20th Blue Danube Symposium on Heterocycles in Chemistry

The INTERMAT project, launched by CATRIN researchers in collaboration with commercial partners, aims to enhance the efficiency of crop cultivation in greenhouses and hydroponic systems, improve plant resilience, and boost the competitiveness of companies in the region. Supported by 63.7 million Czech koruna from the Johannes Amos Comenius Operational Programme under the Intersectoral Cooperation for ITI call, researchers will, over the next four years, focus on developing and testing new nanomaterials for plant monitoring and eco-friendly growth regulators.“In the past, Palacký University’s research centres have achieved numerous results with significant real-world application potential. This is why we have partnered with two innovative companies in the region to collaborate on designing new processes and materials, aiming to translate new technologies into practice. These technologies will enable intensive and efficient crop cultivation in greenhouses and hydroponic systems,” said Ivo Frébort, the project’s principal investigator from CATRIN.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_INTERMAT_podpori_efektivni_pestovani_plodin_d30f03a102.jpg" alt="CATRIN: INTERMAT to support efficient crop cultivation" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_INTERMAT_podpori_efektivni_pestovani_plodin_d30f03a102.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="734"> In addition to CATRIN, the project includes UP’s Faculty of Science, along with AGRO Haná and Geschur Medical as application partners. Together, they will build on previous research, particularly in materials science and the development of graphene-based materials pioneered by scientists at Palacký University.The project aims to enhance regional competitiveness, particularly in innovative plant production, biotechnology and biomedicine—key areas of application and innovation at both the regional and national levels. Among the anticipated benefits is a reduction in lighting costs for greenhouse farms while maintaining plant productivity. The project will also leverage one of CATRIN’s inventions—environmentally safe luminescent solar concentrators for harvesting sunlight.“As part of the project, we will develop innovative materials for cleaning, recycling and monitoring nutrient solutions used in hydroponic plant cultivation. Additionally, we will introduce new materials for monitoring the physiological state of hydroponically grown plants through biosensing, enabling early detection of potential pathogens,” explained Nuria De Diego from CATRIN.To reduce the use of chemicals in field cultivation, researchers will develop growth regulators designed for the gradual release of active substances. Another research team will focus on technical cannabis, working to increase its resistance to stress conditions with the help of new biostimulants. Additionally, to improve the economic viability of medical cannabis cultivation, experts will propose &nbsp; a method for evaluating bio-waste through the additional extraction of bioactive compounds.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_INTERMAT_podpori_efektivni_pestovani_plodin_2_29fdd0fb78.jpeg" alt="CATRIN: INTERMAT to support efficient crop cultivation" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_INTERMAT_podpori_efektivni_pestovani_plodin_2_29fdd0fb78.jpeg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1200">The INTERMAT project (Interdisciplinary Approaches for the Development and Application of New Materials in Industrial, Agricultural and Medical Fields) will run until the end of 2028.

INTERMAT to support efficient crop cultivation

Gold–silver synergism in luminescent nanoclusters has been widely studied, typically by altering Au:Ag ratios. Here, we systematically investigated the effect of maturing conditions while keeping the ratio constant (5:1). Reference systems of gold nanoclusters and proteins were also examined.Maturing conditions significantly influenced fluorescence and synergism, with the strongest effect observed at 37 °C for 2.5 h. Luminescence stability was further tested in the presence of Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions, which caused varying extents of quenching. These findings reveal maturing as a key factor controlling Au–Ag synergism and nanocluster luminescence.