Education

Students acquire essential knowledge of principles and properties of basic digital circuits. Gain practical experience to design and construct digital electronic devices and programing selected microprocessors and simple robotic systems.

Extension and deepening of knowledge from selected parts of high school physics so that the student can use the acquired knowledge in solving physics problems and reach the required entry level required for the subject Physics for Chemistry in next term.

The student will gain knowledge in the field of preparation, structure, and properties of technical materials. In the introductory part of the course, they will get acquainted with amorphous/crystalline materials, with point defects in materials, dislocations and surface defects, their influence on mechanical properties. It will also focus on phase transformations in solid solutions, steels, and non-ferrous alloys, on heat treatment methods and its influence on mechanical properties. The student will get a comprehensive idea of material fatigue, of material creep. They will also learn basic information about structural ceramics and thin ceramic films and how to prepare them and their properties.

Basic construction of materials, defects in lattices, dislocation mechanisms. Deformation mechanisms, strengthening. Tensile test, Surface defects, Grain boundaries. Solid solutions, Phase transformations in solid solutions. Steels, and their alloying. Peritectic, monotectic, eutectic, eutectoid transformations. IRA, ARA diagrams, martensitic transformation. Precipitation, spinodal decomposition in Al alloys. Structural ceramics – oxides, carbides, borides, powder metallurgy, thin films, creep, fracture mechanics, material fatigue.

Graduates will develop skills necessary for creating technical documents such as drawings, technical tables, parts lists, and more. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the terminology of technical drawing, general principles of designing components and structures, and the creation of manufacturing drawings using AutoCAD software.

Normalization in Technical Drawing, Representation of Components – Techniques for Representation on Mechanical, Electrical, and Construction Drawings, Dimensioning, Sections, and Geometric Tolerances, Surface Roughness, Standardized Components, Manufacturing Drawings, AutoCAD Software – Basics of Drawing in CAD Systems.

Acquisition of skills in registration and data processing by computer, measurement of electrical and magnetic quantities. Physical interpretation and written / graphic presentation of processed results.

In the initial two or three exercises, joint acquisition of skills and measurement with analog and digital devices (oscilloscope, digital multimeter, A / D converter), processing of measured data by computer. This is followed by five to six separate laboratory works on electricity and magnetism selected from the offer: electrical properties of substances – electric bridges, Hall effect; electric field mapping; magnetic field mapping – air coils; electromagnetic induction – transformer; electrical RLC oscillations – transient RLC phenomenon, serial and parallel RLC circuit; magnetic properties of substances – hysteresis loops, permeability of substances, separation of magnetic losses; fuel cell; determination of the specific charge of an electron (e / m0).

The student will understand principles of electric and magnetic phenomena and the laws describing them. He/she will be able to calculate topology of electric and magnetic fields in rather simple situations, calculate properties of components based on application of electric and magnetic fields, including electric circuits. He/she will understand relationship between electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, and Maxwell’s equations.

Electric charge, electric field, Coulomb’s and Gauss’s laws, electric potential, Poisson’s and Laplace’s equation, electric fields around conductors, capacity. Dipole model of dielectrics, electric fields and Gauss’s law in dielectrics. Electric current, continuity equation, Kirchoff’s laws. Magnetic field, Biot-Savart law, Ampère’s law, displacement current, electromagnetic induction. Dipole model of magnetic materials, ferromagnetic materials, Ampère law in magnetic materials. Relativistic relation of electric and magnetic field. Maxwell’s equations.

Alkaline water electrolysis is generally considered as prospective technology for green hydrogen production. To promote extensive implementatzion of this technology in hydrogen economy, it is important to develop advanced cell configurations that perform high enough energy efficiency of conversion and enable interruptive operation. The use of renewable energy sources like wind turbines and photovoltaics as power sources for electrolysis process is prospective in terms of sustainable development and green fuel production technologies, but they cause alkaline electrolysers to suffer from hydrogen contamination and degradation of incorporated catalysts. The work is suitable for a student with interests in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

The research on surface modification of biomaterials plays a crucial role in improving their functionality for various applications. An example is surface modification aimed at enhancing cell adsorption, thereby accelerating the integration of the biomaterial into the body. Currently, techniques for modifying surface charge and potential, which lead to the regulation of wettability or adsorption through electrostatic interactions, are being intensively studied. The aim of this work is to explore one of these methods, specifically electron beam irradiation of the surface. The study of the effects of irradiation on surface properties will be conducted on a model biomaterial called hydroxyapatite. The research will utilize an innovative method involving a pendant drop in an electric field, which allows for non-destructive measurement of the charge trapped in the surface layer after irradiation.

