self-assessment report and institutional ... · web viewquantitative characteristics (to be...
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SELF-ASSESSMENT REPORT AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1. Quantitative characteristics (to be submitted via the online platform)
1.1. Summary table
1. Quantitative characteristics ..................................................................................... 11.1. Summary table ......................................................................................................................1
1.2. Staff list by research teams ...................................................................................................2
1.3. List of publications and patents ...........................................................................................10
1.4. List of ongoing projects ........................................................................................................24
1.5. List of major equipments and infrastructures .......................................................................29
2. Self-assessment report for the previous 4 years ................................................ 302.1. Administrative structure diagram of the institution .............................................................. 30
2.2. General activity report of the institution............................................................................... 33
2.3. Activity report by team ........................................................................................................ 37
2.4. Representative project ........................................................................................................ 61
3. Institutional development plan for the next 4 years ............................................ 643.1. Scientific SWOT analysis.....................................................................................................64
3.2. Strategic scientific objectives and directions........................................................................69
3.3. The human resource strategy...............................................................................................71
3.4. Mechanisms for stimulating the appearance of new research directions.............................74
3.5. Financial SWOT analysis.....................................................................................................75
3.6. Infrastructure: investment plan and strategy ...................................................................... 76
3.7. Technology transfer and the attraction of non-public funds ................................................77
3.8. Strategic partnerships and visibility: events, communications, collaborations ................... 77
1
1.2. Staff list by research teams
First name Last name Grade (1)
Function (2)
Full time
equivalent (3)
CNP (4)
Year first employed
in the research
unit
Label of main
research team
(5)
Label of secondary research team (5)
Doctoral student (YES/NO
)
Employed by or
collaborated with foreign
research units 2010-11 ? (YES/NO)
Avram Nicolae NRDS
Member of Administration Council
- 2008
- - NO NO
Badea Iuliana AS 0,5 2010 E2 - YES NO
Baies Radu CS 1 2001 E3 - NO NO
Balcu Ionel CS3Technical director 1
1997E7 - NO NO
Bandas Cornelia CS3 1 2006 E2 - NO NO
Banica Radu CS3 1 2006 E3 E7 NO NO
Bîrzoi Roxana AS 1 2011 E8 - YES NO
Boc Daniel CS3 1 1991 E6 - NO NO
Boncila Ioan NRDS 1 1997 - - NO NO
Bucur Alexandra CS3 1 2007 E1 E3 NO NO
Bucur Emilia NRDS 1 1991 - - NO NO
2
Bucur Raul Alin CS 1 2004 E1 - YES NO
Buzatu Doru CS 1 2006 E7 - YES NO
Calenic Bogdan AS 1 2011 E9 - NO NO
Cata AdinaElena CS3 1 2006 E6 - NO NO
Chirita Mihaila I. CS 1 2008 E2 - NO NO
Chis Cornel NRDS
Member of Administration Council -
2008
- - NO NO
Craciunescu Corneliu CS1 0,5 2005 - - NO NO
Dabici Anamaria CS 1 2007 E2 - YES NO
Damian Daniel CS 1 2008 E8 - NO NO
Dobrescu Marius NRDS 1 2008 - - NO NO
Draghiciu Simona NRDSEconomic director 1
1995- - NO NO
Dragos Ana IDTI 1 1998 E5 - NO NO
Fitigau Firuta CS 0,25 2008 E6 - YES NO
Grozescu Ioan CS1Scientific Director 1
1996E2 E1 NO NO
Gui Valeru NRDSInternal Auditor 1
2004- - NO NO
Gurgu Angela NRDS 1 1996 - - NO NO
3
Gurgu Radu TS 1 2005 - - NO NO
Iacomin Radu AS 1 2011 E9 - NO NO
Ienascu Ioana CS 1 2008 E6 E4 NO NO
Iorga Mirela CS3 1 1992 E7 - YES NO
Iovi Aurel NRDS
Member of Administration Council -
2008
- - NO NO
Lazau Carmen CS3 1 2003 E2 E8 NO NO
Lazea Mihaela NRDS 1 2010 - - NO NO
Luca Gabriela NRDS 1 2007 - - NO NO
Macarie Corina CS3 1 2004 E8 - YES NO
Marza Ileana NRDS 1 1999 - - NO NO
Maties Marius CS1
Member of Scientific Council 1
2007
E7 - NO NO
Mayer Felicia NRDS 1 1998 - - NO NO
Miclau Marinela CS3
Member of Scientific Council 1
2001
E1 - NO NO
Mirica Marius CS3
Member of Scientific Council 1
1998
E7 - NO NO
Mirica Nicolae CS1 Director 1 1994 E7 - NO NO
4
Miron Iasmina CS 1 2004 E1 - YES NO
Mocanu Liviu CS 1 1996 E1 YES NO
Mogirzan Adela NRDSLegal adviser 1
2003- - NO NO
Moldovan Claudia NRDS
Member of Administration Council -
2008
- - NO NO
Moldoveanu Iuliana AS 1 2010 E9 - NO NO
Mosoarca Cristina CS 1 2006 E4 - YES NO
Neda Ion CS1 1 2011 E8 - NO NO
Nitu Marian CS 1 2006 E2 - NO NO
Novaconi Stefan CS3 1 1996 E3 E2 YES NO
Nyari Terezia CS3
Member of Scientific Council 1
1996
E3 E7 NO NO
OlariIonel-Gheorghe NRDS
Member of Administration Council -
2009
- - NO NO
Onea Mioara NRDS 1 1996 - - NO NO
Orha Corina CS3 1 2008 E2 - NO NO
Panaitescu Serban NRDSManagement adviser 1
2010- - NO NO
Pandurescu Carmen CS 1 1995 E7 - NO NO
5
Patean Ioan TS 1 2008 - - NO NO
Peteu Serban CS3 1 2010 - - NO NO
Petrenciuc Claudiu NRDSAdministrator 1
2010- - NO NO
Pirrotta Ivan CS 1 2011 - - YES NO
Poienar Maria CS 0,25 2006 E1 - NO YES
Pop OanaRaluca CS 1 2008 E6 E7 NO NO
Popa Iuliana CS 1 2006 E5 - YES NO
Popescu Claudia AS 1 2007 E8 - NO NO
Popescu Simona CS 1 2009 E2 E2 YES NO
Popovici Alexandra CS3 1 1997 E9 - NO NO
Popuri Srinivasarao CS 1 2011 - - YES NO
Racu Andrei CS 1 2011 - - YES NO
Rosu Dan CS3 1 1993 E5 - YES NO
Sanjay Kumar CS 1 2011 - - YES NO
Segneanu Adina CS3 1 2007 E8 E2 NO NO
Sfirloaga Paula CS3 1 2003 E2 - NO NO
Stefanut Mariana CS2 1 1991 E6 - NO NO
Tanasie Cristian CS3 Secretary of Scientific
1 2006 E6 - NO NO
6
Council
Taranu Bogdan CS 1 2008 E5 E7 YES NO
Taranu Ioan CS1
Member of Scientific Council 1
1991
E5 - NO NO
Topciov Atena NRDS 1 1996 - - NO NO
Topciov Ghe. TS 0,5 2005 - - NO NO
Urmosi Zoltan CS 1 2006 E8 - YES NO
Ursu Daniel TS 1 2008 - - NO NO
Van Staden Jacobus CS1 1 2007 E9 - NO NO
Van Staden Raluca CS1 1 2007 E9 - NO NO
Vasile Mihaela CS3 1 2006 E2 - NO NO
Vaszilcsin Cristian CS 1 2006 E6 E8 YES NO
Vlatanescu Valeria CS 1 2007 E8 - NO NO
Vlazan Paulina IDTI 1 1998 E2 E3 NO NO
Zamfir Alina CS2
Secretary of Scientific Council 0,5
2006
E4 - NO NO
7
E1 HydrothermalMiclău Marinela (Team Leader)Bucur AlexandraBucur Raul AlinGrozescu IoanMiron IasminaMocanu LiviuPoienar Maria