<blockquote><h4>The original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385">Maturing conditions of bimetallic nanocomposites as a new factor influencing Au–Ag synergism and impact of Cu(II) and/or Fe(III) on luminescence</a></h4>Veronika Svačinová, Tomáš Pluháček, Martin Petr and Karolina SiskovaR. Soc. Open Sci.12: 241385<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241385">https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241385</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote>Selected sections from the article follow. Formats and hyperlinks were adapted from the original.In the present work, we show that besides varying the Au : Ag ratio in the reaction mixture (as known from the literature), there is another possibility for tuning Au–Ag synergism while keeping the same molar ratio of Au : Ag in the reaction mixture. We introduce a new parameter and call it maturing conditions. The maturing conditions of GSNCs involved either time variations (0 h, 1.25 h, 2.5 h) at room temperature or elevated temperatures (37°C, 50°C) kept for 2.5 h. Indeed, we discovered that the time of sample maturing at room temperature (i.e. the delay between the sample synthesis and its purification by dialysis), possessing otherwise the same composition (i.e. reactant concentrations, their same molar ratios), being mixed exactly in the same way and under the same conditions, has a tremendous impact on their final luminescent features. When we compared our GSNCs to the identically synthesized and matured AuNCs entrapped in BSA and determined their FQY (which is more accurate than the direct comparison of fluorescence emission intensity, especially when the fluorescence maximum shifts and the width of fluorescence band changes), it turned out that the Au–Ag synergism can be achieved in specific cases exclusively.Furthermore, inspired by the biological origin and function of the used protein, we have also investigated the influence of physiological (37°C) versus elevated temperature (50°C) in the direct comparison to room temperature maturing in the process of prolonged sample maturing (2.5 h). While GSNCs matured at 37°C for 2.5 h provided the best Au–Ag synergism, elevated temperature during sample maturing (50°C) led rather to changes of the protein secondary structure (determined by circular dichroism) and virtually no Au–Ag synergistic effect was observed. The results reveal that Au–Ag synergism can be finely tuned by setting appropriate maturing conditions of bimetallic nanoclusters embedded in the protein scaffold. Maturing conditions thus represent a new factor in the viewpoint of Au–Ag synergism.For the most prominent GSNCs, revealing the best synergism, it is demonstrated that the fluorescence of GSNCs can be quenched more efficiently by an excess of Cu(II) rather than Fe(III) ions. The exact mechanism is currently unknown, but a plausible reason is suggested by us and further investigations are envisaged. Since both selected metal ions are crucial in various cellular metabolic pathways and their impaired metabolism related to several neurodegenerative diseases and/or cancer [<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#B27">27</a>], their impact on GSNC represents an important issue.<h4>2. Results and discussion</h4><h5>2.2. Characterization of the samples and evaluation of Au–Ag synergism</h5><h5>2.2.1. Metallic part characterization (by ICP-MS, XPS, UV–visible absorption)</h5>Theoretical and experimental concentrations (in mg ml−1) of Au and Ag in each metallic sample (GSNC and AuNC types) are summarized in electronic supplementary material, table SI-1; while the molar ratio of Au : Ag (theoretical and experimental) for bimetallic GSNC samples is calculated in electronic supplementary material, table SI-2. It should be noted that the experimental values of Au and Ag concentrations were accurately determined by ICP-MS. Interestingly, the experimental values of Au contents slightly increased from 368 ± 4 to 381 ± 6 µg ml−1 with prolonged time of maturing applied at room temperature (electronic supplementary material, table SI-1). It thus corroborated the assumption that prolonged time may have an effect on metallic ion incorporation into the protein scaffold. Obviously, it is valid only for Au(III), while not for Ag(I) because the experimental content of Ag is around 40 ± 3 µg ml−1 in all types of GSNC samples (electronic supplementary material, table SI-1). Differences in Ag incorporation between individual GSNC samples are only negligible; they lie within the experimental error. The GSNC samples matured at elevated temperature (50°C) for prolonged time (2.5 h) did not cause any significant increase of Au content in comparison to the samples matured at room temperature for the same period (electronic supplementary material, table SI-1). On the other hand, usage of the physiological temperature of maturing led to Au(III) content slight decreasing (but within 8%). Based on the experimental concentration values of both metals, Au and Ag, the percentage yield of each metal within a particular metallic (GSNCs as well as AuNCs) sample can be calculated, the values being listed in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#T1">table 1</a>.To determine oxidation states of Au and Ag within our metallic samples, XPS measurement has been employed. The XPS signals of GSNC samples are shown in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#F2">figure 2</a>, while those of AuNC samples in electronic supplementary material, figure SI-1.