This diploma thesis deals with changing properties of the thin layered titanium dioxide dispersion depending on the time of ball-milling. Titanium dioxide is immobilized on glass or conductive glass using the spin-coating method and the prepared thin layers are then characterized by various analytical methods. All of used analytical methods are described in theoretical and experimental sections, these methods include scanning electron microscopy, profilometry, dynamic light scattering, integrating sphere, ellipsometry, BET isotherm, voltammetry and chronoamperometry. At the summary of this diploma thesis is described how the properties of titanium dioxide thin layers change during ball-milling process.

The dielectric tensor of Ga2O3 in the monoclinic (β) phasewas determined by generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry in a wide spectral range from 0.5 eV to 8.5 eV as well as by density functional theory calculations combined with many-body perturbation theory including quasiparticle and excitonic effects. The dielectric tensors obtained by both methods are in excellent agreement with each other and the observed transitions in the dielectric function are assigned to the corresponding valence bands. It is shown that the off-diagonal element of the dielectric tensor reaches values up to |εxz| ≈ 0.30 and cannot be neglected. Even in the transparent spectral range where it is quite small (|εxz| < 0.02) it causes a rotation of the dielectric axes around the symmetry axis of up to 20◦.

In this work ways of preparation of thin epitaxial cerium oxide film on Cu(110) surface were studied. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray photoelectron difraction (XPD), low energy electron difraction (LEED), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) were used for the characterization of prepared systems. The island structure of CeO2 was prepared by the method of reactive evaporation in oxygen atmosphere. The influence of temperature on the electronic structure and morphology was studied. At the temperature above 550 ˚C partial reduction to Ce2O3 and reordering of the islands to the CeO2(331) structure was observed. The ceria promoted oxidation of copper surface was approved, since the clean c(6x2) reconstruction of the surface was observed at the oxygen exposure 1,5 order of magnitude lower then on Cu(110) alone. The other model system was prepared by cerium evaporation to the oxygen precovered Cu(110) surface. The mix of (2x1) and c(6x2) surface reconstruction was formed by oxygen exposition at 300 ˚C. Cerium was deposited on this surface, also at 300 ˚C. During the following heating to 500 ˚C the formation of epitaxial film Ce2O3(0001) was observed, accompanied by the formation of large hundreds nm long smooth band structures in the [11̄0] direction.

Title: Study of new catalytic materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells Author: Petr Homola Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc. Abstract: Submitted thesis deals with study of thin layers based on platinum and cerium oxides in order to use them in fuel cells with polymer membrane (PEM- FC). A set of samples with different amount of platinum was prepared by means of magnetron sputtering. Samples were investigated by X - ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and results were confronted with sputtering parameters. It was found out that chemical state of platinum is related to its amount in thin layer. The less platinum was contained in thin layer, the less amount of Pt0 state was observed and amounts of Pt2+ and Pt4+ states increased. Furthermore the temperature stability of prepared layers in the interval from room temperature to 250 ◦ C was studied by means of XPS. The adsorption of carbon monoxide was measured by infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). Increasing degree of adsorption on sample probably related to platinum reduction with increased tem- perature was observed. Measurements of other samples were devaluated by strong contamination with nickel carbonyls. Keywords: PEMFC, cerium oxide, magnetron sputtering, XPS, CO adsorption

Title: Study of CeOX / Rh inverse catalyst Author: Bc. Miroslav Kettner Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Václav Nehasil, Dr., Department of Surface and Plasma Science Abstract: Inverse catalysts of cerium oxide deposited on polycrystalline and monocrystalline (111) rhodium substrates were studied by means of surface science experimental methods. Growth characteristics of cerium oxide were investigated in dependence on deposition conditions and different thickness determination methods were compared. Acording to oxidizing or reducing exposition conditions changes in degree of oxidation of CeOX were observed. Further spectra analysis showed additional Ce-Rh alloy formation. Adsorption positions CO on-top and CO hollow on Rh (111) surface were differentiated by spectra fitting procedures. Oxygen absorption and reverse desorption in CeOX was confirmed. Performed experiments indicate that this process occurs through oxide-metal interface. CO oxidation reaction mechanisms at room temperature were proposed. Cerium oxide presence is necessary for reaction occurrence. Significant influence of deposited CeOX on proposed CO oxidation reaction mechanisms was proved by this way. Keywords: Rhodium, cerium oxide, alloy, inverse catalyst, CO oxidation.

