku a mechanizmus radikálovej polymerizácie vodorozpustných monomérov.
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Lacík Igor DrSc. |
Changes of microstructure and physical properties of crosslinked polymers in bulk and under confined conditions of macro- and mesopores.
Zmeny mikroštruktúry a fyzikálnych vlastností zosieťovaných polymérov v objeme a uväznených podmienkach makro- a mezo-pórov.
| Duration: | 1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026 |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Švajdlenková Helena PhD. |
The total number of projects: 25