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/R_Soc_Open_Sci_12_241385_Figure_2_XPS_signals_in_Au_and_Ag_characteristic_regions_recorded_for_our_representative_metallic_samples_48f172bbe5.jpg" alt="R. Soc. Open Sci. 12: 241385: Figure 2. XPS signals in Au and Ag characteristic regions recorded for our representative metallic samples: (A) Au 4f region of GSNC 0 h RT, (B) Ag 3d region of GSNC 0 h RT, (C) Au 4f region of GSNC 1.25 h RT, (D) Ag 3d region of GSNC 1.25 h RT, (E) Au 4f region of GSNC 2.5 h RT, (F) Au 4f region of GSNC 2.5 h 37°C, (G) Ag 3d region of GSNC 37°C, and (H) Au 4f region of GSNC 2.5 h 50°C." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_R_Soc_Open_Sci_12_241385_Figure_2_XPS_signals_in_Au_and_Ag_characteristic_regions_recorded_for_our_representative_metallic_samples_48f172bbe5.jpg 86w," sizes="100vw" width="825" height="1500"><h5>2.2.3. Luminescent properties of gold–silver nanoclusters and extent of Au–Ag synergism</h5>Fluorescence emission was measured using the same excitation wavelength (460 nm) to investigate luminescent properties of GSNC samples generated under different maturing conditions. Normalized spectra are depicted in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#F4">figure 4</a>.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/R_Soc_Open_Sci_12_241385_Figure_4_Fluorescence_emission_of_GSNC_samples_matured_under_different_conditions_d39d57b30c.jpg" alt="R. Soc. Open Sci. 12: 241385: Figure 4. Fluorescence emission of GSNC samples matured under different conditions: 0 h RT (green curve), 1.25 h RT (black curve), 2.5 h RT (brown curve), 2.5 h 37°C (blue curve) and 2.5 h 50°C (red curve). Excitation was at 460 nm in all five cases. Normalized spectra are shown for the sake of a clear presentation of intensity maximum shifts and emission band broadening." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_R_Soc_Open_Sci_12_241385_Figure_4_Fluorescence_emission_of_GSNC_samples_matured_under_different_conditions_d39d57b30c.jpg 189w," sizes="100vw" width="1000" height="827">The position of emission maximum of GSNC 0 h RT sample is located at 615 nm (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#F4">figure 4</a>). This corresponds very well to the position of fluorescence emission maxima reported for Au : Ag systems (also 5 : 1 ratio) prepared by Zhang et al., albeit they exploited peptide (GSH) as the template for nanocluster synthesis [<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#B6">6</a>]. While prolonging the maturing time, the emission maximum red-shifts to 625 nm and further to 640 nm (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#F4">figure 4</a>) as obvious for GSNC 1.25 h RT and GSNC 2.5 h RT, respectively. While increasing the maturing temperature, the emission maximum continues to red-shift to 685 nm (GSNC 2.5 h 50°C). Similarly, the emission maxima of our monometallic AuNC samples red-shifted gradually either by 5 nm (going from samples matured at room temperature for 0 h (655 nm) to that matured for 2.5 h at 37°C (670 nm)), or by 10 nm (for the AuNCs matured at 50°C for 2.5 h) as can be clearly seen in electronic supplementary material, figure SI-4.<h4>3. Conclusions</h4>In this work, maturing conditions representing a new factor that can help to adjust Au–Ag synergism are introduced and investigated. Maturing is defined here as the procedure between the synthesis (finished by MW irradiation) and the dialysis (that stops the nanostructure evolution). It is well documented that this factor has been overlooked, underestimated, not considered or investigated intentionally so far. Au–Ag synergism is evaluated as the ratio of FQY values of GSNCs versus AuNCs. Bimetallic (GSNCs) and monometallic (AuNCs) nanocomposites were synthesized using MW irradiation and exploiting protein as a template to restrict the growth, so that luminescent nanoclusters and not plasmonic particles are formed. The protein treated in the same way (during the synthesis and maturing procedure) as the metallic nanocomposites served as a referent system. The selected variations of maturing conditions included either time (0 h, 1.25 h, 2.5 h) or temperature (room temperature, 37°C, 50°C). It was revealed that maturing time plays a significant role leading to an increase of Au–Ag synergistic effect. Based on the increasing Au–Ag synergism, the GSNC samples can be arranged as follows: 0 h RT &lt; 1.25 h RT &lt; 2.5 h 50°C &lt; 2.5 h RT &lt; 2.5 h 37°C. Regarding nanocluster size increase and PSD broadening, both evidenced by STEM (for metallic parts only) and DLS (hydrodynamic diameter of the whole nanocomposite in aqueous solution), the nanocomposites can be arranged into the order: 0 h RT &lt; 2.5 h RT &lt; 2.5 h 50°C. This order does not correlate with the observed increase of Au–Ag synergistic effect. In fact, a temperature of 50°C held for 2.5 h influences the secondary structure of the protein matrix significantly. Therefore, besides the increasing nanocluster size and PSD broadening during