E2 Multifunctional Micro- and NanomaterialsLăzău Carmen (Team Leader)Badea IulianaBandas CorneliaChirita Mihaila I.Dabici AnamariaGrozescu IoanNitu MarianNovaconi StefanOrha CorinaPopescu SimonaSegneanu AdinaSfirloaga PaulaVasile MihaelaVlazan Paulina
E3 Chalcogenide semiconductors for solar energy conversionNyari Terezia (Team Leader)Baies RaduBanica RaduBucur AlexandraNovaconi StefanVlazan Paulina
E4 Biopolimeri, proteomica si glicomicaZamfir Alina (Team Leader)Ienascu IoanaMosoarca Cristina
E5 The electrochemistry and electrochemical technologies Ţăranu Ioan (Team Leader)Balcu IonelBoc DanielDragos AnaIorga MirelaMirica MariusMirica NicolaePopa IulianaRosu DanTaranu BogdanVlatanescu Valeria
8
E6 Applied Chemistry for Environment and Health (ACEH)Stefanut Mariana (Team Leader)Boc DanielCata AdinaElenaFitigau FirutaIenascu IoanaPop OanaRalucaTanasie CristianVaszilcsin Cristian
E7 Renewable energy Mirica Marius (Team Leader)Balcu IonelBanica RaduBuzatu DoruIorga MirelaMaties MariusMirica NicolaeNovaconi StefanNyari TereziaPandurescu CarmenPop Oana RalucaTaranu Bogdan
E8. Synthesis and Characterisation of Organic CompoundsSegneanu Adina (Team Leader)Bârzoi RoxanaDamian DanielLazau CarmenMacarie CorinaNeda IoanPop OanaRalucaPopescu ClaudiaVaszilcsin CristianVlatanescu Valeria Urmosi Zoltan
E9. Electrochemistry and PATLAB Van Staden Raluca (Team Leader)Calenic BogdanIacomin RaduMoldoveanu IulianaPopovici AlexandraVan Staden Jacobus
9
1.3. List of publications and patents
Label A#
The reference (Authors, Article title, Journal title, Volume, Page, Year) (1)
Year of appearance
(2)Relative
AISNumber of
ISI citations
A1
Miclau, M; Hejtmanek, J; Retoux, R, et al., Structural and magnetic transitions in CaMn1-xWxO3, CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS Volume: 19 Issue: 17 Pages: 4243-4251, 2007
2007 4,03640 8
A2
Miclau, M; Bucur, R; Vlazan, P, et al., Hydrothermal synthesis of Al1-XGaXPO4 and Ga1-xFeXPO4 alpha-quartz single crystal, JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS Volume: 9 Pages: 2792-2794,2007
2007 0,32990 1
A3
Ž. Vukelić, S. Kalanj Bognar, M.Froesch, L. Bindila, B. Radić, M. Allen, J. Peter Katalinić, A.D. Zamfir, Human gliosarcoma-associated ganglioside composition is complex and highly distinctive as evidenced by high-performance mass spectrometric determination and structural characterization, Glycobiology 17, 504-515, 2007
2007 1,51325 18
A4
Ştefănescu, M.; Ştefănescu, O.; Stoia, M.; Lazau, C., Thermal decomposition of some metal-organic precursors: Fe2O3 nanoparticles , Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 88 (1), pp. 27-32, 2007
2007 0,53333 8
A5
A. D. Zamfir, Recent advances in sheathless interfacing of capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, J. Chromatogr. A 1159, 2–13, 2007
2007 1,75960 40
A6
I. Perdivara, E. Sisu, I. Sisu, N. Dinca, K.B. Tomer, M. Przybylski, A.D. Zamfir , Enhanced electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry of long-chain polysaccharides , Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 22, 773-782, 2008
2008 1,45253 3
A7
R. Almeida, C. Mosoarca, M. Chirita, V. Udrescu, N. Dinca, Ž. Vukelić, M. Allen, A. D. Zamfir, Coupling of fully automated chip-based electrospray ionization to high capacity ion trap mass spectrometer for ganglioside analysis, Anal. Biochem. 378, 43–52, 2008
2008 1,95556 15
A8
S. Amon, A.D. Zamfir, A. Rizzi, Glycosylation analysis of glycoproteins and proteoglycans using CE–MS strategies, Electrophoresis, 29, 2485-2507, 2008
2008 1,31919 31
A9 I. Ienascu, A.X. Lupea, I. Popescu, C. Mosoarca, 2008 0,14956 0
10
A.D. Zamfir, Synthesis and characterization of some new 2-hydroxy-N-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-benzamide derivatives, Rev. Roum. Chem. 53, 273-276, 2008
A10
I. Ienascu, A.X. Lupea, I. Popescu, S. Tomas, A.D. Zamfir, Synthesis and characterization of some new 2-hydroxy-N-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-benzamide derivatives, Revista de Chimie 59, 56-59, 2008
2008 0,12480 0
A11
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, R.M. Nejem, J.F. van Staden and H.Y. Aboul-Enein, 129. Sequential injection analysis utilizing amperometric biosensors as detectors for simultaneous determination of L- and D-pipecolic acid, Instrum.Sci.Technol., 36(5), 355-368, 2008
2008 0,24221 0
A12
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, M.C. Mirica, I. Balcu, N. Mirica, 130. Determination of (+)-3,3',5,5'-tetraiodo-L-thyronine (L-T4) in serum and in pharmaceutical formulations using a sequential injection analysis/immunosensor system , J. Immunoassay & Immunochem., 29(4), 348-355, 2008
2008 0,39072 0
A13
Indrea E., Dreve S., Silipas D.T., Mihailescu G., Olenic L., Petru A., Danciu V., Nyari T., Semiconductor photoelectrodes for solar of splitting water, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 10 (9), pp. 2213-2222., 2008
2008 0,32990 2
A14
Lazau C, Sfirloaga P, Ratiu C, Orha C, Ioitescu A, Miron I, Novaconi S, HAdaruga D I, Haraduga N G, Bandur G N, Rusu G, Grozescu I, Synthesis of bioactive materials based on undoped/doped TiO2 and their nanocrystals with α- / β -cyclodextrins,Journal Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, Volume:11, Issue:7, Pages:981-987, 2009
2009 0,32990 0
A15
Ratiu C, Lazau C, Orha C, Sfirloaga P, Manea F, Burtica G, Iovi A, Grozescu I, Synthesis of hybrid zeolitic materials with TiO2 nanocrystals using solid-solid method, Journal Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, Volume:11, Issue:6, Pages: 838-844, 2009
2009 0,32990 0
A16R.I. Stefan-van Staden, Enantioanalysis of L-proline using C60 as chiral selectors, Anal.Lett. 42(2), 323-329, 2009
2009 0,48081 0
A17
R.I. Stefan-van Staden and K.I. Ozoemena, Amperometric immunosensors for the determination of 2’,3’- dideoxyinosine, Anal.Lett., 42(4), 758-763, 2009.
2009 0,48081 0
11
A18
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, N.S. Nhlapo, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioanalysis of S-ketoprofen using enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes, Anal.Lett., 42(4), 764-774, 2009.
2009 0,48081 0
A19
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, L. Holo, Utilization of an Enantioselective Surface Plasmon Resonance Electrode for the Selection of thebest C70 Fullerene as Chiral Selector for the Enantioanalysis of L-Cysteine, Prep.Biochem.Biotechnol., 39(2), 142-146, 2009
2009 0,25357 0
A20
K.I. Ozoemena, R.I. Stefan-van Staden and T. Nyokong, Metallophthalocyanine based carbon paste electrodes for the determination of 2’,3’-dideoxyinosine, Electroanalysis., 21(14), 1651-1654, 2009
2009 1,31111 0
A21
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden and H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Macrocyclic antibiotics as chiral selectors in the design of enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes for the determination of S-flurbiprofen, Anal.Bioanal.Chem., 394(3), 821-826, 2009.