Thesis is focused on investigation of VBx thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering. The aim is to prepare a series of samples with a different boron to vanadium ratio and study the effect of chemical composition and vacuum annealing on structure and mechanical properties of the films. A wide range of analytic techniques will be used to characterize the films‘ properties, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nanoindentation, and possibly transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Nanocomposite films are materials containing at least two phases with low mutual solubility, one of which can be nanocrystalline with a typical grain size of tens of nm and the other amorphous, possibly also nanocrystalline. Phase segregation usually occurs during film growth. The aim of the work is to become familiar with high-ionization physical vapor deposition for the preparation of nanocomposite thin films. The experimental part is focused on the deposition of hard TaC films using HiTUS technology and the investigation of their properties (chemical composition, structure, and mechanical properties) with a set of advanced analyzes and measurements. The student will develop a comprehensive understanding of progressive approaches to thin film formation, specifically how deposition parameters influence their growth. He will have the opportunity to familiarize himself with top-quality analyzes of selected properties, their physical principles, etc. We expect an honest approach to experiments, independence, and a desire to learn. 

The deposition of the films will take place at the Detached workplace of FMPI CU in Turany, and the analyzes will be carried out at workplaces in Bratislava.

Expansion and deepening of knowledge in the field of plasma generation at low and high pressures and its application in modern plasma technologies.

Specifics of plasma generation at low, medium and high pressures. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium plasma. Basic types of plasma sources and reactor configurations. Plasma generation at low pressure – capacitively and inductively excited rf discharge, ECR and helicon discharge; physical models for etching, deposition and plasma implantation. Plasma generation at atmospheric pressure – arc plasma torch, corona discharge, plasma-jet, plasma pen, microwave torch, dielectric barrier discharges, their various types and configurations. Applications: cleaning, surface activation and modification, layer deposition, etc.

To develop a contribution to the conference through mutual cooperation.

Theory: Capacitively excited rf discharge – homogeneous model (plasma admittance, boundary layer admittance, time change of potential in the boundary layer, electron temperature in plasma, plasma concentration, total dissipated power in rf discharge); calculation of DC bias; calculation of electronic parameters for the matching element. Experiment: Plasma modification of the selected material, measurement of electrical parameters of rf discharge, end-point detection using OES. Analysis of the modified surface using SEM, EDX, WDX, XPS and FTIR.
Output: Processing of measured data and their discussion, preparation of a poster and/or oral presentation.

By completing the course, students will gain an overview of selected electrical, magnetic and optical measurement methods used for characterization of properties of solids.

Conductivity and contact phenomena. DC methods of measuring resistance and conductivity – probe methods, Van der Pauw method. Arrhenius plot – determination of activation energies. Measurement of very small currents and voltages. Hall effect. AC measurements – phase sensitive signal detection, Lock-in, measurement of differential (dI(V)/dV) characteristics, tunneling spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy. AC susceptibility measurements. Kelvin probe measurements. Noises – intrinsic and extrinsic noises, capacitive and inductive coupling, shielding, grounding, noises in amplifiers. Measurement of lifetime, mobility and diffusion length of minority charge carriers by optical methods. Femtosecond spectroscopy – pump-probe measurement. Temperature measurement methods.

Expanding knowledge of the physical principles of analytical methods used for the diagnosis of liquid, gaseous and solid substances. Students will be able to choose the optimal analytical method for plasma-treated samples.

Analytical methods evaluating plasma-modified products; gaseous: IR spectroscopy, gas chromatography, gas chromatography + mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, chemiluminescence, liquid: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), liquid chromatography, absorption, transmission and scattering (UV, IR, Raman) spectrometry, solid: surface energy measurement, electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, EDX, WDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

Application and deepening of theoretical knowledge of plasma physics. Students will be able to use the acquired knowledge in the implementation of new plasma technologies in practice (microelectronics, surface treatment engineering, nanotechnology, biomedicine, environmental protection and new energy sources).