GSNC maturing, other factors, such as changes of the protein secondary structure for instance, play a key role in Au–Ag synergism as well. The results thus imply that maturing conditions of GSNC samples represent a very important factor leading to a further fine tuning of their luminescent properties, hypothetically by the different structural arrangement of atoms within Au–Ag nanoclusters. The stability of the GSNC luminescent signal was further investigated in the presence of Cu(II) and/or Fe(III) because these two selected metal cations are relevant cofactors in living systems. The observed differences in the extent of luminescence quenching caused by Cu(II) and/or Fe(III) in the concentration range of 0−20 mM were discussed and a plausible reason for such a phenomenon was suggested.<h4>4. Methods</h4><h5>4.4. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry</h5>Before ICP-MS analysis, 500 µl GSNC aliquots were dried in a vacuum rotary evaporator to dryness. The total silver and gold levels were accurately determined using a validated ICP-MS method [<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241385#B47">47</a>]. Briefly, the dried aliquots were digested using a digestion mixture of 2 ml of concentrated nitric acid and 2 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid in an MLS 1200 mega closed vessel microwave digestion unit (Milestone, Italy) according to the power-controlled digestion programme. The digests were allowed to cool down to laboratory temperature and diluted with ultrapure water in 25 ml volumetric flasks. The total silver and gold levels were acquired by an Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=7700x+ICP-MS">7700x ICP-MS</a> (Agilent Technologies Ltd, Japan) using seven-point external calibration within a concentration of 10–2000 µg l−1 for Ag and 100–10 000 µg l−1 for Au. The quality control sample at a concentration level of 500 µg l−1 for Ag and 5000 µg l−1 for Au was regularly analysed every ten samples to ensure the quality of the acquired results. All ICP-MS measurements were performed in six replicates, and the results are expressed as an average ± s.d.<h5>4.7. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy</h5>The XPS measurements of most samples were carried out with a PHI 5000 VersaProbe II XPS system (Physical Electronics) with a monochromatic Al-Kα source (15 kV, 50 W) and a photon energy of 1486.7 eV. All the spectra were measured in a vacuum of 1.1 × 10–7 Pa and at a room temperature of 20°C. Dual beam charge compensation was used for all measurements. The spectra were evaluated with MultiPak software, version 9 (Ulvac-PHI, Inc., Chanhassen, MN, USA).The sample labelled as GSNC 0 min RT was analysed with a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2166">Nexsa G2 XPS system </a>(Thermo Fisher Scientific) also equipped with a monochromatic Al-Kα source and photon energy of 1486.7 eV. The spectral acquisition was maintained at 1.6 × 10–9 mBar, and at a controlled ambient temperature of 20°C. Charge neutralization techniques were systematically employed throughout the measurement. Spectral analysis and data interpretation were conducted using Avantage software version 6.5.1 provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Maturing conditions of bimetallic nanocomposites as a new factor influencing Au–Ag synergism and impact of Cu(II) and/or Fe(III) on luminescence

Cutting-edge science can be done even with ordinary potato starch. This is the conclusion reached by physicists from the Brno University of Technology and Palacký University in Olomouc, who studied the optical properties of potato starch grains. They discovered that, thanks to their unique structure, starch granules function as micro-lenses that can simultaneously focus an optical beam, change its polarization, and spin it into a vortex of light. From a physical point of view, starch performs spin-orbit conversion of light, which until now has only been possible with advanced nanotechnologies. The discovered mechanism expands the possibilities for controlling light and can be used for next-generation sensors, information transmission, and quantum computers.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_2_bb59d24bea.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/Václav Široký: Potato starch surpasses even nanomaterials in its optical properties: Physicist Petr Bouchal in the lab." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_2_bb59d24bea.