2009 1,95354 0
A22
C. Flangea, C. Schiopu, E. Sisu, A.Serb, M. Przybylski, D. G. Seidler, A. D. Zamfir , Determination of sulfation pattern in brain glycosaminoglycans by chip-based electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 395, 2489-2498, 2009
2009 1,95354 7
A23
C. Schiopu, A. Serb, F. Capitan, C. Flangea, E. Sisu, Z. Vukelic, M. Przybylski, A. D. Zamfir , Determination of ganglioside composition and structure in human brain hemangioma by chip-based nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 395, 2465-2477, 2009
2009 1,95354 6
A24
T.Visnapuu, A. D. Zamfir, C. Mosoarca, M. D. Stanescu, T.Alamäe, Fully automated chip-based negative mode nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry of fructooligosaccharides produced by heterologously expressed levansucrase from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 , Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 23, 1337–1346, 2009
2009 1,45253 5
A25 R.I. Stefan-van Staden, L. Holo, B Moeketsi, J.F. van Staden, and H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioselective determination of R-clenbuterol using an enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrode based on a β-cyclodextrin derivative Instrum.Sci.Technol., 37(2), 189–196,
2009 0,24221 0
12
2009
A26
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, T. Mashile, K.C. Mathabathe and J.F. van Staden, Determination of S(+)-ibuprofen using enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on macrocylic antibiotics, Instrum.Sci.Technol., 37(2), 197–203, 2009
2009 0,24221 0
A27
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, R.G. Bokretsion, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioanalysis of butaclamol using enantioselective, potentiometric electrodes, Anal.Lett., 42(8), 1111-1118, 2009
2009 0,48081 1
A28
A.Serb, C. Schiopu, C. Flangea, E. Sisu, A. D. Zamfir, Top-down glycolipidomics: fragmentation analysis of ganglioside oligosaccharide core and ceramide moiety by chip-nanoelectrospray collision-induced dissociation MS2-MS6 , J. Mass Spectrom. 44, 1434–1442, 2009
2009 1,80000 9
A29
Banica, R., Barvinschi, P., Vaszilcsin, N., Nyari, T., A comparative study of the electrochemical deposition of molybdenum oxides thin films on copper and platinum,Journal of Alloys and Compounds 483 (1-2), pp. 402-405, 2009
2009 2,85976 3
A30
Banica, R., Nyari, T., Barvinschi, P., Negrea, P., Vaszilcsin, N., Early stage formation of CuInS2 nanocrystals and microspheres by ambient pressure solution synthesis in glycerol, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials 11 (7), pp. 950-956,2009
2009 0,32990 0
A31
Miclau, M; Miclau, N; Poienar, M, et al., A new piezoelectric single crystal obtained by Ge doping in the SiO2 structure, CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY Volume: 44 Issue: 6 Pages: 577-580, 2009
2009 0,88032 2
A32
Ioitescu, A., Vlase, G., Vlase, T., Ilia, G., Doca, N., Synthesis and characterization of hydroxiapatite obtained from different organic precursors by sol-gel method, J. Therm. Anal. Calorim. 96(3)(2009)
2009 0,53333 2
A33
Nicoleta Plesu , Gheorghe Ilia , Paula Sfirloaga,Smaranda Iliescu, Organic–inorganic hybrids obtained by in situ polymerization of aniline in silica/phosphonate matrix, J Mater Sci (2009), 44, 6437–6446
2009 1,45122 5
A34
Gh. Ilia, N. Plesu, P.Sfirloaga, M. Vasile, A. Popa, S. Iliescu, Polyvinylphosphonic acid used in synthesis of organic inorganic hybrids by sol-gel method, Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials-Rapid Communications, 3 (12), (2009), pp. 1253-1258
2009 0,22680 0
13
A35
Lazau, C., Sfirloaga, P., Ratiu, C., Orha, C., Ioitescu, A., Miron, I., Novaconi, S., Hadaruga, D. I., Hadaruga, N. G., Bandur, G. N., Rusu, G., Grozescu, I., Synthesis of bioactive materials based on undoped/doped TiO2 and their nanocrystals with α- / β -cyclodextrins, J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mat.11(7)(2009)
2009 0,32990 1
A36
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden and H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Diamond paste based electrodes for the determination of sildenafil citrate (viagra), J.Solid State Electrochem., 14(6), 997-1000, 2010
2010 0,85539 2
A37
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, I. Balcu, M.C. Mirica, Simultaneous determination of L- and D-T4 using a sequential injection analysis/sensors system, Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 13, 497-501, 2010.
2010 1,64809 1
A38
R.I. Stefan, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, I. Balcu, M.C. Mirica, G.L. Radu, Determination of free L-T4 and free L-T3 from blood using the immunsensors/sequential injection analysis system, Anal.Lett., 43(7-8), 1119-1125, 2010
2010 0,48081 0
A39
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, N.S. Nhlapo, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioanalysis of (-) butaclamol using vancomycin and teicoplanin as chiral selectors, Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 13, 690-693, 2010
2010 1,64809
A40
Sfirloaga P, Novaconi S, Lazau C, Ratiu C, Orha C, Grozescu I, Vaszilcin N, Preparation and characterization of Ag doped TiO2 incorporated in natural zeolite, Journal Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, Volume: 12, Issue: 9, Pages: 1884-1888, 2010
2010 0,32990 0
A41
Vlazan, P.; Vasile, M.,Synthesis and characterization CoFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by the hydrothermal method. OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS-RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, 4 (9), pp. 1307-1309, 2010
2010 0,22680 0
A42
Miclau, M; Miclau, N;Hydrothermal synthesis of Si1-x SnxO2 single crystal, OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS-RAPID COMMUNICATIONS Volume: 4 Issue: 12 Pages: 1984-1986, 2010
2010 0,22680 0
A43
Mircea ŞTEFĂNESCU,Marcela STOIA,Oana ŞTEFĂNESCU,Corneliu DAVIDESCU,Gabriela VLASE,Paula SFÎRLOAGǍ, Synthesis and
2010 0,14956 0
14
characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/ethylene glycol /silica hybrids thermal analysis and ft-ir study, Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2010, 55(1), 17-23
A44
P. Sfirloaga, C. Ratiu, C. Lazau, C. Orha, I. Grozescu, N. Vaszilcsin, Preparation and characterization of Ag doped TiO2 incorporated in natural zeolite , JOAM (2010), vol. 12 (9), 1884-1888
2010 0,32990 0
A45
Vasile, M.,Vlazan, P., Bucur, A., Sfirloaga, P., Grozescu, I., Avram, N. N., Nanoparticle properties of ZnAl2O4 obtained by hydrothermal method, Optoelectron Adv Mat – Rapid Comm 4(2) 2010
2010 0,22680 0
A46
P. C. Fannin, C. N. Marin, I. Malaescu, N. Stefu, P. Vlazan, S. Novaconi, S. Popescu, Effect of the concentration of precursors on the microwave absorbent properties of Zn/Fe oxide nanopowders, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2010, DOI 10.1007/s11051-010-0032-1.
2010 2,92669 0
A47
P.C. Fannin, C.N. Marin, I. Malaescu, N. Stefu, P. Vlazan, S. Novaconi, P. Sfirloaga, S. Popescu, C. Couper, Microwave absorbent properties of nanosized cobalt ferrite powders prepared by coprecipitation and subjected to different thermal treatments, Materials & Design, 2010, doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2010.08.053.
