Projects supported by The Czech Science Foundation - GACR

Many current and future experiments use atomic nuclei as laboratories for precise tests of fundamental symmetries of nature and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model. Our goal is to provide key predictions for interpreting the results of several important experiments that seek to detect dark matter and search for deviations from Standard Model predictions in electroweak nuclear processes. To this end, we will develop a reliable model of nuclear interaction and new methods for modeling nuclear structure, which will be used for calculations of electroweak processes and dark matter scattering off atomic nuclei.

NPI Project manager: Dytrych Tomáš
E-mail: dytrych@ujf.cas.cz

With the development of nanotechnology and the practical application of nanofluidic phenomena, nanoporous nuclear membranes have become important for applications such as molecule detection and separation. However, their effectiveness is limited due to aspects such as the trade-off between pore permeability and selectivity. In this project, we propose a way to overcome these problems to a certain extent by using nuclear membranes with nanopores in which rare metal nanoparticles with ligands are anchored. The key idea is to use ligands that would respond to certain external stimuli. In this way, it would be possible to control the main characteristics of the membrane and thus control the transport processes.

NPI Project manager: Jiří Vacík
E-mail: vacik@ujf.cas.cz

The interaction of energetic ions and electrons with thermoplastic and glass surfaces will be used to obtain new hierarchical morphologies at the nano and micro levels with the aim of achieving advanced optical, fluidic, and bioactive properties. Focused ions with energies in the MeV range with different masses and chemical properties, as well as electrons, will be used for direct lithography and mask lithography to create more complex 3D structures in thermoplastics (COC, COP, PET) and glass. At the same time, detailed research will be conducted on changes in mechanical properties, chemical structure, elemental composition, and surface morphology as a result of the prevailing effects of electronic energy transfer and ionization in the surface layer of the energy ions used. Irradiated, pre-treated structures with functionalized surfaces will also be used for lithographic experiments. The main objective is to obtain basic knowledge about the possibilities of creating complex 3D microstructures in selected materials that will have advanced morphologies and combined functional properties for applications in microfluidic and lab-on-chip structures.

NPI Project manager: Macková Anna
E-mail: mackova@ujf.cas.cz

The project deals with comprehensive research into a new class of materials – black metals surface-decorated with MXenes – in terms of their use in active layers of gas sensors (chemiresistors). The proposed composition of the active layer will uniquely combine the advantageous properties of black metals (high catalytic activity, tendency to complexation reactions, low resistivity) with the properties of MXenes (ability to act as a gas molecule receptor, ability to segregate molecules according to size). In addition, if the active layer contains ferromagnetic black metal, the so-called skin effect will occur during high-frequency measurements, which will allow analytical information to be collected from the variable depth of the active layer. The black metal layers will be deposited using the physical vapor deposition method, MXenes by ion beam sputtering and subsequent annealing, or alternatively by a wet process. The interaction of active layers with model gaseous analytes will also be studied, sensor parameters (signal-to-noise ratio, detection limit) will be evaluated, and finally, general recommendations for active layers of chemiresistors based on this will be formulated.

NPI Project manager: Vacík Jiří
E-mail: vacik@ujf.cas.cz

The project focuses on studying the properties of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and the boundary conditions of its formation. We will perform comprehensive measurements using hard probes (heavy quarks and jets) in a large kinematic range at the RHIC accelerator (STAR experiment) and the LHC accelerator (ALICE experiment), both in small and large collision systems. We will test quantum chromodynamics in the perturbative regime by measuring D0 mesons and jets containing D0 mesons in p+p collisions at the RHIC accelerator using innovative machine learning methods. In nucleus-nucleus collisions, we will study the production of jets containing light and heavy quarks and their substructure at the RHIC accelerator. At the LHC accelerator, we will test hadronization mechanisms in jets and determine QGP transport coefficients using new measurements of the anisotropic flow of baryons and mesons containing heavy quarks. Last but not least, we plan to perform the first measurements of the anisotropic flow of mesons and baryons containing heavy quarks in p+p collisions at the LHC as a function of collision multiplicity in order to determine the boundary conditions for QGP formation in small systems.

NPI Project manager: Jana Bielčíková
E-mail: bielcikova@ujf.cas.cz

The interaction of energetic ions will be used to study the targeted modification of the electronic structure of graphene derivatives, resulting in changes to their electrical, sensory, and catalytic properties. Ion lithography with light and medium-heavy ions enables the creation of integrated microstructures in both non-conductive graphene oxide and conductive graphene. The electronic stopping power of MeV ions leads to the formation of conductive domains in graphene oxide, as well as defects and a decrease in conductivity in graphene. These two effects can be used to produce complex microstructures for flexible microelectronics and microsensors. The implantation of metal ions through a micrometer-sized shielding template (mask) with suitably selected ion parameters (fluence, mass and energy) allows the creation of 3D microstructural composites consisting of metal nanoparticles and graphene derivatives. These structures offer excellent sensory and catalytic properties. The modified samples will be studied using a wide range of analytical methods, focusing particularly on changes in composition, structure, and chemical bonds, as well as electrical, sensory, and photocatalytic properties.

NPI Project manager: Malinský Petr
E-mail: malinsky@ujf.cas.cz