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1067">"Our interest in starch was sparked by commonly available images from a polarizing microscope, in which the shapes of individual grains resemble the Maltese cross. It has long been known that these patterns are created by the special internal arrangement of starch grains. However, we focused on the full optical response of these grains and suspected that it might be related to the original way in which the polarization rotation of the electric field changes into the vortex motion of electromagnetic energy. In optical terminology, this interaction represents a change in the spin of light to its orbital angular momentum and is currently widely studied and used in classical and quantum physics,"&nbsp;recalls Petr Bouchal, a physicist at BUT who initiated the research."The path to confirming our ideas was not easy. To fully understand the effects, it was necessary to perform an optical description of the internal structure of the starch grain. This consists of approximately spherical shells, similar to those found in onions, for example, but containing regularly arranged and radially oriented lamellae. The grain affects light in a special way. It changes the optical path of light in a similar way to a normal lens, but it also shapes it thanks to effects related to the change in the polarization state of light caused by lamellae pointing towards the center of the grain. It was extremely difficult to experimentally prove the interaction of both simultaneously occurring effects," adds Bouchal, who, together with Radim Chmelík, is behind the designs of special, previously patented microscopes used in the measurements.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_3_ee65bf9cc6.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/Václav Široký: Potato starch surpasses even nanomaterials in its optical properties: Physicist Petr Viewegh in the lab at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering BUT." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_3_ee65bf9cc6.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1067">"A good understanding of the interaction of light with starch grains and its reliable description proved the possibility of determining the polarization state of light incident on the grain directly from the focal trace captured by a conventional detector. We experimentally verified this simple yet reliable method of polarization measurement and even attempted to construct an original sensor that simultaneously measures the shape of the wavefront and the polarization state of light, which varies at different points on the wavefront. Although the shape heterogeneity of natural starch grains made it impossible to carry out the experiments to the originally intended extent, the functional principle of the sensor was clearly demonstrated," adds physicist Petr Viewegh, who participated in these experiments together with his colleague Petr Liška."The simultaneous measurement of wavefronts and spatially variable polarization of light is important for practical applications and presents a challenge for further research. Routine measurement would require the creation of an extensive matrix of grains with nearly identical parameters, which is not possible with natural starch. However, a viable approach is to create an artificial structure that more perfectly mimics the optical response of starch grains,"&nbsp;believes Viewegh, who deals with&nbsp;the preparation of such materials.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_4_1cb5776147.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/Václav Široký: Potato starch surpasses even nanomaterials in its optical properties: Research into potato starch optical properties." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Bramborovy_skrob_svymi_optickymi_vlastnostmi_predci_i_nanomaterialy_4_1cb5776147.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1067">Zdeněk Bouchal from Palacký University in Olomouc joined the research team of scientists from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and CEITEC at Brno University of Technology, consisting of Petr Bouchal, Petr Viewegh, Petr Liška, and Radim Chmelík. He created the theoretical framework for the experiments and performed the necessary calculations. The result of this collaboration is an article in the prestigious journal Advanced Optical Materials entitled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391962200_Spin-Orbit_Photonics_with_Potato_Starch_Lenses">Spin-Orbit Photonics with Potato Starch Lenses</a>.Research into natural starch grains shows how perfect the tools and structures available to nature are. "The ingenious optical effects revealed by our research are not limited to the starch under investigation, but are inherent in a wide range of structures known as spherulites. The spin-orbit effects, which we have explored theoretically and verified experimentally step by step, hold promise for the design of new optical components, sensors, and photonic chips, and open the way for applications in materials diagnostics and optical communications,"&nbsp;concludes Bouchal.<blockquote><h4>Expert</h4><div><div>Petr Bouchal, Ph.D. R3: Established Researcher <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/petr-bouchal-ph-d/u89523">Personal Profile&nbsp;</a></div></div></blockquote>

 Potato starch surpasses even nanomaterials in its optical properties 