2010 1,11991 0
A48
M.D. Stanescu, F. Harja, C. Mosoarca, A.D. Zamfir, Biogenic amines fingerprints evidenced by performant MS alanysis, Rev. Roum. Chim. 55, 1053-1059, 2010
2010 0,14956 0
A49
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, S.C. Balasoiu, O.R. Vasile , Micro- and nanosensors. Recent developments and features. A minireview, Anal.Lett., 43(7-8), 1111-1118, 2010
2010 0,48081 0
A50J.F. van Staden, R.I. Stefan-van Staden, Application of porphyrins in flow-injection analysis. A Review, Talanta, 80(5), 1598-1605, 2010
2010 1,64848 4
A51R.I. Stefan-van Staden, Enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl based on its molecular interaction with C70 fullerenes, Talanta, 81(3), 865-870, 2010
2010 1,64848 1
A52
R.I. Stefan-van Staden , Enantioanalysis of S-deprenyl based on its interaction with C60 fullerene derivatives ,Electrochim.Acta, 55(5), 1772-1777, 2010
2010 1,55318 0
A53 R.I. Stefan-van Staden, Enantioanalysis of D-histidine based on its interaction with [5-6] fullerene-C70 and diethyl (1,2-methanofullerene C70)-71-71-dicarboxylate, New J Chem, 36(4),
2010 2,14370 0
15
1141-1147, 2010
A54
J.F. van Staden, R.I. Stefan-van Staden, S.C. Balasoiu, Wireless electrochemical sensors. A tool for process control. The past. Present and the future. A mini-review,Crit Rev Anal Chem, 40(4), 226-233, 2010
2010 1,79394 1
A55
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, S.G. Bairu and J.F. van Staden, Diamond paste based electrodes for the determination of Ag(I), Anal.Math., 2(6), 650-652, 2010
2010 1,71064 0
A56
S.C. Balasoiu, R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, G.L. Radu, Carbon and diamond paste microelectrodes based on Mn(III) porphyrins for the determination of dopamine, Anal.Chim.Acta, 668, 201-206, 2010
2010 1,81010 0
A57
A. D. Zamfir, C. Flangea, D. G. Seidler, E. Sisu, J. Peter-Katalinić, Combining size-exclusion chromatography and fully automated chip-based nanoelectrospray quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry for structural analysis of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate in human decorin, Electrophoresis 32, 1639-1646, 2011
2011 1,31919 0
A58
E. Sisu, C. Flangea, A. Serb, A. Rizzi, A. D. Zamfir, High-performance separation techniques hyphenated to mass spectrometry for ganglioside analysis, Electrophoresis 32, 1591-1609, 2011
2011 1,31919 0
A59
C. Orha, A. Pop, C. Lazau, I. Grozescu, V. Tiponut, F. Manea, Structural characterization and the sorption properties of the natural and synthetic zeolite , JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS, Volume: 13, Issue: 5-6, Pages: 544-549, 2011
2011 0,32990 0
A60
C. Bandas(Ratiu), C. Lazau, A. DabicI, P. Sfarloaga, N. Vaszilcsin, V. Tiponut, I. Grozescu, Structural and morphological characterization of nanosized TiO2 particles prepared by sol-gel method, Journal Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 13 (2-4), pp. 399-404, 2011
2011 0,32990 0
A61
Lazau C.; Ratiu C.; Orha C.; R. Pode, F. Manea, Photocatalytic activity of undoped and Ag-doped TiO(2)-supported zeolite for humic acid degradation and mineralization , MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN Volume: 46, Issue: 11 Pages:1916-1921, 2011
2011 1,32943 0
A62 Bandas(Ratiu) C.; Lazau C.; Dabici A.; et al., Structural and morphological characterization of nanosized TiO(2) particles prepared by sol-gel method , JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS, Volume:13,
2011 0,32990 0
16
Issue:2-4, Pages: 399-404, 2011
A63
Carmen Lazau, Paula Sfirloaga, Corina Orha, Cornelia Ratiu, Ioan Grozescu, Development of a novel fast-hydrothermal method for synthesis of Ag-doped TiO2 nanocrystals , Materials Letters, Volume: 65, Issue: 2 pages: 337-339, 2011
2011 1,29336 0
A64
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, L. Holo,Enantioanalysis of L-histidine using enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on maltodextrins , Anal.Lett.,44(6), 968-975, 2011
2011 0,32990 0
A65
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, L. Holo,Enantioanalysis of L-histidine using enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on maltodextrins, Anal.Lett.,44(6), 968-975, 2011
2011 0,48081
A66
C. Mosoarca, R.M. Ghiulai, C. R. Novaconi, Ž. Vukelić, A.Chiriac, A.D. Zamfir , Application of chip-based nanoelectrospray ion trap mass spectrometry to compositional and structural analysis of gangliosides in human fetal cerebellum, Anal. Lett., 44, 1036-1049, 2011
2011 0,48081 0
A67
Popescu, S. A., Vlazan. P., Notingher, P. V., Novaconi, S., Grozescu, I., Bucur, A., Sfirloaga, P., Synthesis of Ni ferrite powders by coprecipitation and hydrothermal methods, J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mat.3(3)(2011)
2011 0,32990 0
A68
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, S.C. Balasoiu, J.F. van Staden,Disposable stochastic dot sensors for the assay of ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical samples, beverages and biological fluids, Anal.Lett., 44(13), 2280-2286, 2011
2011 0,48081
A69
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, R.M. Nejem, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on maltodextrins and their applications for the determination of L-vesamicol in serum samples, Current Pharm.Anal., 7(4), 253-257, 2011
2011 0,50631
A70
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, L. Holo, J.F. van Staden, Cyclodextrins based enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes and their applications for enantioanalysis of L-cysteine in urine, Current Pharm.Anal., 7(4), 258-261, 2011
2011 0,50631
A71
S.C. Balasoiu, R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, R.M. Ion, G.L. Radu, H. Y. Aboul-Enein, Amperometric dot-sensors based on zinc porphyrins for sildenafil citrate determination Electrochimica Acta, 58(31), 290-295, 2011
2011 1,55318
A72
Cornelia Marinescu , Ancuta Sofronia, Cristina Rusti, Roxana Piticescu, Viorel Badilita, Eugeniu Vasile, Radu Baies, Speranta Tanasescu, DSC investigation of nanocrystalline TiO2 powder,
2011 0,53333 1
17
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Volume 103, Number 1 / janvier 2011
A73
Ianoș Robert; Lazău Ioan; Păcurariu Cornelia; Sfîrloagă Paula , Aqueous combustion synthesis and characterization of ZnO powders , Materials Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 129, Issue 3, (2011), 881-886
2011 1,46681 0
A74
M. Ciopec, A. Negrea, L. Lupa, C. Davidescu, P. Negrea, P. Sfirloaga, Performance evaluation of the Fe-IR-120(Na)-DEHPA impregnated resin in the removal process of As(V) from aqueos solution, Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, (2011), 421-432
2011 1,64240 0
A75
A. Ieta, J. Primrose, D. Quill, M. Chirita and S. Allen,Characterization of water-ethanol electrosprays , Journal of Electrostatics ELSTAT-D-10-00146, Disponibil online DOI, 10.1016/j.elstat.2011.03.002
2011 1,02387
A76
M. Chiriţă, R. Bănică, A. Ieţa, I. Grozescu, Superparamagnetic unusual behavior of micrometric magnetite monodisperse monocrystals synthesized by Fe-EDTA thermal decomposition, Particulate Science and Technology, ID: UPST-2011-0111.R1
2011 0,70827
A77
S.Kumar, S. Marinel, M. Miclau, C. Martin, Fast synthesis of CuCrO2 delafossite by monomode microwave heating, Materials Letters, doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2011.11.091, 2011
2011 1,29336
A78
Bucur, A., Bucur, R., Vlase, T., Doca, N., Thermal analysis and high temperature x-ray diffraction of nano-tricalcium phosphate crystallization, J. Therm. Anal. Calorim acceptat, DOI: 10.1007/s10973-011-1753-9
2011 0,53333
A79
Todinca T., Tănasie C., Pröll T., Căta A., Perju D., Intensificarea absorbţiei CO2 în soluţii de carbonat de potasiu prin utilizarea promotorilor reacţiei chimice în faza lichidă. I. Evaluarea parametrilor absorbtiei fizice, Revista de Chimie, 58 (11), 2007, 1096-1099
2007 0,12480 1
A80
Tănasie C., Todinca T., Căta A., Gabor L., Moldovan R., Intensificarea absorbţiei CO2 în soluţii de carbonat de potasiu prin utilizarea promotorilor reacţiei chimice în faza lichidă. II. Absorbţie cu reacţie chimică: efectul promotorilor, Revista de Chimie, 58 (12), 2007, 1274-1277
2007 0,12480 0
A81 Ienascu, I.M.C., Lupea, A.X. Popescu, I.M., Pădure, M.A., Zamfir, A.D., The synthesis and characterization of some novel 5-chloro-2-(substituted alkoxy)-N-phenylbenzamide derivatives, J. Serb. Chem. Soc. 74 (8–9), 2009,
2009 0,48387 0
18
847–855.
A82
Ienascu, I.M.C., Padure, M.A., Balcu, I., Mirica, N., Zamfir, A.D., Chip-electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry of novel O-substituted salicylanilides, Journal Of Optoelectronics And Advanced Materials - Symposia, 1 (1), 2009, 88 – 91.
2009 0,32990 0
A83
Ienascu, I.M.C., Padure, M.A., Lupea, A.X., Balcu, I., Popescu, I.M., Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Salicylamide Derivatives with Potential Biological Activity, Rev. Chim., 64 (4), 2010, 368-371.
