From Cosmochemistry to Novel Inorganic Materials 0600-OG-EN-KNMN

The lecture topics were divided into several main topics:

1. Chemistry in space
This topic discusses the contemporary state of knowledge about the beginnings of the Universe and the creation of the first elementary particles and atomic nuclei (the Big Bang theory). Then the first stages of the development of the Universe (inflation, the so-called dark ages) and the "birth" of the first stars are discussed. The following hours of the lecture present the reactions taking place in stars ("burning" of hydrogen (also the CNO cycle), helium, etc.), describing the formation of increasingly heavier elements and explaining anomalies related to their distribution in the Universe (small amounts of Li, Be, B, relatively high number of Fe atoms, more even nuclei, etc.). At the same time, basic issues of cosmochemistry and the structure of atoms are discussed (the structure of matter as we know it, the stability of nuclei, and ways to achieve it). The lecture also presents processes taking place in supernovae and other places in the Universe, enabling the creation of heavier atomic nuclei. The last part, devoted to cosmochemistry, discusses the paths of evolution of stars, including the Sun.

2. Crystal lattice defects
This part of the lecture presents the types of defects in crystal lattices (point, linear, plane, and others) and explains why they occur at all, indicating the effects that these defects cause. In this context, it would be talked about the phenomenon of semiconductivity, non-stoichiometric compounds, interstitial compounds and their properties, carbon steels and mechanisms of oxidation of metal surfaces, including common corrosion.

3. Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
During the lecture, the terms "nanomaterial" and "nanotechnology" are defined. Methods of producing nanomaterials and methods for their characterization are discussed. The lecture also presents selected examples of bioinorganic nanomaterials (bionanocomposites, combinations of nanomaterials with DNA (biomimetics)).

4. Fertilizers
This part of the lecture presents the basic nutrients of plants and microorganisms. After introducing the topic, methods of providing plants with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur are discussed. Then the discussion is focused on the issues related to chemical technology, followed by the presentation of topics related to difficulties in nitrogen fixation, methods of obtaining potassium salts and separating them from sodium salts. Finally, the process of superphosphates production and the method of calculating the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium based on the determinations generally used on commercially available artificial fertilizers (NPK) are discussed.

5. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
The last part of the lecture presents basic information about chemical catalysis, paying attention to the most important concepts such as process energetics, catalytic cycle, catalyst efficiency and lifetime, and catalyst selectivity. The rest of the lecture discusses the characteristics of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, followed by a presentation of selected catalytic reactions. The homogeneous processes include hydrogenation, hydroformylation, carbonylation, the Wacker process, metathesis, coupling and asymmetric oxidation, with the main focus on the inorganic catalysts used in these reactions. After discussing the above-mentioned examples, the lecture focuses on heterogeneous catalysts, homogeneous (e.g. zeolites) and multiphase (especially based on silica and aluminium oxide). Important concepts related to this type of catalyst are discussed (surface area, porosity, surface acidity, alkalinity centres, surface metallic centres, chemisorption and desorption, surface migration). The following sections present exemplary reactions using these catalysts, including the hydrogenation process, ammonia synthesis, sulfur dioxide oxidation, transformation of organic compounds on zeolites, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and polymerization of alkenes. Finally, there is a presentation of new directions in the development of heterogeneous catalysis (hybrid catalysis, "tethered" catalysts, two-phase systems).