Dangerous bacteria and toxic heavy metals can be removed from water by using a filtration membrane developed by scientists from the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University Olomouc and the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. It also eliminates combined pollution, which poses a serious environmental and health threat, in a single step, without the need for energy sources or chemicals commonly used for water disinfection. The membranes are easily renewable, making this technology a breakthrough solution for affordable and safe drinking water anywhere in the world.The scientists aimed to use commonly available and inexpensive filter membranes, onto which they applied the Nobel Prize-winning carbon material graphene with chemical traps for heavy metals and bacteria. In developing the technology, they were inspired by a process they recently used in the development of atomic antibiotics. They presented the new technology to the scientific world in the prestigious <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451929425003766?via%3Dihub">Chem</a> journal.“We have used graphene modified with carboxyl groups, which effectively capture heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. In the next layer of the membrane, we used a similar graphene material with manganese ions. These ions have a strong chemical bond with bacteria, which we have already proven in our research on atomic antibiotics,” said Radek Zbořil, author of the concept, who works at both CATRIN as well as CEET research centre.Filtration membranes developed by Czech scientists can also function on a semi-industrial scale, which allows them to be used in practice. “The technology achieves filtration efficiency of over 99.999 percent against a wide range of microorganisms in distilled, tap, and river water. In addition, the membranes have a high capacity for capturing heavy metals, thus meeting strict legislative limits. The entire process is very simple, which allows it to be used even in areas without access to electricity. The technology is inexpensive to maintain because the membranes can be easily and effectively regenerated for re-use,” explained David Panáček, the study’s first author, who now works at the Imperial College London.Thanks to its simple design and affordable materials, the new technology appears to be a cheap alternative to traditional water treatment methods, which are complex and demanding in terms of energy consumption. Moreover, this approach represents a completely new concept in water filtration and disinfection. Current technologies, such as ultrafiltration or nanofiltration, rely on small pores in membranes to capture bacteria, but they are very expensive.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Revoluce_v_cisteni_vody_Membrana_odstrani_nebezpecne_bakterie_i_tezke_kovy_4015e8a773.jpg" alt="CATRIN: Revolution in water purification: Membrane removes dangerous bacteria and heavy metals" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Revoluce_v_cisteni_vody_Membrana_odstrani_nebezpecne_bakterie_i_tezke_kovy_4015e8a773.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="683">“Our technology does not address pore size, but rather relies on the chemical properties of manganese ions, which bind strongly to bacteria. This technology allows us to effectively remove even problematic strains, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known for its ability to form biofilms in pipes and filters. This has enormous potential for improving water disinfection in hospitals or food processing plants,” added Milan Kolář from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Palacký University, who participated in the research.Heavy metals enter surface waters from industrial production or mining, while bacteria often originate from inadequately treated wastewater, agricultural activities, and rainwater runoffs. Traditional methods for removing these contaminants are technologically demanding and financially costly. Chemical processes such as ozonation or chlorination are used to remove bacteria, while heavy metals are removed using multi-stage methods such as precipitation, flocculation, coagulation, and others.“Combining these demanding processes is very difficult, both technologically and economically. In developing countries, where there is a lack of funding and adequate infrastructure, combined pollution from heavy metals and bacteria is one of the biggest problems in terms of access to clean water. The aim of the research was to simplify the complex process of water treatment and develop inexpensive technology that can remove both types of pollution in a single step, which we have succeeded in doing,” added Zbořil.The technology could be used, for example, in wastewater treatment in industrial areas, securing drinking water in developing countries, or providing quick and effective solutions in crisis situations such as armed conflicts or natural disasters, where access to electricity is limited.

