Analytics and Chemical Characterization of Materials and Processes

The programme comprises fundamental studies and development of analytical tools, sensors and approaches in three related fields of electrochemical sensorics, chemical characterization & elemental imaging, and atmospheric chemistry. (i) Electrochemical sensorics: (a) we will study electrochemical (stripping) processes by coupling and correlating electrochemical measurements with elemental mass spectrometry followed by first studies of these processes in real-time at nano or atomic scale by coupling electrochemistry with liquid transmission electron microscopy (TEM); (b) studies of thin (metal) film electrodes (bismuth, antimony, copper) will comprise the development of new types of sensors for detection of trace heavy metal ions and organic analytes important in the fields of environmental protection and biomedicine; (c) we will intensify recently initiated development of electrochemical gas sensors based on multifunctional sensing materials for potential use in clinical diagnostics, preservation of cultural heritage, environmental protection and national security. (ii) In the field of chemical characterization and elemental imaging with laser ablation-elemental mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we will deepen basic studies of the interaction of laser with the matter and investigate different ways of multimodal imaging using complementary techniques and interpretation of results via data-fusion, data-mining and modeling. We will develop unique approaches for characterization of nanoparticles in biological tissues using LA-ICP-MS. Quantification problems remaining in LA-ICP-MS will be targeted via absolute calibration strategies and development of new standard materials. Within interdisciplinary studies we will exploit photothermal beam deflection and thermal lens spectrometry to develop protocols for non-destructive and non-contact physico-chemical characterization of advanced electronic and medical materials. Based on photothermal techniques we will also develop novel hyphenated analytical methods for studying (bio) chemical processes in food industry, for toxicological analysis of environmental pollutants as well as for detection of biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases and viral infections. (iii) Atmospheric chemistry: we will investigate multiphase atmospheric chemical transformations of important pollutants at mechanistic and kinetic level. We will investigate (a) the formation and aging of brown carbon (BrC) and colored volatile organic compounds that affect the absorption properties of the atmosphere (greenhouse effect) and thus climate change, and (b) the formation and aging of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) which contribute significantly to the mass of organic carbon in the atmosphere and directly affect the formation of clouds and harm our health. We will develop approaches for qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace elements and organic components of aerosol nanoparticles, and additionally support these investigations with toxicological studies of related pollutants.

Within the research program "Analytics and Chemical Characterization of Materials and Processes" we will conduct fundamental research and development in closely related fields of: - electrochemical sensorics: studies of electrochemical (stripping) processes (in real-time) on nano or atomic scale, studies and development of thin film electrodes (bismuth, antimony, copper) and gas sensors. - chemical characterization and elemental imaging: studies of laser interaction with matter and 2D/3D elemental imaging of solid and semi-solid samples with laser ablation coupled with elemental mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and studies of detecting (metal) nanoparticles in biological samples using elemental (bio)imaging. Within interdisciplinary studies we will exploit photothermal beam deflection and thermal lens spectrometry to develop protocols for non-destructive and non-contact physico-chemical characterization of advanced electronic and medical materials. - atmospheric chemistry: mechanistic and kinetic studies of multiphase atmospheric chemical transformations of pollutants with an emphasis on the formation and aging of brown carbon and secondary organic aerosols. Due to extremely topical issues, challenges and research directions, also in line with the Horizon 2020 guidelines (health, food safety, climate action, environment, secure societies) that relate to several other important scientific areas (materials, clinical diagnostics, biotechnology, industrial control, preservation of cultural heritage), our research activities represent a significant contribution on a global scale. This is the case in terms of fundamental studies and findings (electrochemical process studies, studies of new types of thin film electrodes and development of sensing materials for the detection of important inorganic and organic species, development of unique 2D and 3D elemental (bio)imaging protocols using laser ablation coupled with elemental mass spectrometry, development of photothermal techniques for physico-chemical characterization, important atmospheric studies in connection with the transformation of products of biomass burning), as well as in the field of applied research. All this will be, as by now, clearly demonstrated by a number of scientific contributions in high ranking international scientific journals, with many other contributions and presentations at domestic and international scientific meetings, by organizing international scientific conferences and successful transferring top-level knowledge through cooperation with domestic and foreign academic and non-academic/industrial partners. Scientific significance, visibility and topicality of our guidelines are also demonstrated through the recently successfully completed cooperation in the NanoRestArt project (Horizon 2020, No. 646063). addressing the preservation of cultural heritage in the frame of development electrochemical gas sensors for detecting selected volatile organic compounds as early markers for decomposition of artistic artefacts, the newly acquired NATO project in the field of development of electrochemical gas sensors for early detection and warning of the presence of peroxo explosives, and through participation in the ongoing NaMeS project (Horizon 2020, No. 711859) encompassing studies of the formation and transformation of secondary organic aerosols from volatile organic compounds emitted by plants. Interesting scientific findings and results are also obtained through formal and informal collaborations with renowned foreign institutions such as the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, Netherlands), the Universita Ca'Foscari (Venice, Italy), the Ghent University (Ghent, Belgium) and many other foreign and domestic research groups.

