DIVISION OF MOLECULAR ENGINEERING
Head: prof. Hanna Kierzkowska - Pawlak
Our paradigm: Cold plasma as a tool for molecular engineering
The Division of Molecular Engineering focuses on the design and development of new nanocomposite thin‑film catalysts for processes such as CO₂ conversion, water splitting and wastewater treatment. Cold plasma technologies are a core part of our work. They provide an effective way to create advanced nanomaterials and to modify the surfaces of traditional materials with high precision, following molecular design principles.
RESEARCH TOPICS
- New catalytic nanomaterials deposited by plasma (PECVD - plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition)
- Engineering of low temperature plasma
- Chemistry of plasma processes
- New active nanomaterials for electrochemical cells and water splitting
- Hydrogen production by plasma discharges in water
- Molecular and electronic structure of thin-film materials
- Molecular surface engineering – plasma-based modification of textiles, leather, polymers, ceramics, and other materials to tailor their physicochemical and functional properties (e.g., adhesion, adsorption, superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, oleophobicity). More: Plasma surface engineering
- Processes of CO2 conversions
- Plasma in medicine applications
- Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)
- Photoprocesses: photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis
MAIN EQUIPMENT
- Non-equilibrium (cold) plasma reactors (low-pressure, atmospheric pressure; AF, RF, MW; two-electrode, three-electrode, micro jets, etc.)
- XPS Spectrometer (Kratos Analytical Axis Ultra DLD, XPS, Auger/SEM, UPS, ISS, CatCell)
- Scanning Electron Microscope SEM + EDS (Thermo Fisher Scientific Apreo 2 S LoVac, EDS EDAX Octane Elect)
- Atomic Force Microscope AFM (Veeco Multimode AFM – Nanoskope 3D)
- FTIR Spectrometers (Jasco 6200 and Jasco 4200 with special equipment: ATR, diffuse reflectance, IRS microscopic accessory etc.)
- UV/VIS spectrometer (UV-1800, SHIMADZU, equipped with: thin layer measuring attachment, Nano Stick micro volume cuvette -SCINCO, etc)
- Spectrofluorometer (RF-6000, SHIMADZU)
- Optical Emission Spectrometer (Ocean Optics model HR 4000)
- Goniometer (KSV Theta Optical Tensiometer)
- Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (Hiden Analytical Ltd EQP 1000)
- Catalytic and calorimetric reactors (CPA201 Syrris Ltd.) + gas chromatograph (SRI8610 MG2)
CSTR reactor+ gas chromatograph (barrier discharge ionization detector - BID) /mass spectrometer, GC/MS (Shimadzu)
- Potentiostat (AutoLab PGSTAT302N)
CONTACT
Lodz University of Technology
DIVISION of Molecular Engineering
Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering
Wolczanska 213 Str.
93-005 LODZ
tel.: +48 42 6313774, +48 42 6313678
e-mail: hanna.kierzkowska-pawlak@p.lodz.pl
