From Cosmochemistry to Novel Inorganic Materials 0600-OG-KNMN

The topics of the lectures have been divided into several main topics:

1. Chemistry in space
This topic discusses the current state of knowledge about the origins of the Universe and the formation of the first elementary particles and atomic nuclei (the Big Bang theory). Then the first stages of the universe's development (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 the stars ("combustion" of hydrogen (also the CNO cycle), helium, etc.), describing the formation of increasingly heavier elements and explaining the anomalies related to their distribution in the universe (a small amount of Li, Be, B, relatively a lot of Fe, more even kernels, etc.). At the same time, the basic issues of cosmochemistry and the structure of atoms are discussed (the structure of matter known to us, the stability of nuclei, and ways of achieving it). The lecture also presents the processes taking place in supernovae and other places of the Universe, which enable the formation of heavier atomic nuclei. The final section, devoted to cosmochemistry, discusses the evolutionary paths of stars, including the sun.

2. Lattice defects
This part of the lecture presents the types of lattice defects (point, line, plane, and others) and explains why they occur at all, pointing to the effects that these defects cause. In this context, we talk about the phenomenon of semiconductivity, non-stoichiometric compounds, interstitial compounds, and their properties, carbon steels, and mechanisms of oxidation of metal surfaces, including widespread corrosion.

3. Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
During the lecture, the terms "nanomaterial" and "nanotechnology" are defined. The 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. Artificial fertilizers
This part of the lecture presents the basic nutrients of plants and microorganisms. After the introduction to the topic, the methods of supplying plants with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur are discussed. Issues in the field of chemical technology are discussed, and then issues related to the difficulties in nitrogen fixation, methods of obtaining potassium salts, and separating them from sodium salts are presented. Finally, the process for producing superphosphate is discussed, and how to calculate the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium based on indications generally used on commercial fertilizers (NPK).

5. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
The last part of the lecture presents the basic information on chemical catalysis, paying attention to the most important concepts such as process energy, catalytic cycle, catalyst efficiency and its lifetime, and catalyst selectivity. In the further part of the lecture, the characteristics of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are discussed, 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 focus primarily on the inorganic catalysts used in these reactions. After discussing the above-mentioned examples, the lecture focuses on heterogeneous catalysts, both homogeneous (e.g. zeolites) and multiphase (especially based on silica and alumina). Important concepts related to this type of catalyst are discussed (surface area, porosity, surface acidity, alkalinity centers, metal surface centers, chemisorption and desorption, and surface migration). The following is a presentation of exemplary reactions with the participation of these catalysts, including the hydrogenation process, ammonia synthesis, sulfur dioxide oxidation, transformation of organic compounds into zeolites, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or polymerization of alkenes. Finally, there is a presentation of new directions in the development of heterogeneous catalysis (hybrid catalysis, "tethered" catalysts, two-phase systems).