Basic mechanisms of plasma generation. Plasma-chemical reactions, homogeneous and heterogeneous. Technical plasma sources. Classification of plasma technologies. Surface treatment of solids, plasma deposition, plasma implantation. Plasma technologies in microelectronics, plasma-chemical and ion-reactive etching. Plasma technologies for sterilization and biomedical applications, biocompatibility of implants, antimicrobial surface treatment. Plasma technologies for environmental protection, removal of gaseous pollutants, solid particles, water purification. New energy sources, thermonuclear fusion, ITER.

By completing the course, students will gain knowledge about overall photovoltaics, solar cells of various types, their physical principles, design and production, the use of thermal solar energy and the possibilities of solar energy storage.

The student will learn the basics of characterization of material surfaces and thin films using IR / NIR / VIS / UV / soft- and hard X-ray.

In the first part, the student will gain knowledge in the field of phase transformations in technical materials. They will get acquainted with the formation of solid solutions, with nucleation and conditions of intergrain interfaces and their influence on the shape of crystals, with their temperature stability, with the influence of point defects on the structure of solid solutions. He will also gain knowledge about solidification of alloys, diffusion and non-diffusion transformations, shape memory and decomposition mechanisms, precipitation. In the second part, they will get acquainted with the conditions of deformation behavior of alloys, with the influence of dislocations and surface defects on the strengthening of materials. The student will understand the concept of nanostructured materials from the point of view of mechanical behavior and will also gain a comprehensive idea of fracture mechanics, material creep and material fatigue.

Point defects in lattices, solid solutions, nucleation, surface strains, Wulff shape. Phase transitions in solid solutions. Solidification, dendrites. Peritectic, monotectic, eutectic, eutectoid transformations. TTT diagrams, martensitic transformation. Intermediate phases. Steels, alloying. Precipitation, spinodal decomposition in alloys, phase segregation. Dislocation mechanisms. Deformation mechanisms, strengthening. Tensile test. Stacking faults, Grain boundaries. Fracture mechanics, creep, material fatigue.

Structure and mechanical properties of solids (2-FTL-107/15)

Persistent current in mesoscopic conducting ring with normal electrons. Electron conductance of weakly-disordered conductor: Lorentz-Drude conductance as a semiclassical limit of quantum transport, quantum transport corrections – Altshuler-Aronov effect and weak localization. Tunneling spectroscopy of weakly disordered conductor – Altshuler-Aronov pseudogap. Single- electron tunneling and Coulomb blockade. Two-dimensional relativistic physics of graphene and boron nitride: tight-binding calculation of electron spectrum, effective description by two-dimensional Dirac equation – relativistic massless and massive fermions, analogy with Diracequation in three dimensions. Electron transport in graphene, relativistic quantum Hall effect.

After completing the course the student will gain basic theoretical knowledge on the electrical and optical properties of semiconductors and semiconductor devices.

The student will first get acquainted with the technical possibilities of achieving vacuum, its measurement and control of working gases. He will gain a comprehensive knowledge of physical methods of preparation of thin films (evaporation, sputtering, arc evaporation, pulsed laser deposition), where he will be explained in detail the physical aspects of the processes. The student will gain information about the growth of thin films, the influence of deposition parameters on the structure and properties of films. In the last part he will be introduced to the possibilities of creating functional structures in films using ion treatment and lithographic methods.

vacuum pumps, scales and flow controllers, Langmuir probe, mass spectroscopy, evaporation, DC and RF sputtering, magnetron, glow discharge, plasma parameters, high energy pulses (HiPPMS), pulsed laser deposition, laser optics, ablation mechanism, arc evaporation, cathode macroparticle filtering, thin film growth, surface energy, thermodynamic nucleation model, zonal models, texture, epitaxy, focused ion beam, nanotubes, electron lithography, optical lithography

By completing the course, students will gain an overview of selected analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic methods used for studies of solids in terms their structure, composition, surface topography and other properties.

Transition metal monoborides can exist in two orthorhombic crystal structures, B27 (space group Pnma) and Bf (space group Cmcm). There is an intriguing relationship between the two structures: If a layer defect occurs in B27, its immediate surroundings have the same arrangement as in Bf. In Bf, the lattices are similarly oriented to B27 near a layer defect, with (100)B27||(110)Bf and [010]B27||[001]Bf. This creates the conditions for the formation of lamellar layering and the potential improvement of the mechanical properties of the material [1, 2]. In this work, we will focus on the preparation of selected monoboride layers using physical deposition techniques. We will study the influence of deposition parameters as well as post-deposition annealing on the formation of the layer structure and their mechanical properties.

