Former projects

The study of the role of rare earth metal promoters and ordering on the redox properties of CeO2 – ZrO2 system – SREMPOREPROCEZIS (project leader: prof. dr. sc. Igor. Đerđ); UKF (HRZZ)

Solid solutions of cerium(IV) oxide and zirconium oxide (Ceria-zirconia – CZ) are widely used in heterogeneous catalysis due to their remarkable property of releasing significant amounts of oxygen into the environment through the reduction of Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺ without losing their original structure. This is used, for example, in three-way catalysts (TWC) in the control of gas emissions in gasoline vehicles. This property affects on-board diagnostics (OBD) and ensures a long life of the catalytic converter. The main goal of this project is to investigate the mutual influences of the CZ phase, the active metal (Rh) from the platinum group metals, the promoter, and the rare earth cations such as La³⁺, Y³⁺, Pr^3+/4+ also the promoter, on the redox properties of Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺. In order to achieve such demanding goals, advanced characterization methods will be used to monitor the reduction and oxidation of Ce and Rh at reaction conditions in representative synthetic TWCs. The kinetics of structural changes monitored by different analytical methods will be compared with the global reaction rate in order to evaluate the significance of the process recorded by spectroscopic and diffraction methods. Theoretical modeling using DFT (Density functional theory – DFT) will be used to reveal the origin of oxygen mobility in CZ, the influence of rare-earth elements (RE) on oxygen mobility and the influence of Rh on the properties of the selected material. The research group will carry out a detailed structural characterization based on the principle of complementarity using advanced methods: X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, XAS analysis with refinement procedures, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and other available techniques suitable for the nature of this project. The influence of Rh and RE on the redox properties of Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ will be investigated using time-resolved in situ spectroscopic and diffraction methods that provide the opportunity to achieve a global understanding of structural changes associated with the presence of RE essential for oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and catalytic activity for NO reduction and CO oxidation. A total of HRK 2,198,510.65 was approved for the implementation of project activities.

Solution chemistry routes towards complex multiferroic materials– SOLFERROMAT (project leader: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ), HRZZ

The main goal of this project is to design three new types of functional multiferroic compounds:

1) organometallic compounds of the perovskite structure ABX₃ (A = amine-cation, B = transition metal, X = organic ligand)

2) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite structures ABX₄ (A = amine-cation, B = transition metal, X = halogen element)

3) complex double or single perovskites of the type A₂B(Te/W)O₆ or A₃B₂(Te/W)O₉ (A = light divalent metal, B = transition metal)

Z2GRADE – Development and Application of Advanced Construction Materials for Building Healthy Houses: Protection from Nonionizing Radiation (group leader at the Department: associate professor Berislav Marković); European commission

The Department of Chemistry is one of the partners in the Z2GRADE project. The Z2GRADE project will increase market-oriented research, development and innovation activities through the cooperation of scientific organizations through the research and development of advanced building materials that reduce the negative impact of EMR/non-ionizing radiation on health and ensure their application in the economy, especially in the field of construction of “healthy” buildings, which will ultimately contribute to reducing the impact of EMR/non-ionizing radiation on human health. The funding for this project was approved in December 2019 by the EU (Investment in Science and Innovation) in the total amount of 7,193,146.79 HRK, of which the Department of Chemistry was allocated 1,025,000.00 HRK.

Optimized synthesis and characterization of the CeO 2 based materials, promising catalysts for the oxidation of HCl (project leader: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ); MZOS-DAAD

The main goal of this project is the development and optimization of the synthetic route of new catalytically active materials for the conversion of HCl (Deacon’s process).