2010 0,12480 0
A84
C. M. Moldovan, O. Oniga, A. Pârvu, B. Tiperciuc, P. Verite, A. Pîrnău, O. Crişan, M. Bojiţă, R. Pop, Synthesis and anti-inflammatory evaluation of some new acyl-hydrazones bearing 2-aryl-thyazole, Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2011, 46, 526-534
2011 1,73116 0
A85
Ştefănuţ M.N., Căta A., Pop R., Moşoarcă C., Zamfir A.D., Anthocyanins HPLC-DAD and MS characterization, total phenolics and antioxidant activity of some berries extracts, Analytical Letters, 44 (18), 2011, 2843-2855
2011 0,48081 0
A86
Pop R., Ştefănuţ M.N., Căta A., Tănasie C., Medeleanu M., Ab initio study regarding the evaluation of the antioxidant character of cyanidin, delphinidin and malvidin, Central European Journal of Chemistry, 10 (1), 2012, 180-186.
2012 0,63930 0
A87
M. Gheju, I. Balcu Hexavalent chromium reduction with scrap iron in continuous-flow system.Part 2: Effect of scrap iron shape and size, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume: 182 Issue: 1-3 Pages: 484-493, 2010
2010 2,23204 4
A88
M. Gheju, I. Balcu - Removal of chromium from Cr(VI)polluted wastewaters by reduction with scrap iron and subsequent precipitation of resulted cations, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume: 196, Pages: 131-138, 2011
2011 2,23204 0
A89
M. Gheju, A. Iovi., I.Balcu - Hexavalent chromium reduction with scrap iron in continuous-flow system. Part 1: Effect of feed solution pH. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 153(1-2), pag. 655-662, 2008
2008 2,23204 8
A90
Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia, Mirica Marius Constantin, Balcu Ionel, Bucovicean, Carmen, Cretu, Carmen, Armeanu, Ileana, Fagadar-Cosma, Gheorghe - Syntheses, Spectroscopic and AFM Characterization of Some Manganese Porphyrins and Their Hybrid Silica Nanomaterials, Molecules, Volume 14, Issue 4, Pages: 1370-1388, 2009
2009 0,82353 7
19
A91
D. Condrat, C. Mosoarca, A.D. Zamfir, F. Crişan, M. Szabo, A. Lupea, Qualitative and quantitative analysis of gallic acid in Alchemilla vulgaris, Allium ursinum, Acorus calamus and Solidago virga-aurea by chip-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography, Cent. Eur. J. Chem. 8, 530–535, 2010
2010 0,63930 0
Other publications considered significantLabel O#
The reference (Authors, Article title, Title of journal/conference/book, Volume, Page, Year) (1)
Year published (2)
O1
A. Serb, C. Schiopu, C. Flangea, Ž. Vukelić, E. Sisu, L. Zagrean, A. D. Zamfir, High-throughput analysis of gangliosides in defined regions of fetal brain by fully automated chip-based nanoelectrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry, Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. 15, 541-553, 2009
2009
O2
A.D. Zamfir, C. Flangea, A. Serb, E.Sisu, N. Dinca, P. Bruckner, D. G. Seidler, Analysis of novel over- and undersulfated glycosaminoglycan sequences by enzyme cleavage and multiple stage mass spectrometry, Proteomics 9, 3435-3444, 2009
2009
O3
Balcu I., Segneanu A.E., Mirica M.C., Iorga M.I., Macarie C., Martagiu R., Microwaves Effect over Biomass Hidrolysis, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal July/August 2009 Vol 8 No 4 741-746, ed “Gheorghe Asachi” Tehnical University of Iasi Romania;
2009
O4
Balcu, I., Segneanu, A.E., Mirica M.C., Iorga, M.I., Badea, C., Fitigau I. F., Iron oxides from electrofilter ash for water treatment (arsenic removal), Environmental Engineering and Management Journal „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, July/August, vol.8, No. 4, 895-900, 2009;
2009
O5C. Flangea, A. Serb, E. Sisu, A.D. Zamfir, Chip-based mass spectrometry of brain gangliosides, Biochim. Biophys. Acta (Molec & Cell Biol. of Lipids) 1811, 513–535, 2011
2011
O6
C. Lazau, L. Mocanu, I. Miron, P. Sfirloaga, G. Tanasie, C. Tatu, A. Grui, I. Grozescu, Consideration regarding the use of TiO2 doped nanoparticles in medicine, Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, Volume: 2, Issue: 3, Pages:257-263, 2007
2007
O7
C. Ratiu, F. Manea, C. Lazau, I. Grozescu, C. Radovan, J. Schoonman, Electrochemical oxidation of p-aminophenol from water with boron-doped diamond anodes and assisted photocatalytically by TiO2-supported zeolite , Desalination, Volume: 260, Issue: 1-3, Pages:51-56, 2010
2010
O8
Claudia Popescu, Firuta Fitigau, Adina-Elena Segneanu, Ionel Balcu, Raluca Martagiu, Cristian-George Vaszilcsin - Separation and characterization of anthocyanins by analytical and electrochemical methods, Environmental Engeneering and Management Journal
20
O9
Cornelia Ratiu, Florica Manea, Carmen Lazau, Corina Orha, Georgeta Burtica, Ioan Grozescu and Joop Schoonman, Photocatalytically-assisted electrochemical degradation of p-aminophenol in aqueous solutions using zeolite-supported TiO2 catalyst , Chemical Papers, Volume: 65, Issue: 3, Pages: 289-298, 2011
2011
O10
D. I. Hădărugă, N. G. Hădărugă, C. Lăzău, C. Raţiu, C. Crăciun, I. Grozescu,Liposomes containing undoped and Au+ / Ag+ doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles, Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, Volume:5, Issue:4, Pages:919-925, 2010
2010
O11E. Sisu, C. Flangea, A.Serb, A. D. Zamfir, Modern developments in mass spectrometry of chondroitin and dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycans, Amino Acids, 41, 235-256, 2011
2011
O12
Ionel Balcu, Adina Segneanu, Marius Mirica, Mirela Iorga, Corina Macarie, Iuliana Popa, Anticorrosive protection system based on nanocomposites, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, July/August 2009, Vol.8, No.4, p. 765-769
2009
O13
M. Chiriţă, R. Bănică, A. Ieţa, I. Grozescu, Fe-EDTA Thermal Decomposition, a Route to Highly Crystalline Hematite (Alpha Fe2O3) Nanoparticle Synthesis, Particulate Science and Technology 28 (3), pp 217-225, 2010
2010
O14
M. Gankin, S. A. Popescu, B. Apter, N. Mirchin, I. Lapsker, A. Peled, Differential evanescent light intensity imaging of nanothin films: simulation of the scattered field,Physica Status Solidi C, vol. 1-4, 2011, DOI 10.1002/pssc.201084042.
2011
O15
Marius Dobrescu, Nandina Vlătănescu, Iuliana Popa, Bogdan Ţăranu, Ana Dragoş, Ioan Ţăranu, Obtaining Pyrazine-2,3-Dicarboxylic Acid Through Electrochemical Oxidation of Quinoxaline on Copper Electrode,Studia Universitis Babeş-Bolyai, Chemia, Cluj, LIV, Special Issue 1, 2009, p. 21-28
2009
O16
Mirica M.C., Iorga, M.I., Segneanu, A.E., Balcu, I., Buzatu, D., Vaszilcsin, C, Non-ferrous heavy metal metallurgy wastewater treatment by electro-floto-coagulation method, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, July/August, vol.8, No. 4, 889-893, 2009
2009
O17
Popa Iuliana, Ţăranu Bogdan, Dragoş Ana, Ţăranu Ioan, Marius Dobrescu - Obtaining Pyrazine-2,3-Dicarboxylic Acid Through Electrochemical Oxidation of Quinoxaline on Nickel Electrode, Studia Universitas Babes-Bolyai, Chemia, Cluj, 55(4), pag. 261-268, 2010
2010
O18R.I. Stefan-van Staden, Enantioanalysis of S-Ibuprofen using [5-6] Fullerene-C70 and diethyl (1,2-methanofullerene C70)-71-71-dicarboxylate, Analytical Methods, 2(1), 37-40, 2010
2010
O19
R.I. Stefan-van Staden, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, M.C. Mirica, M. Iorga, I. Balcu, Maltodextrins as chiral selectors in biomedical enantioanalysis. A minireview, The Open Chem Biomed Meth J , 2, 107-110, 2009
2009
O20RI Stefan-van Staden, R.M. Nejem, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on antibiotics for the determination of L- and D-glyceric acids,
2011
21
Int.J.Electrochem Volume 2011, Article ID427238, 4pg., doi:10.4061/2011/427238.
