University of Wrocław - Faculty of Chemistry
ZB-9 Research Group of Structure and Molecular Interactions
Head: Prof. Kazimierz Orzechowski, D.Sc.
Research interestsStudies of structure and molecular interactions in liquids, solids, glassy phases, macromolecular systems and low-temperature matrices of noble gases.
- Studies of structure and molecular dynamics in condensed phases by spectroscopic methods, dielectric relaxation, dipole moments measurements and non-linear dielectric effect.
- Experimental and theoretical studies of structural and energetic effects of hydrogen bond formation.
- Investigation of association of systems with hydrogen bond using spectroscopic, dielectric relaxation and non-linear dielectric effect techniques.
- Studies of dielectric properties (also in strong electric fields) of macromolecular systems: micelles, reverse micelles, liposomes.
- Physicochemical (mainly spectroscopic) studies of structure, interactions and modifications of biomolecules, including lipid membranes and proteins. Identification of conformational state of hydrophobic part of lipid membranes, their degree of hydration and their interactions character with biologically active molecules. Secondary structure of proteins/peptides, fibrillar aggregative forms of proteins and peptides, chiral properties of supramolecular aggregative structures of proteins and peptides and interactions character of proteins/peptides structures with biologically active molecules.
- Application of ultrasonic measurements for investigation of structure and interactions in liquids. Studies of ions and molecules solvation, also in the context of hydration of organic molecules with insecticidal, fungicidal and germicidal activity.
- Studies in liquid noble gases (cryoscopic technique) as a technique for investigation of weak molecular interactions, including atypical hydrogen bonds.
- Studies on small systems with intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bond (simulations in various physical states) using methods of molecular dynamic ab initio. Development of calculation procedures and also contribution to development in post-processing.
- Investigation of phase transitions (liquid-liquid, liquid-solid) by dielectric methods, mainly by non-linear dielectric effect measurements.
- Studies of an influence of strong electric field on critical phenomena
- Investigation of solid-liquid phase transitions, searching for rotator phases, studies on premelting
- Investigation of absorbers of electromagnetic radiation based on natural minerals: kaolinite, halloysite, montmorillonite and their chemical modifications.
- Use of absorbers of electromagnetic radiation for creating intelligent composite materials with easily modifiable properties (in cooperation with prof. Shulin Bai – Peking University)
- dielectric spectroscopy in range of 25 Hz – 1 GHz, both for solids and liquids, possibility of measurements in wide temperature range
- unique measuring system for non-linear dielectric effect investigation
- equipment for investigation of dipole moments
- measurements of mean molecular mass
- IR spectrometer adapted to studies in liquid noble gases
- spectrophotometer Nicolet Is-50 for FTIR and VCD measurements
- spectrophotometer Nicolet Magma 860 and Nicolet Avatar 360 (FTIR)
- spectrophotometer UV-Vis (Carry)
- equipment for acoustic research (velocity and absorption of ultrasound)
- well-supplied auxiliary equipment (shakers, mills, centrifuges, densimeter, humidity controller, electronic and microwave equipment)
- access to advanced experimental techniques on the Faculty of Chemistry (structural studies, NMR, EPR, electron microscopy, MS, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, HPLC and many others)