Scientific Center of Excellence for Personalized Health Care (Group leader at the Department: assistant professor Aleksandar Sečenji)

The Department of Chemistry is one of the research units of the Scientific Centre of Excellence (ZCI) – “Scientific Center of Excellence for Personalized Health Care” established at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, which is an interdisciplinary centre of excellence in the field of biotechnical and biomedical sciences. It is designed as an efficient way to transfer knowledge and competencies acquired in biotechnical sciences to basic and applied biomedical research in which the research groups are complementary. One example of synergistic activity between the scientific units of this ZCI is the possibility of analysing glycan biomarkers in evaluating the effects of the use of functional foods in healthy subjects and patients. Since this is an innovative and original approach to food, the work of this centre will increase the international scientific and economic competitiveness of our region, and thus of the entire Croatia. In September 2017, ZCI was approved for scientific research funding by the EU, through the CFCA and the Ministry of Health, in the total amount of 37,971,676.61 HRK, of which 4,195,176.57 HRK was allocated to the Department of Chemistry.

Preparation and characterization of novel porous inorganic and organic materials (project leader: associate professor Tomislav Balić); internal science project UNIOS-ZUP-2018-112

The main research interest of this project is the synthesis of inorganic and organic porous materials from the group of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and organic zeolites. Within the framework of this project, new shape-stable macrocyclic compounds and inorganic porous materials of the metal-organic framework (MOF) type will be synthesized, their molecular and crystal structure will be determined, and their adsorption properties will be investigated.

Research on complex metal oxides based on molybdenum (project leader: Jelena Bijelić); HAZU foundation donation 2019.

The main goal of the project is the optimization of the solution synthetic method for the stabilization of cations in the +3 state (Co, Mn) in the structures of triple perovskites A₃B’₂B”O₉ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba; B” = Te, Mo,W) in the purpose of obtaining materials with improved dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties.

The study of CeO2-based materials, promising catalysts for the HCl oxidation (project leader: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ); MZO-HUN

The main goal of the project is to develop stable CeO₂-based catalytic materials with high oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and large specific surface area for the purpose of studying catalytic properties.

Study of complex tungsten based perovskites with possible multiferoic ordering (project leader: associate professor Berislav Marković); MZOS-DAAD

The main goal of the project is the synthesis and characterization of complex tungstate perovskites and the study of magnetic properties.

The study of the effect of rare earth dopants on the redox properties of ceria-zirconia with application in CO and CH₄ oxidation (voditelj: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ); COGITO – Hrvatsko-francuski program Partnerstva Hubert Curien

The main goal of the project is the synthesis of materials based on CeO2 and doping with rare earth elements. The synthesized materials will be tested for catalytic properties.

The study of complex perovskite tungstates with potential multiferroic ordering CRO-SLO bilateral project (MZOS)

Materials in which magnetic and ferroelectric ordering are simultaneously present – ​​multiferroics – attract enormous attention of the research community due to their great potential for application in memory elements and data storage devices with the main goal of creating high recording densities in miniature devices. Multiferroics with magnetically induced ferroelectric ordering are particularly interesting because they exhibit a strong magnetoelectric effect required for electrical (magnetic) control of the electrical (magnetic) ordering parameter; a highly desirable parameter for technological applications. Therefore, the search for new multiferroics with ferroelectric ordering caused by magnetic ordering is a very attractive and propulsive area of ​​research. The vast majority of known multiferroic materials are structurally equivalent to perovskites. A possible candidate for multiferroics is the family of complex oxides based on tungsten that have structures similar to ilmenite and corundum. At the level of crystal chemistry, such materials have some additional advantages. First, the number of different crystallographic cation sites is greater than in perovskites, which increases the possibility of substitutions that would induce magnetic interactions. Furthermore, some of these compounds are known to exhibit incommensurate polar states that can favor coupling between magnetic and ferroelectric ordering. Perovskites containing Bi and Pb as large cations with their 6s2 electrons are good candidates for the preparation of perovskite-type magnetoelectrics. The ideal perovskite structure of composition ABO₃ is cubic, but it is difficult to obtain and usually an abundance of deformed structures is found. Considering the possible combinations of A and B cations, numerous new members of the A₂BWO₆ family can be expected, but only a few have been described in the literature, mostly without detailed structural characterization. A total of HRK 15,000.00 was approved for the implementation of project activities.

