Physchem.cz

Within the dissertation project, we will develop novel stimuli-responsive polymers for coating porous inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., zeolites) for catalytic and biomedical applications. In particular, the nanoparticles will be used to stabilize Pickering emulsions in Pickering interfacial catalysis. By application of stimuli (light, change of pH), the responsive polymer coating will change the accessibility of pores and thus can regulate the catalytic activity or drug encapsulation/release. Finally, Pickering emulsions stabilized by zeolites coated with stimuli-responsive polymers will facilitate triggerable de-emulsification, enabling us to readily break emulsions, isolate products, and recover catalysts through external stimuli (by hydrophilicity switching). The thesis will be elaborated under the supervision of Dr. Ondrej Sedlacek at the Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, which provides all the instrumentation necessary for the successful completion of the project tasks.