O21
RI Stefan-van Staden, T.R. Mashile, J.F. van Staden, H.Y. Aboul-Enein, Enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on α-, β- and γ- cyclodextrins as chiral selectors for the assay of S-deprenyl, The Open Chem Biomed Meth J , 3, 86-89, 2010.
2010
O22
Segneanu, A.E, Balcu, I., Mirica M.C., Iorga, M.I., Milea M., Urmosi Z., Reactive carbonates with leaving group for biologically active dipeptides synthersis, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, July/August, vol.8, No. 4, 797-801, 2009
2009
O23
Segneanu, A.E, Pop, R., Balcu, I, Macarie, C.A., Milea, M., Martagiu, R., Vaszilcsin, C.G. - Green synthesis of symmetrical carbonate FT-IR study, Environmental Engeneering and Management Journal
O24
Ţăranu B., Vlaia V., Stefănuţ M., Vlătănescu N., Dobrescu M., Popa I, Analysis Methods in Obtaining Pyrazine-2,3-Dicarboxylic Acid Through Electrochemical Oxidation of Quinoxaline, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, Vol.9, No.8, 2010, ISSN: 1582-9596, p.1115-1120
2010
O25
Ţăranu Ioan, Ţăranu Bogdan-Ovidiu, Popa Iuliana, Dragoş Ana, Dobrescu Marius-Ciprian - High performance electrolyzer with stainless steel anode for quinoxaline oxidation, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania
O26
Vaszilcsin, C.G., Segneanu, A.E, Balcu, I, Pop, R., Fitigau, F., Mirica, M.C., „Eco-friendly extraction and separation methods of capsaicines”, Environmental Engineering and Management Journal „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania, July/August, vol.9, No. 7, 1139-1143, 2010
2010
Patents registered at OSIMLabel P#
Year registered (1)
Authors (i) Patent title
P1 2008 Van Staden Raluca-Ioana, Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia-Lenuţa
Senzori stocastici, pentru determinarea acidului ascorbic, şi procedeu de realizare a acestora
P2 2009 Van Staden Raluca-ioana, Van Staden Jacobus Frederick
Microsenzor stocastic, pentru diagnosticarea cancerului la nivel molecular, şi procedeu de realizare a acestuia
P3 2010 Nitu M., I. Grozescu, C. Lăzău, Mocanu L. Dabici A.M.
Instalatie de sinteza a materialelor nanocristaline prin metoda hidrotermala asistata ultra acustic combinata cu incalzirea in camp de microunde
22
P4 2010 Nitu M., I. Grozescu, C. Lăzău, Dabici A.M.
Sistem de etansare a autoclavei pentru producerea materialelor nanocristaline prin metoda hidrotermala in camp de ultrasunete cu sonotroda imersata.
23
1.4. List of ongoing projects (according to structure to be set by ANCS)
Label CF#
Start date (mm-yyyy)
End date (mm-yyyy)
Project leader Project title Call name
Name of contracting authority
Total budget
(thousands of euros)
Budget allocated to the unit (thousands euros)
CF1 10-2008
11-2011
Marius Constantin
MIRICA
22-101. Monitoring autonomous station with applications in photovoltaic energy
field and the protection of the environment
NPRDI 2 4. Programm
e – Partnership
UEFISCDI 253,10 168,14
CF2 10-2008
12-2011
Terezia NYARI
22-124. Solar photocatalytic
hydrogen production using industrial
sulfurous wastes (H2S, SO2)
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 269,25 225,10
CF3 10-2008
12-2011
Stefan NOVACONI
22-127. Synthesis of nanostructured
semiconductors based on doped Bi2Te3 şi
Zn4Sb3 with applications in clean
energy
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 182,39 134,63
CF4 10-2008
12-2011
Adina SEGNEAN
U
32-129. Study on the preparation of some
reactive organic carbonates with
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
UEFISCDI 270,73 266,98
24
leaving group with applications in the
synthesis of biologically active
dipeptides
Partnership
CF5 10-2008
12-2011
Stefan NOVACONI
32-155. Nanostructured
magneto dielectric composite
development for intelligent materials
with pronounced absorption of microwaves
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 231,27 202,58
CF6 10-2008
11-2011
Mariana STEFANUT
52-145. Hypoglicemic and antioxidant dietary
supplements with anthocyanidinic
structure - SAHASA
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 201,29 181,29
CF7 10-2008
11-2011
Ioan TARANU
72-171. Functionalized polyaniline
microporous sensors with pendant groups, a novel material usable for the identification
and control of Parkinson’s Disease.
SEMPAR
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 186,47 127,65
CF8 10-2008
12-2011
Ioan GROZESC
U
72-156. Functionalized zeolithic materials with TiO2 monocrystals for wastewater treatment.
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 214,67 192,62
25
CF9 10-2008
12-2011
Ioan GROZESC
U
12-103. Micro/nanosensors
areas for detection in real time of aquatic
medium contamination with chemical reagents
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 13,38 13,38
CF10
10-2008
12-2012
Marius Constantin
MIRICA
42-122. Cardioprotective
strategies at reperfusion –
mitocondria as multiple therapeutic target
(CARDIO – MITO – PROT)
NPRDI 2 4.
Programme –
Partnership
UEFISCDI 9,75 9,75
CF11 ian.09 12-
2011
Jacobus VAN
STADEN
746. DOT sensors - a new concept in
sensors technology
NPRDI 2 - Ideas
Programme - 2008
UEFISCDI 108,25 108,25
CF12
04-2010
03-2012
Raluca VAN STADEN
411-1. Enantioselective Analysis Using
Microsensors and Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography for
Compounds of Clinical Importance
NPRDI 2 – Capacities Programme - Module III. 2009
ANCS 12,37 12,37
CF13
04-2010
11-2012
Raluca VAN STADEN
431. Detection of cancer and cancer
inhibition at molecular level
NPRDI 2 – Capacities Programme - Module III. 2009
ANCS 8,15 8,15
26
CF14
04-2010
11-2012
Ioan GROZESC
U
422. Technology for Zn oxide obtaining by
hydrothermal method and nanostructures
based on Zn oxide for optoelectronic devices
NPRDI 2 – Capacities Programme -Module III. 2009
ANCS 11,46 102,13
CF15
03-2010
05-2012
Ioan GROZESC
U
MNT-7-027. Piezoelectric functionalised
materials for food quality control and security – PIM-FCS
ERA NET UEFISCDI 182,75 102,13
CF16
09-2010 09-2013
Marius Constantin
MIRICA
907. Renewable Energies –
Photovoltaics – Laboratory
POS-CCE
M.E.C.M.A. – A.M. by A.N.C.S. –
O.I.
