Projects and grants

Hybrid inorganic-organic composites as precursors of electrically conductive materials

SP2026/036

Research within this project will build on the results achieved in the previous project (SP2025/029), in which one of the goals was to study the possibility of obtaining electrically conductive materials by pyrolysis of input composites prepared by dry mixing of non-conductive organic compounds and inorganic matrix. Since it has been proven that this dry route (not requiring a solution, nor subsequent filtration and drying, which reduces costs and shortens time) is comparable to the classic wet route (i.e. preparation in solution followed by filtration and drying) in terms of structural (formation of multilayer graphene) and conductivity properties of the resulting materials, in this project the dry route will be used to verify the possibility of preparing electrically conductive materials from mixtures of phyllosilicate and fat by pyrolysis. Fats in wastewater pose a risk to the environment (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.013). After their removal from water, they can be used as a secondary raw material, however, the interest of researchers is mainly focused on the production of biodiesel (10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03550) and anaerobic digestion with the aim of obtaining biogas (10.1007/s12649-018-00558-w). Fats are also pyrolyzed, but almost exclusively to obtain liquid and gaseous fractions – again for biofuels (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.09.019; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09041-3). Pyrolysis of fats as carbonaceous precursors to obtain electrically conductive materials containing graphite/graphene (GRA) has not been published yet. Even review articles mapping the use of waste fats do not mention this possibility (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.124539). The closest to this idea is the preparation of nano-onions from chicken fat (https://doi.org/10.1039/9781839167218-00198; https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c02753). However, the preparation of the nano-onions was carried out by oil-wick flame pyrolysis in the presence of air. Pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere, not of fat itself, but of its mixture with an inorganic matrix, thus represents a significant novelty, an area that has not yet been explored. However, under these conditions, the formation of different carbon structures can be expected. If the possibility of preparing electrically conductive materials containing GRA is confirmed, these results (in addition to the publication potential) will have a significant benefit for sustainability, as they will expand the range of secondary uses of waste fats. Research within this project will also build on the previous project (SP2025/029) in the field of structure compatibility. In the previous project, the accuracy of the computational prediction of the structure compatibility of GRA with high-temperature silicate phases was experimentally confirmed. Given this successful result, this project will utilize a structure compatbility calculation method for determining structure compatibility to test non-silicate high-temperature phases (e.g. Al2O3, ZrO2, etc.). Phases showing a high degree of structure compatibility with GRA, identified by the above computational method, will be used as inorganic matrices in mixtures with carbonaceous precursors to practically verify their suitability for the preparation of GRA-containing materials. Due to the uniqueness of this study – influence of the structure of high-temperature phases on the in situ formation of GRA during pyrolysis – publication potential of the results can be expected. The practical utility lies in the possibility of limiting time- and financially demanding experiments and offering for practical testing only those high-temperature phases whose presence in a mixture with carbonaceous precursors has a high probability of successful synthesis of GRA. Last but not least, research within this project will build on a previous project (SP2025/029) in the field of electrically conductive polymer polythiophene and polythiophene/phyllosilicate composites, for which an effective synthesis method (with regard to the resulting electrical conductivity) was successfully found and the stability of conductivity was confirmed. In order to use these materials as gas sensors, the possibilities of their deposition on a supporting matrix (instead of working with an impractical powder form) and the effect of the deposition on the conductivity response to gases (e.g. ammonia) will be investigated. The goal is to create a practical conductive component (cell) that can be easily inserted into and removed from the measuring apparatus. Mineral wool and 3D printed polymer carriers with shapes that guarantee low pressure loss will be tested as supportng matrices. Analyses of the chemical composition, structure and morphology of the studied materials will be carried out using a wide range of methods: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, force field-based molecular modeling, structure compatibility calculations, and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Project timeline: 01/2026 – 06/2026 Optimization of the composition of phyllosilicate/fat composites. Pyrolysis of prepared composites and analysis of their chemical composition, structure and morphology. Calculations of the structure compatibility of GRA and non-silicate high-temperature phases. 3D printing of polymer carriers. Identification of a carrier suitable for the deposition of polythiophene-based powder materials. Identification of a suitable deposition method guaranteeing the preservation of electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity measurements. Design of a practically usable cell. 07/2026 – 12/2026 Preparation of carbonaceous precursor/pure high-temperature phase composites. Pyrolysis of prepared composites. Analyses of their chemical composition, structure and morphology, including measurement of their electrical conductivity. Construction of a practically usable cell, electrical conductivity measurements and tests of sensory properties. Active participation in an international conference. Preparation of outputs. Division of work and tasks among team members: Assoc.-Prof. Ing. Jonáš Tokarský, Ph.D. – principal investigator – supervisor of Jonáš Molek's doctoral thesis – molecular modeling – structure compatibility calculations – project administration – preparation of outputs Ing. Silvie Vallová, Ph.D. – characterization of materials using thermogravimetry – preparation of outputs Assoc.-Prof. Ing. Michal Ritz, Ph.D. – supervisor of Zuzana Pěgřimočová's doctoral thesis – characterization of materials using infrared and Raman spectroscopy – preparation of outputs Ing. Jonáš Molek – Ph.D. student – molecular modeling – structure compatibility calculations – preparation of composites carbon precursor / matrix – electrical conductivity measurements – preparation of outputs Ing. Zuzana Pěgřimočová – Ph.D. student – characterization of materials using infrared and Raman spectroscopy – preparation of outputs Ing. Sára Leinweberová – Ph.D. student – pyrolyses of composites – preparation of outputs Bc. Matěj Hořejší – master's student – preparation of polythiophene and its composites – deposition of materials onto a carrier – sensory properties testing Bc. Jiří Kuběnka – master's student – design of a practically usable cell – 3D printing of carriers – sensory properties testing

2026

2026

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

SGS

Specifický výzkum VŠB-TUO

Tokarský Jonáš doc. Ing., Ph.D.