 Revolution in water purification: Membrane removes dangerous bacteria and heavy metals

An international team of scientists, including experts from CATRIN at Palacký University, has developed a new type of plasmonic photocatalyst capable of converting biomass into key raw materials for bioplastic production with high efficiency and selectivity using solar energy. The research results, which represent a significant step towards more sustainable chemical manufacturing, have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Catalysis.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_A_new_generation_of_solar_catalyst_converts_biomass_into_raw_materials_for_bioplastics_e4dc54875b.jpg" alt="CATRIN: A new generation of solar catalyst converts biomass into raw materials for bioplastics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_A_new_generation_of_solar_catalyst_converts_biomass_into_raw_materials_for_bioplastics_e4dc54875b.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="1280" height="1280">Biomass—organic material of plant or animal origin—is among the most promising renewable resources for the production of high value-added chemicals and materials. The research focused on the molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is derived from sugars contained in plant biomass and is regarded as one of the key intermediates in modern biorefineries. Through controlled oxidation, HMF can be converted into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a compound that serves as a fundamental building block for biopolymers, such as PEF plastic, an environmentally friendly alternative to the widely used PET.However, current industrial methods for producing this compound are technologically demanding. They often require strongly alkaline conditions, elevated temperatures, or increased pressure. Despite this, they suffer from low selectivity, leading to the formation of unwanted by-products and higher energy consumption. As a result, contemporary research is seeking new approaches that would allow this chemical transformation to be driven by light energy under milder and more environmentally friendly conditions.The newly developed catalyst is based on a combination of nanostructured titanium nitride and extremely small nanoparticles of a ruthenium–platinum alloy. Titanium nitride acts as a material that very efficiently absorbs light, particularly its infrared component, converting it into energy-rich electrons and local heat. These effects subsequently promote the activation of molecular oxygen on the surface of the catalytically active nanoparticles, where the chemical reaction itself takes place.“The key aspect is that the individual components of the catalyst work together in perfect synergy. This allows us to control the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with great precision and achieve an almost complete conversion to the target product without the use of strong chemical additives or extreme reaction conditions. Compared with existing technologies, the process is significantly more selective, more energy-efficient, and produces substantially less waste,” said one of the corresponding authors of the study, Štěpán Kment from Palacký University.The authors emphasise that this approach enables oxygen activation in a fundamentally different way than conventional catalytic systems. As a result, the reaction can be carried out in an aqueous environment without the addition of alkaline agents, while avoiding non-selective reactions that would otherwise lead to material losses. The outcome is a highly efficient and precisely controlled process suitable for future applications.According to the researchers, this plasmonic catalytic platform represents a previously unexplored concept in the field of biomass conversion. “It opens up new opportunities for future biorefineries that could use solar energy and renewable feedstocks to produce plastics, solvents, and other chemical products with a significantly lower carbon footprint than current industrial technologies,” concluded Kment.The research involved scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University, the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, and the national supercomputing centre IT4Innovations at VSB–TUO, in collaboration with partners from China, Italy, and the United States.<blockquote><h4>The original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-025-01454-y?fbclid=IwY2xjawOwzklleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETBWZE9nUVBUR3ViTWs5ekptc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjMHx-lfljleJ5Hkgyj1B4u4IGXGChlp8YGVMWbdTjlmqC-beTiKrxofdB6H_aem_eS2PaVl3Ja6Hl0xfXYkHyw#Sec7">Near-infrared plasmonic activation of molecular oxygen for selective oxidation of biomass derivatives</a></h4>Manpreet Kaur, Sourav Rej, Jan Navrátil, Eva Yazmin Santiago, Michal Otyepka, Stefano Livraghi, Lorenzo Mino, Štěpán Kment, Zhikang Xu, Haibo Zhu, Paolo Fornasiero, Alexander O. Govorov, Piotr Błoński &amp; Alberto NaldoniNat Catal 8, 1370–1381 (2025)<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-025-01454-y">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-025-01454-y</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote>Selected sections from the article follow. Formats and hyperlinks were adapted from the original.<h4>Abstract</h4>Upgrading biomass feedstock into higher-value chemicals is central to improve the sustainability of the chemical industry and to reduce its dependence on fossil raw materials. Heterogeneous photocatalysts are promising for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a biomass-derived molecular platform for biopolymers, but their FDCA selectivity is negligible without the aid of a base. Here we present a plasmonic photocatalyst integrating TiN nanocubes and bimetallic RuPt nanoparticles that in base-free conditions exhibits complete HMF conversion and selective FDCA formation due to an unconventional mechanism of molecular oxygen activation. This unique reactivity is enhanced by both photothermal heating and hot electrons, whose contribution is confirmed by kinetic isotopic effect experiments. Density functional theory calculations support a scenario in which the activated nanoparticle–oxygen complex facilitates the rate-determining step and enables an improved FDCA selectivity. Our results demonstrate the potential of plasmonic photocatalysts in the catalytic transformation of biomass.

A new generation of solar catalyst converts biomass into raw materials for bioplastics

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