About department

Field of Scientific Interest

The Department of Molten Systems is engaged in research related to all physical and chemical aspects of molten inorganic salts. These systems can be characterized by the existence of Coulombic interactions at high temperatures. The main subject of the research is the investigation of the physicochemical properties which include phase equilibria, density, electrical conductivity, viscosity, interfacial and surface tension. The ultimate goal is to find out the relationship between the physicochemical behavior of the molten systems and their composition and structure. The research focuses mainly on fluoride systems based on aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, scandium, tantalum, niobium, and systems based on lanthanides. The ambition of the department is to use a wide range of modern techniques, such as high temperature NMR and MAS NMR spectroscopy, high temperature neutron and synchrotron diffraction, etc. An essential part of the research of inorganic melts is their electrochemical characterization using several electrochemical techniques (various types of voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The applied research of the department is mainly connected with the optimization of conditions of the electrolytic production of primary aluminum and other electrolytically deposited metals, but the subject of applied research is not only limited to electrometallurgy. An important part of the research is the research of corrosion of construction materials in melts, the investigation of molten systems suitable for energy storage, and the synthesis of interesting compounds from inorganic melts, e.g. ternary fluorides or (oxo) – (fluoro) – aluminates based on perovskites for photonic and electronic applications. The department is involved in several national and international projects in academia as well as in applied research for foreign and domestic industrial partners.

• Head of department: Ing. František Šimko, PhD.

Selected Publications

KODĚRA, Pr** – MAJZLAN, J – POLLOK, K – KIEFER, S – ŠIMKO, F – SCHOLTZOVÁ, E – LUPTÁKOVÁ, J – CAWTHORN, G. Ferrous hydroxychlorides hibbingite [gamma-Fe2(OH)3Cl] and parahibbingite [beta-Fe2(OH)3Cl] as a concealed sink of Cl and H2O in ultrabasic and granitic systems. In American Mineralogist, 2022, vol. 107, no. 5, p. 826-841. (2021: 3.066 – IF, Q2 – JCR, 1.246 – SJR, Q1 – SJR). https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8011

KORENKO, M** – KRISHNAN, D – ŠIMKO, F – AMBROVÁ, M – SZATMÁRY, L. Electrical conductivity of the molten systems of (LiF – CaF2)eut – NdF3 and (LiF – NaF)eut – NdF3. In Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2022, vol. 365, art. no. 120012. (2021: 6.633 – IF, Q1 – JCR, 0.914 – SJR, Q1 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2022 – Current Contents, WOS, SCOPUS). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120012

KUBÍKOVÁ, B** – MLYNÁRIKOVÁ, J. – MATSELKO, O – MIKŠÍKOVÁ, E – NETRIOVÁ, Z – VASKOVÁ, Z – BOČA, M. Phase equilibria and volume properties of (LiF-MgF2)eut-LnF3 (Ln = Sm, Gd, Nd) molten systems. In Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2022, vol. 353, p. 118694-1-118694-10. (2021: 6.633 – IF, Q1 – JCR, 0.914 – SJR, Q1 – SJR). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.118694

PAVLÍK, V** – BOČA, M – KITYK, A. Accelerated corrosion testing in molten fluoride salts: Effect of additives and the crucible material. In Corrosion Science, 2022, vol. 195, p. 110011-1-110011-15. (2021: 7.720 – IF, Q1 – JCR, 1.694 – SJR, Q1 – SJR). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2021.110011

SILLIKOVÁ, V** – JAKUBČINOVÁ, J – HORNÍK, M – GOMOLA, I – DULANSKÁ, S. Determination of caesium-137 in water samples using modified carbon microfibers. In Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry-Articles, 2022, vol. 331, no. 3, p. 1275-1284. (2021: 1.754 – IF, Q2 – JCR, 0.364 – SJR, Q2 – SJR). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08212-5

International and National Projects

Foreign Cooperating Institutions

• Kola Science Centre RAS, Apatity, Russia
• Ecole Polytechnique IUSTI-CNRS, Marseille, France
• CEMHTI-CNRS, Orleans, France
• Nuclear Research Institute, Řez, Czech Republic
• College of Engineering, Valparaiso University, USA