Title: Preparation of Nanocomposites of Metal Oxides in Plasma Polymer and Study of Their Properties Author: Oleksandr Polonskyi Department: Department of Macromolecular Physics, MFF UK Supervisor of the doctoral thesis: Prof. RNDr. Hynek Biederman, DrSc. Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague Abstract: This thesis is devoted to a study of nanocomposite films Al (Al oxide)/plasma polymer prepared by various techniques using magnetron sputtering, plasma polymerization and cluster beam deposition. The formation and deposition of metal/metal oxide nanoclusters using a gas aggregation cluster source (GAS) was also considered. The role of low concentration of oxygen in the aggregation gas on the process of Al and Ti cluster deposition was studied. Properties of the nanoclusters and nanocomposite films were characterized by various techniques. Morphology of the nanocomposites was examined by AFM, TEM or HRTEM and SEM. Elemental analysis and chemical composition of the films were studied by XPS and FTIR. Optical characterization of the prepared films was done by UV-Vis spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. It has been shown that using GAS nanocomposite Al(AlxOy)/C:H may be prepared. Keywords: nanocomposite thin film, plasma polymer, metal...

This project is concerned with the preparation of electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofiber materials with covalently bonded NO-photodonor and electrostatically attached tetracationic porphyrinoid photosensitizers. These photofunctional nanofiber materials exhibit effective simultaneous photogeneration of small antibacterial NO and O2(1 ∆g) species under irradiation with daylight creating an antibacterial surface and near surrounding. NO species can be also generated just by gentle heating. Nanofiber materials were analyzed with SEM, FTIR, emission and UV/vis spectroscopy and time-resolved emission and absorption spetroscopy. The antibacterial effect was tested on Escherichia coli. The dual antibacterial action, in combination with the nanoporous character of the material that detains pathogens like bacteria on its surface, is ideal for any application where a sterile environment is neces- sary. The known bimetallic cluster system [(PMe2Ph)4Pt2B10H10] that possesses the propen- sity to reversibly bind small gaseous molecules (O2, SO2, CO) was synthesized in good yields for NO reversible binding investigation. Seven new monometallic precursors (Pt, Pd and Ni) to new bimetallic species were succesfully synthesized with the aim of future study of NO reversible binding. All new compounds were purified by...

Title: High pressure CO and methanol oxidation study over nanopowder Rare Earth Oxides and platinum thin film catalysts Author: Mgr. Andrii Rednyk Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Matolín, DrSc. matolin@mbox.troja.mff.cuni.cz Abstract: This doctoral thesis focuses on reactivity study of nanopowder rare earth oxides (REOs) and platinum based thin film catalysts using microreactor with high pressure reaction cell. REOs nanoparticles were prepared by new approach based on sol-gel chemistry. Magnetron sputtering technique was used for preparation of thin film samples. In the first part of the thesis CO oxidation on REOs and on Pt, PtOx thin films were performed. Among prepared REOs catalyst better activity exhibited alumina stabilized ceria, due to higher surface area. Both Pt and PtOx deposited on silicon substrate exhibited similar activity. When carbon (G-foil or C interlayer) is used as support, activity of Pt thin film decreases while PtOx preserves high activity. In the second part of the thesis steam reforming of methanol (SRM) and partial oxidation of methanol (POM) were performed on Pt thin films. It was shown that PtOx thin film exhibited superior activity compared to other samples with the same thickness. It is due to the reduction of platinum...

This work deals with the preparation of thin cerium oxide films on the Cu(110) single crystal. Physico-chemical properties of this system were studied by surface science techniques (XPS, UPS, ARUPS, LEED, LEEM and STM). The first part of the work concerns interaction of Cu(110) single crystal with oxygen. Condi- tions for formation of O(2x1) and Oc(6x2) oxygen reconstructions were found. Various methods of preparation of CeOx films were discussed. A novel method for continuous control of ceria stoichiometry from CeO2 to Ce2O3 through variation of oxygen vacancy concentration has been developed. Ceria facilitated oxygen spill-over was observed on copper substrate. It was found that a restructuring of copper substrate occurs at the copper-ceria interface with subsequent formation of Cu(13 13 1) facets, which support a Carpet-like ceria overlayer. Interaction of this system with platinum was studied. Finally, high temperature growth of CeOx films was studied and creation of ceria islands exposing the (110) plane was observed. 1

The aim of this thesis is preparation of inverse model catalyst CeOx/Pt(111) and its investigation using combination of surface physics methods and electrochemistry. New electrochemical cell was designed and built for electrochemical experiments. CeOx/Pt(111) samples were prepared and studied in UHV using STM and XPS methods. After that, samples were transferred to the electrolyte environment and studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and AFM. For high surface coverage of CeOx, new reaction was observed. We have identified this reaction as a combination of the reduction of cerium(IV) oxide by interaction with hydrogen adsorbed on the Pt(111) surface and oxidation of cerium(III) oxide by dissociative adsorption of water molecules. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)