The transition metals boride family offers a lot of stoichiometric modifications (TMB, TMB2, TMB6, TMB14, etc.) with different crystalline structures and excellent physical properties. From the point of view of mechanical properties, TM diborides belonging to ultra-high temperature ceramics seem to be the most interesting. The research of diboride films has been for many years mainly focused on the preparation of binary systems crystallizing in a hexagonal α-AlB2 type structure. Current research is focused on improvement of mechanical properties and temperature and oxidation stability of binary diborides via their alloying and forming of multicomponent systems. Alling et al. [1] in the theoretical paper, calculated 45 ternary TM diborides with α-AlB2 type of structure, and based on volume misfits, and different bulk moduli of binary constituents identified potential candidates on materials in which age hardening through spinodal decomposition occurs. In addition to alloying, a new technological approach of films deposition using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) is emerging which affects the stoichiometry of the films and consequently the structure and properties. Superhard films based on titanium diboride (TiB2) represent a very promising material from the point of view of application, but their use is limited due to poor oxidation resistance. Yttrium could be suitable as an alloying element of TiB2, which hardens the films and increases their oxidation resistance. 

Diploma thesis deals with the preparation and analysis of ternary hard thin films based on titanium diboride alloyed with various amounts of yttrium. Master student will work with several high-end experimental and analytical methods. HiPIMS sputtering will be used for the preparation of the Ti-Y-B2 thin films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wave-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) and others will be used to analyse thickness, morphology, and changes in chemical composition of the films. Structure evolution, thermal stability and decomposition route of the films annealed at high temperatures in vacuum and in air, respectively, will be examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mechanical properties will be measured by means of nanoindentation techniques.  

[1] B. Alling, H. Högberg, R. Armiento, J. Rosen, L. Hultman, Sci. Rep. 5 (2015).

Metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors with capacitor-like Pt/TiO2/Pt electrode arrangement have been show to be highly sensitive towards hydrogen gas even at room temperature, partly thanks to the high electric field intensity resulting from the sensor geometry [1]. Structures of the same type also form the basis of resistive switching devices, typically used as nonvolatile memory cells, which allow to repeatedly change their resistance between two (or more) states by applying high enough switching voltage. The two capabilities of such structures were recently combined in a single capacitor-like device called „gasistor“, which is in turn capable of resistive switching induced by a change of the target gas concentration [2]. Such capability also brings new functionalities, the device can work as a gas-triggered electrical switch and a gas sensor with built-in memory. In this work, we aim to study such devices in more detail and further improve their properties in general.

[1] T. Plecenik, M. Mosko, A. A. Haidry, et al., Fast highly-sensitive room-temperature semiconductor gas sensor based on the nanoscale Pt–TiO2–Pt sandwich, Sens. Act. B 207, (2015) 351–361.
[2] M. Vidiš, T. Plecenik, M. Moško, et al., Gasistor: A memristor based gas-triggered switch and gas sensor with memory, Appl. Phys. Lett. 115, (2019) 093504.

Hard coatings based on transition metals borides (e.g. TiB2, ZrB2, TaB2,…) are now increasingly utilized in the metalworking industry to extend tooling lifetime and in applications under extreme conditions. A detailed analysis of their chemical composition and microstructure is necessary for elucidation of their mechanical properties. One of the biggest challenges is accurate quantitative analysis of light elements. The scope of the work will be a detailed comparison of various optical methods with emphasis on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in the vacuum UV region, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) and advanced X-ray scattering methods. By alloying binary compounds with other elements, it is possible to modify and optimize the properties of the coatings. The work is mostly experimental and will be carried out in the laboratories of CENAM and the Department of Experimental Physics FMFI UK in Bratislava, where all the necessary experimental equipment is available.

The research proposal focuses on the magnetism of nanosystems and condensed matter physics. It is of interest both from a fundamental perspective and for practical applications in fields such as spintronics, biotechnology, medicine, and others. The research aims to establish the general principles governing the effects of sample thickness, component concentration, elemental composition, heat treatment conditions, and measurement temperature on the nanostructure, phase state, magnetic, and magnetoresistive properties of magnetic thin-film alloys and multilayer nanoscale systems based on 3d transition metals. The research is carried out at the V.G. Baryakhtar Institute of Magnetism, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine).

