PROJECT BG05M2OP001-1.001-0008 | NATIONAL CENTER OF MECHATRONICS AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Manager: Prof. Dr. Violeta Koleva

(Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry- BAS)

e-mail: vkoleva@svr.igic.bas.bg

tel:+359 2 979 35 66

The Laboratory conducts research on the synthesis of inorganic materials for clean technologies as materials for: energy storage; optics; environmental protection; with biomedical orientation, etc. Potential partners and clients of the Laboratory can be found among the research teams in the country and abroad with similar scientific interests, as well as producers of inorganic materials.

ACTIVITIES

  • Preparation of various inorganic materials having different compositions and structures with given functional properties;
  • Development of innovative methods for synthesis of a new generation of inorganic materials, combining efficiency, low cost, harmlessness and safety;
  • Low-temperature synthses at atmospheric and high pressure as well as in vacuum;
  • High-temperature syntheses; Solid state synthesis of inorganic materials, calcinations, annealing, sintering and melting of powders;
  • Study on synthesis-structure-properties relationships in order to design new materials with desirable properties;
  • Development and optimization of analytical procedures for element determination in samples with different matrices by means of Total reflection X- ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF).

SERVICES

  • Use of the available synthesis equipment for the preparation of materials according to a certain methodology;
  • Effective dispersing and homogenisation of highly viscous reaction mixtures (up to 5 000 mPas);
  • Solid state syntheses as well as annealing/sintering of materials in the temperature range between 20 and 1300oС in controlled atmosphere (nitrogen, argon, oxygen, air);
  • Multi-element analysis of liquid samples or slurries for elements with atomic number above 20 (macro, micro and trace elements at ppm level).

EQUIPMENT

Laboratory high pressure reactor

with maximum operating temperature 230°С (for PTFE reactor vessels) and a pressure up to 200 bar.

The reactor uses different reactor vessels with volumes between 75 and 200 ml. It is equipped with a connection for liquid sampling at operating pressure.

Laboratory reactor system

The system involves the following modules:

  • Two laboratory reactors for the synthesis in the temperature interval between 5 and 120°С, with precise control of temperature, рН value and rate of stirring;
  • Vacuum pump for the synthesis under vacuum;
  • Temperature-stable circulating chiller for cooling applications up to – 20°C;
  • Disperser with different dispersing shafts for stirring, dispersion and homogenization, particularly of highly viscous reaction mixtures.

All modules can work both independently and in a system. The equipment has manual and software control and recording of the synthesis parameters.

High temperature muffle furnace up to 1400 °С

It is used for solid state syntheses as well as for annealing/sintering of different materials. These processes can be performed in controlled atmosphere (nitrogen, argon, oxygen, air).

Tube furnaces

  • Tube furnace up to 1300 °С, equipped for work in vacuum and controlled atmosphere;

 Tube furnace up to 1200 °С, equipped for work in controlled atmosphere.

They are used for solid state syntheses as well as for annealing/sintering of different materials.

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (TXRF)

By means of this instrumentation multi-element analysis of liquid samples or slurries is performed. It is suitable for elements with atomic number above 20 in a broad concentration range (macro, micro and trace elements at ppm level). Simple calibration with internal standard is possible. The spectrometer could be used for analysis of samples of different origin – waters, soils, ashes, solutions, graphite powders, biological liquids etc.

NEWS