The main activities of the programme group run under the research program "Analytics and Chemical Characterization of Materials and Processes" and comprise fundamental studies and development of new analytical tools, sensors, advanced methodologies and novel approaches for (i) chemical analysis/detection of (trace) elements and gaseous analytes, characterization of compounds, materials and process, (ii) their use in other topical scientific/interdisciplinary fields and (iii) research and development support in cooperation with other academic and non-academic/industrial partners. The current contents of the research program, together with the acquired expertise, enable direct or indirect impact and/or transfer of knowledge in the fields of socioeconomic and cultural development of the Republic of Slovenia (technological and sustainable development) and are in line with several priority challenges identified by the EU under Horizon 2020. The research is adjusted in accordance with global guidelines and needs in the field of environmental protection (studies of aerosols and atmospheric processes, trace and ultra-trace analysis of metal ions), health and food safety (analysis of complex (bio)samples, development of microanalysis methods with potential application in diagnostics, sensor development, bioanalytics of toxic and essential components), industrial monitoring (analysis of final and interphase samples in technological processes), material development, preservation of natural and cultural heritage (non-destructive chemical analysis and microanalysis of solid and semi-solid materials and objects of historical importance, development of electrochemical sensors for early detection of gaseous products as markers of decomposition of artistic objects) and national security (development of sensors for detecting explosives in the frame NATO project). The result of successful knowledge transfer is cooperation with dozens of industrial partners, also in the frame of contracts, such as Lek (Sandoz, Novartis), Dechra, Kamnik-Schlenk, Krka, Wire, Calcit, the Slovenian Construction Institute and many others. We host and, in the frame of mentorships and co-mentorships, train under- and post- graduate students/young investigators and postdoctoral researchers aimed at efficiently transferring and exchanging knowledge, educating and creating top-level personnel. We are intensively involved in the Slovenian scientific community within formal and informal co-operations (Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, Medical Faculty, Veterinary Faculty, University of Maribor, University of Nova Gorica, Jožef Stefan Institute) in exploiting and offering instrumental capacity and knowledge exchange. In this context we are also involved in the Infrastructure Program of the National Institute of Chemistry. Presentations of our achievements at numerous international scientific meetings (together with invited lectures), organization of international conferences and visits of our researchers at reputable foreign scientific institutions, contribute significantly to the international visibility of our research team, National Institute of Chemistry and our country, and consequently facilitate access to new technologies, create conditions for integration into international projects and into international division of labour. Achievements in the field of atmospheric chemistry could be useful in the preparation of national strategies considering environmental and related regulations and the integration of related findings into wider atmospheric models, the development of elemental imaging with laser ablation hyphenated with elemental mass spectrometry shows prospective for attractive application in the fields of biomedical and toxicological research, whereas the development of new sensors enables their potential use in the fields of environmental protection and clinical diagnostics (detection of gaseous aldehydes and ketones in the exhal