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) chemiresistive gas sensors with capacitor-like electrode arrangement have proven to be highly sensitive even at room temperature, partly thanks to the high electric field intensity [1]. The same types of structures form a basis of resistive switching cells, which can be repeatedly switched between two (or more) resistive states by applying high enough switching voltage. Recently, the two capabilities were combined in a single device (gasistor), which is capable of resistive switching induced by a change of the target gas concentration [2,3]. The device works as a gas sensor with intrinsic memristive memory, capable of remembering in its resistive state whether a pre-set threshold concentration of the target gas has been reached during its operation. Within this work, we aim to (i) improve the sensitivity and response/recovery times of such capacitor-like MOS gas sensors by introducing nanoporous and/or nanopatterned MOS layer and top electrode, and (ii) investigate whether it is possible to perform resistive switching in such nanoporous/nanopatterned devices.

[1] T. Plecenik, M. Mosko, A. A. Haidry, et al., Fast highly-sensitive room-temperature semiconductor gas sensor based on the nanoscale Pt–TiO2–Pt sandwich, Sens. Act. B 207, (2015) 351–361.

[2] M. Vidiš, T. Plecenik, M. Moško, et al., Gasistor: A memristor based gas-triggered switch and gas sensor with memory, Appl. Phys. Lett. 115, (2019) 093504.

[3] M. Vidiš, M. Patrnčiak, M. Moško, A. Plecenik, L. Satrapinskyy, T. Roch, P. Ďurina, T. Plecenik, Gas-triggered resistive switching and chemiresistive gas sensor with intrinsic memristive memory, Sens. Act. B 389 (2023) 133878.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes are widely studied for their high surface area, tunable electronic properties, and chemical stability. However, their performance in energy storage (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors) and environmental applications (e.g., photocatalysis) is limited by:

· Wide bandgap (3.2 eV), restricting light absorption to UV wavelengths.

· Low electrical conductivity, hindering charge transport.

· Limited durability in harsh electrochemical environments.

Certain metals (e.g., Fe, V, Nb, Ta, W, Zr) are promising dopants due to their ability to form self-passivating oxide layers. Doping TiO₂ nanotubes with these metals could:

· Tailor electronic structure (narrow bandgap for visible-light activity).

· Enhance charge carrier mobility and corrosion resistance.

· Enable multifunctionality for dual energy/environmental applications.

This PhD project aims to bridge the gap between materials design and real-world applications by developing metal-doped TiO₂ nanotube systems.

The thesis explores the potential use of three-dimensional heterogeneous technology by creating new 3D heterostructures with high integration density. The research focuses on optimizing S/F interfaces, exploring proximity effects, and characterizing new materials to improve the efficiency and functionality of hybrid devices. Additionally, the study proposes the fabrication of multilayer structures with alternating superconducting (S), normal (N), and ferromagnetic (F) layers to explore their unique topological properties, aiming to stabilize exotic quantum states. The interdisciplinary nature of the project holds promise for the development of novel devices with improved reliability, efficiency, and performance for future quantum technologies. The primary objective of this work is to advance the understanding and design of S/F interface structures to enhance the performance of hybrid devices, where ferromagnets closely interact with superconducting elements, thereby enabling novel functionalities for next-generation electronic systems.

The content of the dissertation will be the study of the structural properties of selected types of hard coatings and metal oxides [1] prepared by magnetron sputtering, evaporation and pulsed laser deposition. In addition to standard measurements of powder diffraction in the Bragg-Brentano arrangement, the PhD student will also utilize other advanced methods of X-ray structural analysis focusing on thin layers. Ideally, here he can follow up on the experience gained during the preparation of the diploma thesis. It will primarily use measurements of scattering at small grazing incidence, texture, residual stresses, and mapping of reciprocal space [2]. To a large extent, the doctoral student will participate in the preparation of samples using physical deposition methods. He will investigate the effect of different growth conditions on the variation of chemical composition, the structural, mechanical and to some extent also electrical transport and optical properties of the layers. This research will be supplemented by other complementary analytical and spectroscopic methods. The doctoral student will attend to his study duties chronologically according to his individual study plan.

[1] review articles related to selected material group

[2] M.Birkholz: “Thin film analysis by X-ray scattering”, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, 2006