7500,00 7500,00
CF17
04-2010
09-2012
Ioan GROZESC
U
63700. Human resources
development by postdoc research in
micro and nanotechnologies field
POS-DRU A.M. 33,94 33,94
CF18
10-2008 10-2012 Marinela
MICLAU
214040. SOPRANO – Spin and Orbital
Physics : Research of Advanced New Oxides
FP7 European Comission 443,78 443,78
CF19 oct.11 oct.14 Raluca VAN
STADEN
Stochastic microsensors as new tools for fast assay of
substances of biological importance
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-
3 UEFISCDI 375,00 375,00
27
CF20 ian.12 dec.14
Jacobus VAN
STADEN
Hightech-based Micro/Nanostructured Sensors Devices and Microreactors in Real-time for Automated Process Analytical
Multianalyte Platform Systems multianalitic
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-
3 UEFISCDI 375,00 375,00
CF21 oct.11 oct.13 Bogdan
CALENIC
Tissue engineered oral mucosa developed
from keratinocyte stem cells using specific
substrate topographies
PN-II-RU-PD-2011-3
– PN IIUEFISCDI 75,00 75,00
CF22 oct.11 oct.14 Ioan NEDA
Immunomodulante Fluoroglycopeptide
Molecular Architectures
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-
3 UEFISCDI 425,00 425,00
28
1.5. List of major equipments and infrastructures
Label IS#
Date of acquisition (mm-yyyy)
Value of acquisition (thousands
of euros)
Source of
funds
Name of infrastructure List of projects using the infrastructure (1)
IS1 2007 96,055 budget Atomic force microscope
CF2, CF3, CF5, CF8, CF9, CF11, CF14, CF15, CF17, CF19, CF20
IS2 2007 108,054 budget Lambda UV / VIS Spectrophotometer CF8, CF9, CF14, CF15
IS3 2007 252,113 budget Mass Spectrometer CF4, CF6, CF9, CF22
IS4 2007 631,680 budgetX-Ray Diffractometer - X'Pert PRO with accessories
CF2, CF3, CF5, CF8, CF9, CF14, CF15, CF17, CF18,
IS5 2007 191,125 budget Electron microscope with baleaj
CF2, CF3, CF5, CF6, CF8, CF9, CF14, CF15, CF17, CF18,
IS6 2007 62,943 budget Gas chromatograph + mass spectrometer
CF2, CF4, CF6, CF7, CF17, CF22
IS7 2007 56,024 budget Organic carbon and nitrogen analyzer CF4, CF6, CF17
IS8 2007 85,463 budget mass spectrometer LCMS CF2, CF4, CF6, CF7, CF17, CF22
IS9 2007 83,650 budget Modular system for HPLC chromatography
CF2, CF4, CF6, CF7, CF17, CF22
IS10 2008 48,662 budget Miniature Fiber Optic Spectrometer CF4, CF6, CF17
IS11 2008 43,165 budget Physico-chemical analysis device
CF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
IS12 2008 93,767 budget Physico-chemical analysis device
CF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
IS13 2008 165,427 budget Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
CF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
IS14 2008 40,700 budget Spectrophotometer CF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
IS15 2009 89,217 budget SPRCF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
IS16 2010 67,012 budget RSL-2 PINPOINTER Spectrum Analyzer
CF11, CF12, CF13, CF19, CF20, CF21
29
2. Self-assessment report for the previous 4 years2.1. Administrative structure diagram of the institution
The management structure of INCEMC
1. Board of Directors1. Nicolae Mirica – President– General manager, INCEMC2. Ioan Grozescu – Member– Chairman of the scientific council, INCEMC3. Claudia Moldovanu –Member– Representative of Ministry of Education
and Research – ANCS4. Ionel Olari – Member– Representative of Ministry of Public Finance – Public Finances County General Directorate, Timis 5. Cornel Chis –Member– Representative of Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection, Territorial Labour Inspectorate6. Nicolae Avram –Member– Specialist, UVT7. Aurel Iovi –Member– Specialist, UPT
2. Scientific Council:1. Ioan Grozescu –President2. Ioan Ţăranu –Vice president3. Nicolae Mirica –Member 4. Marius Mătieş –Member 5. Marinela Miclău –Member 6. Marius Constantin Mirica –Member 7. Terezia Nyari –Member
3. Direction Board:1. Nicolae Mirica – President– General manager, INCEMC2. Ioan Grozescu – Member– Scientific manager, INCEMC3. Ionel Balcu – Member– Technical manager, INCEMC4. Simona Drăghiciu – Member– Economic manager, INCEMC
The Organisational Structure of INCEMC (presented in the organizational chart – ANNEX)
The organizational structure of INCEMC Timisoara contains 3 departments and 11 compartments, as follows:
Department of Applied Electrochemistry (located in Timisoara): Electrochemistry and electrochemical technologies laboratory; Environmental protection technologies laboratory; Renewable energies laboratory; Bioelectrochemistry laboratory;
Department of Applied Physics (located in Timisoara): Solid state theory laboratory;
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Nanomaterial synthesis laboratory; Crystalline materials synthesis laboratory; Nanocomposites and thin layers syntheses laboratory;
Department of Analysis and Characterization (located in Timisoara): Chromatography laboratory; Electrochemical analysis laboratory; Atomic absorption spectroscopy laboratory; Corrosion laboratory; Photonic spectroscopy laboratory; Mass spectrometry laboratory; Optical and electronic microscopy laboratory; X-ray diffraction laboratory
PATLAB laboratory (located in Bucharest); Financial-accounting compartment, financial and administrative control; Legal compartment; Audit compartment; Human resources compartment; Project management compartment; Public relations, mass-media, dissemination of information compartment; Public acquisitions, marketing compartment; Quality assurance compartment; Technologic transfer compartment; Industrial property compartment; Micro-production compartment.
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ANEXA
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2.2. General activity report of the institution (maximum 5 pages)
National Institute for Research and Development for Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter is a Romanian legal entity, being coordinated by the National Authority for Scientific Research and has legal status of National Institute.
It works and operates in accordance with the articles of Government Ordinance no. 57/2002 on scientific research and technological development, approved with amendments by Law no. 324/2003, as amended, and the Rules of Organization and Functioning own approved by Government. no. 1315 of 25.11.1996, amended by Government. 1402 of 10.11.2005 and is registered with number 3297 in The Register of Potential Contractors.
Administrative management of the institute is provided by the Administrative Board of Directors, scientific management by the Scientific Council and the operative management by the Direction Committee.
The Institute is headquartered in Timisoara, Aurel Paunescu Podeanu Street, no.144, phone: 0256222119, fax: 0256204698, web page: www.incemc.ro.
According to the UNESCO classification, the institute specialized field is 2209, 2210, 2211, 2213, 2301, 2303, 3303, 3328; and 7219 in conformity to the CAEN classification.
The National Institute is comprised of three subunits without juridical personality of it’s own, but with clearly defined research areas according to the socio-economic needs of national and international demands:a) Department of Electrochemistry, located in Timisoara, Aurel Paunescu Podeanu Street no. 144; b) Condensed Matter Research Department, located in Timisoara, Plautius Andronescu Street, no. 1; c) Electrochemistry Laboratory, based in Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei Str, no. 202.
Institute's duty is to conduct scientific research and technological development aimed at solving scientific, technical and technological problems with national and international interest which individualizes and gives scientific personality to the institute for evolution, safety and welfare of the person and the increasing of the scientific visibility of the Romanian research in a cleaner and safer world.
The activity of the institute consists mainly of research and technological development activities and includes fundamental and applied research on: the development of facilities, processes, methods and advanced technologies in the field of electrochemistry and condensed matter, obtaining new materials, developing surveys, forecasts, technical regulations and business planes and the improvement of specialized staff. In addition to these, the production and marketing activities in electrochemistry, chemistry, physics, engineering and materials technology, interdisciplinary areas and adjacent recovery and technology transfer activities are performed.
Research and development activities of the Institute took place in the last four years, both within national research and development programs, like CEEX, PN2 and Core, as well as in international programs like FP7and bilateral. Projects completed or in progress had in sight the approach of new themes, in national and international environment, with great applicability in various fields of applied science and technology.
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This research was made possible by the Romanian Government who made investments in research, which contributed on the one hand to the acquisition of innovative research equipment and the improvement of research staff as well as the auxiliary staff, and on the other hand, due to the international opening of the institute because of the modern infrastructure acquired, research topics of broad international interest were born.
Therefore, into the National Plan of Research Development and Innovation, we elaborated fundamental and basic applied research techniques aimed at: 1. Developing the electrochemistry and chemistry scientific areas addressing: a)
fundamental aspects of electrode processes and electrochemical reactors; b) chemical and electrochemical syntheses in organic and inorganic chemistry; c) recovery of useful materials from solid liquid and/or waste; d) chemical and electrochemical techniques in environmental protection; e) chemical and electrochemical analytical techniques; f) electrochemical energy conversion and storage; g) hydroelectro-metalurgy; h) electrochemical corrosion of metals and alloys; i) galvanotechnics;
2. Developing the research of physics and condensed matter technologies, following: a) studies of solid state physics; b) physics and engineering technology; c) nanomaterials and nanotechnologies; d) crystalline or amorphous new materials; e) processes and technologies at high pressures and temperatures; f) processes and technologies at low pressure and high temperature; g) plasma processes and technologies in RF, microwave, etc.; h) colloidal and solvotermal processes; i) physics of thin layers, surfaces and interfaces; j) physicochemical analysis of materials; k) design and implementation of components, devices, facilities and research equipment.
3. Development of experimental techniques, methodologies and measurements for its own activities and others trough recovery actions by technology transfer of research results to the economical operators with state-owned or private monetary capital.