High entropy materials – synthesis, characterization and application (project leader: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ); MZOS-DAAD

The main goal of the project is the synthesis of high-entropy materials using solution chemistry methods (e.g. hydrothermal/solvothermal processes). The obtained materials will be characterized using various techniques such as: XRD, TEM, EELS, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Electrical, magnetic or catalytic properties will also be determined depending on the synthesized high-entropy material. A total of 6,000.00 EUR has been approved for the implementation of the project activities.

Regional Science Center of Pannonian Croatia

The project manager is Osijek-Baranja County. A total of EUR 2,372,705.12 has been approved for the implementation of project activities.

Project objectives:

The Regional Science Center of Pannonian Croatia project is aimed at establishing, organizing and operating the RZC for educational staff in the fields of STEM, ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship in the primary schools Josip Kozarac Josipovac Punitovački (main location), Josip Kozarac Slatina (branch) and Suhopolje (branch). The RZC Pannonian Croatia project is designed as a regional scientific center in which new learning models, teaching strategies, practical work in classes and other educational activities in the field of STEM, ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship will be developed with the aim of implementing specialized educational activities at the regional level, better achieving educational outcomes of STEM subject curricula and popularizing the STEM area through the modernization of infrastructure and procurement of equipment, and will contribute to a more balanced regional growth and development of Pannonian Croatia through its work. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of primary education institutions in OBC, VPC and gravitating areas with the aim of improving STEM skills of primary school teachers. The project envisages the establishment of a regional scientific center (RZC) with headquarters in OBC (Josipovac Punitovački) with a branch in VPC (Slatina and Suhopolje). Project activities to establish a system for strengthening STEM skills will be carried out in the RZC and the branch, which will be applicable throughout Pannonian Croatia, but also wider in the region after the project. The RZC PAN HR, which will be established, aims to attract schools from the gravitating area in order to provide the teaching staff, as well as students, with quality access to all the necessary content for work in the STEM field and capacity development.

Development of high entropy oxides as catalysts with enhanced properties for conversion of harmful compounds (project leader: Jelena Kojčinović, PhD); HEP

The rapid development of technology has led to the development of certain industries that are currently some of the biggest polluters of the ecosystem. The development of industry has also increased the amount of waste that is constantly discharged into water and air. The negative trend of environmental pollution has led to the search for ways to minimize such damage. For example: Cars develop toxic CO (carbon monoxide), which with the help of a catalyst is converted into less harmful CO₂ (carbon dioxide). The increased number of cars has led to the accumulation of CO₂ in the atmosphere and increased damage to the ozone layer, therefore, with the help of a catalyst, CO₂ molecules can be “recycled” into some other chemicals that can be reused in syntheses, industry, etc. On the other hand, the increase in industry has unfortunately also increased the discharge of harmful and toxic chemicals into seas, lakes and rivers, where in such cases a highly active catalyst is needed to decompose such chemicals. High-entropy oxides are one of the new chemical compounds, which, unlike ordinary metal oxides used for catalysis, have five or more cations, thus achieving a synergistic effect and extremely high catalytic activity. High-entropy catalysts will be synthesized and tested for catalytic activity, which would cover the entire area of ​​development of such catalysts: from synthesis to application.

Development of the STEM environment – RaSTEMo (Group leader at the Department: prof. dr. sc. Igor Đerđ); ESF

The Department of Chemistry is one of the partners in the RaSTEMo project, co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund, together with the Croatian Association of Entrepreneurs and Innovators (HUIP), the association Zajedno za zajednički 3Z (Dalj), the Municipality of Erdut and the Cultural and Scientific Center Milutin Milanković Dalj.

The aim of this project is to organize and implement activities to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations in cooperation with higher education institutions for the purpose of popularizing STEM. By encouraging the development of the STEM environment in the Osijek-Baranja County area through educating children and youth and members of the general population, using innovative teaching methods and the latest technologies, the number of activities in the STEM field will increase.

The total value of the project is 2,263,673.02 HRK (300,441.04 EUR), and the funds were used to purchase a 3D printer Raise 3D at the Department of Chemistry.