University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague

Co-pyrolysis of pine cones and natural resin: Tailoring microporous architecture and interfacial alkalinity for enhanced heavy metal immobilization

This study presents a novel approach for the highly efficient separation of Cu 2+ and Pb 2+ from aqueous phases using advanced activated carbons synthesized via the co-pyrolysis of pine cones and natural resin, followed using CO 2 physical activation. The strategic incorporation...

Imidazole-Containing Ether-Free Polyaromatics with Self-Aggregating Piperidinium Side Chains for Alkaline-Stable Anion Exchange Membranes

Abstract Despite being critical components of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs), anion exchange membranes (AEMs) still confront substantial bottlenecks in meeting operational requirements due to inadequate alkaline stability and ionic conductivity. In this work...

Comparison of Free and Bound Benzoic Acid Naturally Occurring in Vaccinium and Prunus Fruits by Ultrasound‐Assisted and Conventional Extraction Methods

ABSTRACT Benzoic acid (BA, E210) is a common food preservative and naturally occurring plant metabolite. It exists in plant tissues as free (f‐BA) and bound (b‐BA) forms. This makes accurate quantification challenging, as traditional extraction methods may underestimate total BA...

Polystyrene-Grafted Chain-Walking Polyethylene: Precision Synthesis and Multidimensional Analysis of Composition, Conformation, and Topology

Abstract Polystyrene-grafted chain-walking polyethylene graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting living polystyryl anions onto ester-functionalized chain-walking polyethylene backbones. Two complementary sample series were designed to address questions of synthetic precision...

Microstructure-driven formation of a chemically graded corrosion layer in PBF-LB/M fabricated dual-phase Mg–8Li–0.5Ca wt.% ultralight alloy

In this study, a dual-phase Mg-8Li-0.5Ca wt.% ultralight alloy was successfully fabricated using powder bed fusion - laser beam/metals (PBF-LB/M). The as-built microstructure consisted of α(Mg) enriched with microscale Mg-Ca precipitates and β(Li) containing nanosized needle-like...

Judd-Ofelt analysis of holmium-doped alumino-silicate optical glass prepared by MCVD combined with nanoparticle doping

We present a detailed Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis of Ho3+-doped alumino-silicate optical fiber preforms in a wide range of compositions and prepared by both standard solution doping method as well as the more advanced nanoparticle doping. The absorption spectra were measured, the ab...

Preprint of "Beyond Steady-State Limitations of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: Time-Resolved Decoupling of Transient Processes"

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful tool for separating individual processes in electrochemical systems. However, conventional EIS requires the system to remain stationary during measurement, thereby limiting its applicability to transient phenomena. In thi...

Preprint of "Beyond Steady-State Limitations of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: Time-Resolved Decoupling of Transient Processes"

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful tool for separating individual processes in electrochemical systems. However, conventional EIS requires the system to remain stationary during measurement, thereby limiting its applicability to transient phenomena. In thi...

Judd-Ofelt analysis of holmium-doped alumino-silicate optical glass prepared by MCVD combined with nanoparticle doping

We present a detailed Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis of Ho3+-doped alumino-silicate optical fiber preforms in a wide range of compositions and prepared by both standard solution doping method as well as the more advanced nanoparticle doping. The absorption spectra were measured, the ab...

Toward a minimal amino acid alphabet for protein design

A bstract Proteins are built from 20 canonical amino acids. It is interesting to explore whether proteins can be formed from significantly reduced amino acid alphabets. Our bioinformatics survey of UniProt (more than 250 M sequences) revealed that proteins composed of reduced ami...

Two-year smartphone motor monitoring in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder and Parkinson’s disease

Abstract We aimed to assess the sensitivity of key motor smartphone tasks to detect disease progression in subjects with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and early Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared to healthy controls. Twenty-six healthy controls, 22 pat...

Highly Efficient Exciton Modulation in MoSe2/PdSe2 Heterostructures

Abstract We report a pronounced ∼6-fold enhancement of room-temperature A-exciton emission in a type-I MoSe2/PdSe2 van der Waals heterostructure, yielding a photoluminescence quantum yield of 6%, as compared to ∼1% for as-exfoliated monolayer MoSe2. This unusual enhancement is ac...

Deep-Subwavelength and Broadband Quarter-Wave Retardation in Ultrathin Hyperbolic MoOCl2

Abstract The miniaturization of polarization-controlling optical components is one of the central pursuits in nanophotonics. While traditional anisotropic materials require large propagation lengths to achieve the desired phase shifts, metasurfaces mitigate this size constraint b...

Evaluation of inert gases as alternatives to Carbon Dioxide for stunning pigs: effects on gas stability, effectiveness and animal welfare

The European Union requires pigs to be stunned before slaughter, with Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) being the most common method, although it is increasingly criticized for its aversiveness. This study evaluated inert gases for stability, effectiveness, and animal welfare. Ten gas mixture...

Stacking‐Controlled Spontaneous Polarization in Zn–In–S Nanosheets for Efficient Piezo‐Photocatalytic H 2 O 2 Production Toward Uranium Recovery

ABSTRACT Efficient uranium recovery from wastewater is vital for nuclear fuel sustainability and environmental protection. However, conventional photocatalytic and adsorption approaches suffer from sluggish charge separation, limited active sites, and poor selectivity. Piezo‐phot...

Effect of rubber mastication and ageing on gel content, rheological properties and vulcanisation behavior of natural rubber

Natural rubber (NR) contains a soluble (sol) phase and an insoluble (gel) phase, the content of which affects processing and mechanical properties. This work describes the effect of mechanical and thermal ageing on the gel content and properties of natural rubber. The samples wer...

Preprint of "Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Long-Term Degradation of Electro-formed Iron for Biodegradable Implants"

General description: The preprint for a publication, "Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Long-Term Degradation of Electro-formed Iron for Biodegradable Implants", is being submitted for review. Abstract: Biodegradable iron is a promising material for temporary implants, b...

Hidden in the clay. Unveiling the tradition of handmade pottery in Roman Thrace through an integrated analytical approach

Abstract Handmade pottery is among the most enduring yet least understood ceramic traditions of Roman Thrace. Long regarded as a simple household craft and primarily interpreted as a marker of local “Thracian” identity, it has rarely been examined as a dynamic cultural practice....

Cannabinoids modulate inflammatory tone and attenuate inflammatory responses in human placental explants

Abstract Background With increasing cannabis use during pregnancy, understanding how cannabinoids affect placental immune function is fundamental. The placenta maintains a regulated immune environment through innate immune pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)–depend...

Preprint of "Cobalt Oxidation State Controls Ir–CoOₓ Catalysts for Acidic Oxygen Evolution: From Model Surfaces to PEM Water Electrolyzers"

Water electrolysis is a key technology for sustainable hydrogen production, yet its efficiency in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers is limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the high cost of iridium-based catalysts. Combining Ir with Co and its oxi...