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Student summer projects
Current topics - July-August 2025
Be the First Experimenter on the DRIFTS Spectrometer
Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Viktor Johánek, Ph.D.
Consultant: Mateusz Wróbel, Ph.D.
Modern materials science and surface physics make use of a wide range of methods based on the interaction of samples with electrons, photons, ions, neutral atoms, and molecules. To gain a deeper understanding of the behavior of the studied samples, it is usually necessary to combine several types of these methods within a single experimental apparatus. In one such vacuum system in the Surface physics group, a major upgrade is currently under construction to include optical absorption methods in the infrared range, in an overall setup that will be quite unique. These optical methods, based on Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy, include three techniques, among them the so-called diffuse reflectance variant (DRIFTS). This method was recently installed in our laboratory and now needs to be tested on real samples and its results compared to those of the previously used reflection variant (IRRAS), according to various physical criteria. Both experimental setups allow for computer-controlled sample heating and maintain well-defined atmosphere above the sample, making it easy to carry out both measurements under comparable conditions.
Contact: viktor.johanek@mff.cuni.cz
Is Cobalt Oxide a Viable Sensor Material?
Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Karel Mašek, Ph.D.
Thin-film conductometric gas sensors will be scrutinized using a sensor test station. These sensors typically operate under precisely defined conditions, with temperature being the most important parameter. The goal of this project is to prepare and test a conductometric sensor based on cobalt oxide. The sensor will be fabricated by magnetron sputtering and tested using hydrogen in synthetic air.
Contact: karel.masek@mff.cuni.cz
Implementation of a Leak for Differential Mass Spectrometry
Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Josef Mysliveček, Ph.D.
Consultant: doc. RNDr. Viktor Johánek, Ph.D.
Differential mass spectrometry is an experimental method used to study the chemical composition of gaseous or liquid samples at atmospheric pressure. At our laboratory, differential mass spectrometry is routinely used at the outlet of chemical or electrochemical reactors for both model and real catalysts. So far, differential mass spectrometry has been applied to gaseous mixtures. During the measurement, the gas mixture expands into vacuum through a suitable leak and is subsequently analyzed by a mass spectrometer.
The goal of this project is the experimental validation of a new type of leak that will allow vapor expansion into vacuum from liquid samples. Implementing such a leak will expand the range of analyzable samples to include liquid outputs from electrochemical reactors.
Project Objectives:
- Become familiar with the technique of differential mass spectrometry
- Construct a test leak for liquid samples
- Verify the functionality of the test leak for liquid samples
- Evaluate and present the acquired data
The work will be carried out in the Surface Physics Group at KFPP using an existing vacuum apparatus.
Contact: josef.myslivecek@mff.cuni.cz
Preparation of a Model Cu–Tungsten Oxide System
Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Karel Mašek, Ph.D.
Model systems are used for fundamental research into the physicochemical properties of solid materials. In this case, a tungsten single crystal will be used to create an oriented layer of tungsten oxide on its surface. Nanometer-sized copper islands will then be deposited on the oxide surface to form a model catalyst. The structural and chemical properties will be studied using modern surface physics techniques such as RHEED, XPS, and AFM.
Contact: karel.masek@mff.cuni.cz