Institute of Physical Chemistry J.Heyrovský

Prague, Czech Republic

The J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, is a centre of fundamental research in physical chemistry, electrochemistry and chemical physics. The research work is characterized by many cross-links both within the Institute and also with other institutions in Europe, the U.S.A., Japan and other parts of the world. Much of the scientific work is concerned with fundamental research, but several groups, in particular in catalysis and electrochemistry, are also making contributions in more applied aspects. Besides the research activities the Institute is strongly involved in training of both undergraduate and graduate students, supervising their diploma and Ph.D. theses, and in teaching at universities.

Research interest of the Department of Synthesis and Catalysis, which is a member of ShaleX consortium is synthesis and characterization of zeolites and mesoporous molecular sieves and their application in adsorption and catalysis centered on petrochemical applications and synthesis of fine chemicals. The main task is to understand the general relationship among the structure of molecular sieve catalysts, structure and properties of catalytically active sites and conversion and selectivity in transformations of aromatic hydrocarbons, acylation reactions, oxidations with hydrogen peroxide, metathesis of olefins and unsaturated esters or ethers, and reactions leading to formations of new C-C bonds.

Molecular sieve chemistry and catalysis (see Presentation video, in Czech – download)

The research directions are:

Synthesis of zeolites, zeotypes, mesoporous molecular sieves and hierarchic materials combining micro and meso porosity

synthesis of different structural types of zeolites and mesoporous materials
synthesis of layered materials and their transformations to zeolites
new approaches to the synthesis of organized mesoporous aluminas
applications of novel structure-directing agents for the zeolite synthesis
isomorphous substitution
application of microwave irradiation to the synthesis of molecular sieves
novel approaches to the synthesis of hierarchic materials

New zeolite synthesized in the Department (2012)

Adsorption of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and organic vapours on advanced molecular sieves

tailored synthesis of zeolites for adsorption of carbon dioxide
synthesis of mesoporous molecular sieves for adsorption of carbon dioxide and organic vapours
grafting of organic adsorption sites on the surface of mesoporous materials and delaminated zeolites

Catalytic application of zeolites, mesoporous molecular sieves and hierarchic materials

alkylations, isomerization, disproportionations and transalkylations of alkyl and dialkyl aromatic hydrocarbons
acylatrions of aromatics and their derivatives for fine chemical products and intermediates
metathesis of 1-olefins and unsaturated esters and ethers
oxidation reactions with hydrogen peroxide (Baeyer-Villiger reaction, Meerwien-Ponndorf-Verley reduction)
C-C coupling reactions (Heck reaction, Suzuki reaction, Sonogashira reaction)