Groups and Topics
At the Centre for Polymer Systems, research in heterogeneous catalysis is carried out by David Škoda, a member of the Nanomaterials and Advanced Technologies research group led by Prof. Ivo Kuřitka.
David Škoda's research focuses on the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts based on amorphous silica, alumina, or aluminosilicate matrices containing homogeneously dispersed metal-based active sites (V, Mo, W, Sn, Zr). Innovative and newly developed synthetic methods involving microwave heating and condensation (mostly in non-aqueous media) are applied in the preparation of these catalysts, leading to homogeneous dispersion and high content of isolated active sites in the resulting catalysts. The prepared catalysts are subsequently applied in oxidation reactions (olefin epoxidation, ethyl lactate oxidation), olefin metathesis, or ethanol dehydration. The practical application of the prepared catalysts is directed to the field of industrial chemistry and petrochemistry, where our catalysts would be an alternative (replacement) to less efficient conventional catalysts prepared by impregnation methods. Another type of catalyst, that David Škoda focuses on, is nanocomposite catalysts based on carbon and metal (Co, Ni). In this case, we start from "metal-organic framework" structures, which are prepared by MW synthesis and subsequently carbonized. Carbon-based catalysts are applied for example in CO2 methanation. In our research on heterogeneous catalysts, we collaborate with other universities, e.g. MIT, MU, and UCLouvain.
Contacts:
Mgr. David Škoda, Ph.D. (dskoda@utb.cz)
prof. Ing. et Ing. Ivo Kuřitka, Ph.D. et Ph.D. (kuritka@utb.cz) |