RESEARCH ACTIVITY

• Development and characterization of semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSSC) based on nanostructural TiO₂ and ZnO

• Designing, preparation and characterization of composite materials based on the conducting polymers (polythiophene derivatives) and nanosized semiconductors for application in photovoltaic cells. Optimization of synthesis conditions of hybrid materials to improve the conversion efficiency of solar to electric energy.

•  Application of conducting polymers for extraction of heavy metal ions from different types of liquid wastes. Investigation of the mechanisms of the processes.

• Electrosynthesis and studies of structure, morphology, electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the electrodes modified by conducting polymers (poly(N-vinylcarbazole), poly(1,8-diaminonaphthalene), poly(1,8-diaminocarbazole), poly(3-alkylthiophenes), poly(3,4-dialkoxythiophenes), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), titanocene derivatives of polypyrrole and PEDOT).

• Synthesis of hybrid electrodes based on conducting polymers and transition metal nanoparticles for application in catalysis and electrocatalysis

    METHODS APPLIED:

• Conventional electrochemical techniques, also in combination with quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), in-situ conductance measurements and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Rotating disc electrode.

• FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for determination of molecular structure, spectrofluorimetry

• Microscopic techniques: AFM, STM, SEM, TEM

• XRD, XPS

• Photoelectrochemical methods for characterization of photovoltaic cells