Consortium

National Institute of Chemistry

NIC is a leading Slovenian research institution in the field of chemistry and related disciplines. Research is focused on life sciences and materials sciences with engineering. Annually more than 250 scientific papers are published in scientific journals. NIC is strongly involved in EU funded projects with international consortia, currently taking part in 11 EU research projects. In addition, NIC has been coordinator of three out of the eight Slovenian centres of excellence. NIC cooperates with major Slovenian universities and is classified as an important institution in the field of post-graduate education and training of young researchers. Out of 289 employees 73 (25%) are doctoral students.

http://www.ki.si/

Key Persons

Dr. Angela Šurca Vuk obtained her Ph.D. in chemistry in 1998 from University of Ljubljana and since then she has been employed at National Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory for Materials Chemistry, Ljubljana, as researcher. Her research topics are development of multifunctional coatings (anticorrosion, intercalation films,...) and materials for electrochemical cells (electrochromic devices, solar cells, electrolytes,...), preferably by using sol-gel approach. Her interest is also search for advanced in situ and ex situ spectroelectrochemical analytical approaches in vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman). She has over 290 publications and presentations, of them 89 scientific articles (1127 pure citations; h index 18), 1 monograph chapter and 2 patents (one of them sold to German factory Alanod). She has been principal investigator of 4 Slovenian projects, 3 bilateral collaborations and acts as a mentor for young researchers. She collaborated in 8 EU projects (Smartglass, Sunface, Colourface, Solabs, Apollon, Apollon-B, Innoshade, Necso), 1 MNT- ERA.NET, 1 MATERA ERA-NET project, 2 COST actions and 15 Slovenian projects. She collaborated in team receiving prize for innovation on electrochromic paints technology and anticorrosion coatings for solar collectors. In this project she will work on development and characterisation of prepared materials.

Dr. Matjaz Kozelj graduated with specialisation in organic chemistry at Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana in 2005. He joined National Institute of Chemistry in 2006 to work on silicon chemistry, materials obtained by sol-gel chemistry, spectrally selective coatings, thin protective coatings, polymer modifiers and sol- gel based electrolytes. In 2010 he earned PhD, in 2011 he joined dr. Karim Zaghib as a postdoc associate to work at McGill University and Institut de recherche d'Hydro-Quebec and study electrolytes and new technologies, which could be used in batteries. In 2013 he rejoined NIC to work on interactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes with silicon compounds, ionic liquids and electrolytes. He participated in several EU projects: APOLON B, INNOSHADE, MULTIFUNCOAT, BONACO, NECSO. He co-authored 16 scientific papers and 7 patent applications, 5 entered international phases, two technologies are used by company Alanod. For his achievement for developing and transferring technology was in 2010 awarded with PUH prize (highest national award for successful implementation of research results into industrial processes). He collaborated in team receiving prizes for innovation on paints and anticorrosion coatings for solar collectors. In this project he will be employed with the synthesis of appropriate precursors, especially POSS materials.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ivan Jerman, researcher of the Laboratory for Materials Chemistry. He received Ph.D. degree at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology in 2009. Research interest: synthesis of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes; sol-gel thin films; modification of pigments for spectrally selective paint coatings; textile finishing; surface treatments and nanocoatings. He published over 100 publications including 34 refereed scientific papers in the international journals with impact factor, 2 invited scientific conference contributions and 59 papers presented at the international meetings and 4 chapters in the international scientific books. He is co-author of 2 patent applications and 2 patents (both sold to German factory Alanod). He participated in 7 national and 5 international projects. For his achievement for developing and transferring technology was in 2010 awarded with PUH prize (highest national award for successful implementation of research results into industrial processes). He collaborated in team receiving prizes for innovation on paints and anticorrosion coatings for solar collectors. He will be in charge of stability testing.

Dr. Lidija Slemenik Perse is researcher on National Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory for Materials Chemistry. She received Ph.D. degree at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology in 2004. Her research interests are rheology of sol-gel transition, spectrally selective paints, and surface morphology of thin nanocoatings. She published over 120 publications including 24 refereed scientific papers in the international journals with impact factor, several papers presented at the international meetings and congresses and printed in the book of abstracts, 4 chapters in scientific book and 1 patent application. She will perform rheological and SEM characterisations of the developed materials.

Dr. Samo Hocevar obtained his BSc degree in Pure Chemistry in 1996 from the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology). From 1997 to 1998 he was employed at the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia) as an examiner of chemical and pharmaceutical patent applications. Since January 1998 he had been an MSc/PhD student at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana (Analytical Chemistry Laboratory) and University of Ljubljana, receiving a Grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia. The area of his MSc/PhD studies was ultramicro-electrochemical sensors. He defended his MSc thesis in 2000 and PhD thesis in 2002. He works in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the NIC in Ljubljana as a Senior Scientist; since August 2010 he was an Acting Head of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, and since 2013 has been a Head of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. His research interests are: analytical chemistry, trace analysis, electroanalysis, voltammetric and potentiometric (stripping) analysis, amperometry, development/preparation and modification of electrodes and microelectrodes using carbon nanoparticles, carbon fibers, glassy carbon, carbon paste, gold, platinum, etc., development of (bio)sensors and micro(bio)sensors, measurement of trace heavy metal ions and selected organic compounds (pharmaceuticals, pesticides) with the newly introduced antimony and bismuth electrodes, electrochemical in-vivo measurements of neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin) and ascorbate in the striatum of rat brain, development of (bio)sensors for measuring glucose, hydrogen peroxide, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), etc. He is a member of the Committee for innovations at the National Institute of Chemistry, referee for several international journals (Electroanalysis, Analytica Chimica Acta, Talanta, Electrochimica Acta, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, Sensors, Analyst, Electrochemistry Communications), he was a Guest Editor for a Special Issue of Electroanalysis (July 2010), he acts as a mentor of young investigators, was a co-organizer of international conferences SLONANO 2005 and SLONANO 2010, organizer of an important international scientific conference "14th International Conference on Electroanalysis ESEAC 2012". His work has resulted in 61 publications with over 3060 citations, i.e. ca. 50 citations per article, and h-index of 27. In this project he will be in charge of sensor design study.

Dr. Vasko Jovanovski obtained his PhD in Chemistry in 2007 from University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology). Since January 2003 he had been a PhD student at the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) (Laboratory for Spectroscopy of Materials) and University of Ljubljana, receiving a Grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia. The area of his PhD studies was development and use of ionic liquids for preparation of new electrolytes for electrochemical devices, such as solar and electrochromic cells. For his PhD thesis he received a Pregl Award for outstanding work. He is employed in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the NIC as an associate scientist. His research interests are: application and preparation of (polymeric) ionic liquids, organic and inorganic synthesis, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, voltammetric and potentiometric analysis, development/preparation and modification of electrodes and microelectrodes, development of electrochemical (bio)sensors. He is a referee for several international journals (Electrochemistry Communications, Talanta, Electrochimica Acta, Sensors and Actuators B). He is supervising research work of (PhD) students and postdocs, was a co-organizer of international conference "14th International Conference on Electroanalysis ESEAC 2012". His work has thus far resulted in 27 publications with over 490 citations, and h-index of 14. He will be in charge of electrode modifications preparation.

Dr. Eva Menart obtained her BSc in Chemistry in 2009 from the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology). She also received the Pres?ern award for her research work entitled "Use of separation techniques for identification of historic inks" under the mentorship of dr. Matija Strlic?. Since 2009 she had been a PhD student (under the mentorship of dr. Matija Strlic?) at the University College London where she studied ageing and decomposition of paper mainly for archives in collaboration with Dutch state archives in Haag (Nationaal Archief). She studied the influence of pollutants, temperature and humidity on paper ageing. She obtained PhD in Heritage Science in 2013 from the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London (UCL), UK. She was active in co-organizing two conferences: LACONA IX, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, London (2010) and IAQ, Indoor Air Quality in Heritage and Historic Environments, London (2012). Since 2013 she is employed in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at NIC as a research associate working in the field of development and preparation of advanced electrochemical (micro)sensors. Her work has so far resulted in 6 articles with 25 citations and h-index of 3. She will be in charge of sensor preparation, optimisation and testing.