As part of research in international programs, the institute is a project partner in a PC7 Marie Curie project for preparing the PhD training of young researchers from countries of the European Union and others in the field of physics and material engineering and is coordinating a bilateral project with Moldavian Republic in the field of synthesis and optical characterization of zinc oxide.
In other scientific research and technological development activities, the institute has a series of applied research and / or technological development work planes for resolving concrete issues from the research and other related areas, technical assistance, technology transfer, scientific studies and advice, tests and physicochemical measurements.
In the Core Program the aim is the development of a series of preliminary theoretical and applicable studies for developing large technological projects; we did applicable and fundamental research having as goals the following:
a) unconventional methods to reduce energy consumption in electrochemical technology; b) electrochemical and unconventional environmental technologies; c) corrosion protection; d) physico-chemical processes in nanoscale; e) Collection and characterization of nanostructured materials.
In the sectoral plans we made an important contribution to the development strategies of our own field of activity, research and development platform with national partners, preparation of studies, strategies and programs to areas of activity.
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A series of related research and development activities were carried out in our own domain, as required by law, consisting of:
a) improvement and specialization in specific areas of the National Institute; b) coordination of activities in the work of bachelor, master of science and PhD students; c) expert advice and assistance; d) activities of micro, and small series manufacturing of unique, equipment, apparatus, equipment and devices.
National Institute research directions are aimed at:1. Modern methods of environmental monitoring, prevention and elimination of
environmental pollution, chemical and electrochemical techniques in environmental protection;
2. Energy aspects of electrochemical systems: reducing energy consumption and profitability of electrochemical processes;
3. Modern electrochemical technologies: electrochemical reactor theory, bringing together scientific and engineering disciplines such as electrochemistry, chemistry, physics, engineering, transport phenomena of mass and heat, mathematical modeling and optimization, chemical kinetics;;
4. Biotechnologies;5. Equipment, techniques, methods and technologies for obtaining advanced
materials, with new or improved properties;6. Modern methods of analysis and material characterization;7. Applications of advanced materials in the socio-economic fields, 8. Nanotechnologies.
The development strategy of the National Institute was depending on funds for research and development and investment to address an investment policy geared to the acquisition of high performance laboratory equipment and instrumentation, aligned with international standards, to improve research and auxiliary staff research to be able to exploit them and to conduct fundamental and applied research oriented at international priority in socio-economic areas, to contribute at the increasing of international visibility of Romanian researchers and research.
Following this initiative, this time the institute has acquired the major research infrastructures: X-Ray Diffractometer-X'Pert PRO with accessories, Electron microscopy with baleaj+EDAX, Atomic force microscopy, Mass Spectrometer, Gas chromatograph+mass spectrometer, Modular system for HPLC chromatography, RSL-2 PINPOINTER Spectrum Analyzer, Lambda UV/VIS/NIR Spectrophotometer, FT-IR spectrometer.
In 2008, the Institute organized an international conference "Physics of Condensed Matter" and Anniversary Symposium "INCEMC - 10 years of existence", Timisoara, 2007 and participated in organizing the 2010 International Conference on Condensed Matter Physics and Semiconductors, in Chisinau, Moldavian Republic.
Research results have seen various forms of exploitation, both by developing methods, processes and technologies, materials, studies, and through scientific papers published in international journals with high impact factor, communicated at international scientific meetings in the country and abroad, patented or patent pending, presented at international fairs and exhibitions where they got their diplomas, medals and international recognition.
During this period, institute researchers have developed and published a total of over 100 scientific articles published in prestigious journals: European J. Mass Spectrometry, Analytical Letters, Analytical Biochemistry, Crystal Res. Technology, Phys. Rev., Materials Chemistry and Physics, Crystal Research and Technology Chemistry Of Materials, Materials Letters, J. of Optoelectronic and Adv. Mat.,
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Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry J. Mater. Chemistry, Mat. Research Bulletin, J. Chromatography A., Glycobiology, Electrophoresis, etc., have participated in international scientific conference: American Society for Mass Spectrometry Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Germany Society for Mass Spectrometry Conference, International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering, Central and Eastern European Conference on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geo Conference, International Conference on Hydrogen Production, APS March Meeting, International Congress Of Chemical And Process Engineering 24-28 August 2008, and in the international invention salons, fairs and exhibitions:
1. Geneva 2011 – gold medal,2. Zagreb 2011 – gold medal,3. Geneva 2010 – special jury award, 4. Geneva 2010 - degree of excellence, 5. Geneva 2010 – two gold medals, 6. Moscova 2010 – silver medal,7. Cluj-Napoca 2010 - two gold medals,8. Geneva 2009 – gold medal and ARCA special award of Inventors Union of Croatia9. Moscova 2009 - gold medal, 10. Varsovia 2009 - gold medal and special award of Polish Federation of Engineers Association11. Moscova 2009 – gold medal and TECHNOPOL award,12. Zagreb 2009 – silver medal,13. Bruxelles, EUREKA 2009 – gold medal and AGEPI cup, R. Moldova, 14. Bucuresti, Inventika 2009 – gold medal,15. Zagreb 2007 – silver medal.16. First place (2007, 2009, 2010) Top companies in Timis county, Creativity and R & D section.
A careful observation of the evolution of publishing activity and international visibility dynamics highlights the increasing number of publications and international participation of the institute, according to a relatively constant number of researchers, which shows that the investment made in the development and research activity of the institute was and still is well focused and motivated.
During this period, a result of previous actions to identify and initiate new national and international partnerships, the institute was part of the consortia and national and international networks and has participated as coordinator or partner in more than 30 research development projects, in national and international programs: CEEX, PN, FP7.
Last but not least, creating TIM Science and Technology Park Science Park opens new opportunities and perspectives of collaboration with innovative profile businesses interested in the results of research conducted in the institute.
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2.3. Activity report by team
E1. Hydrothermal research teamTeam Leader: Dr. Marinela Miclau
Hydrothermal team is the first Romanian team which synthesis the crystalline materials by hydrothermal method using high temperature and pressure. The main activity of our group is the hydrothermal synthesis of the piezoelectric materials (single crystal and powder) for electronic applications. The team has international reputation in the field of new piezoelectric single crystal obtained by Ge doping in the SiO2 structure, only 3 international teams were able to obtain it. Now, with one of these, Centre de Ressources Hautes Pressions, Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condenséede Bordeaux, France, we started collaboration and we will propose a European project in the piezoelectric materials domain.
Another new direction is the hydrothermal synthesis of the thermoelectric materials. Marinela Miclau’s stage at CRISMAT Laboratory, ENSICAEN, CAEN, France (2003-2004 Marie Curie Fellowship) was followed by the good collaboration between our institutes in the thermoelectric materials domain. This collaboration gave the opportunity for our PhD students to follow the stages and to prepare their PhD thesis at CRISMAT. In 2008, FP7- PEOPLE – 2007 – 1 – 1 – ITN-214040 SOPRANO open a new direction in synthesis of thermoelectric materials by hydrothermal method. The aim of the project is to train predocs and post-docs in the field of spin and orbital physics in transition metal oxides. In the scope of this network, the search for new compounds will be made by standard solid state chemistry in Caen (CRISMAT) and Bordeaux (ICMCB) laboratories, also in charge of the structural and physical property characterizations, by high pressure techniques in Liverpool and Madrid, and by hydrothermal synthesis in Timisoara. The origin of physical properties will be studied in close relationship by different spectroscopy techniques (XANES, dichroïsm: Köln University; Raman, IR conductivity, inelastic neutron scattering: MPG Stuttgart). The collaboration between new oxides discoverers and specialists of the orbital/spin physics will allow the creation of a unique trening, research potential on metal-transition oxides and the developing of our group in a international network.The hydrothermal team is a young research team focused on:
1. Hydrothermal synthesis of new crystalline materials single crystal growth: hydrothermal synthesis of single crystal SiO2, Ge, Sn
doped SiO2 , ZnO, Al1-xGaxPO4 and Ga1-xFexPO4
piezoelectric ceramics layered cobalt oxides for thermoelectric applications chromium oxides Cu and Y based delafossite compounds vanadium based oxides.
2. Design , manufacturing and testing of autoclaves Low pressure and temperature autoclaves
-Molarity, up to 4 M-Temperature up to 250 °C
Average pressure and temperatures autoclaves-Temperature up to 400 °C -Pressure up to 400-600 bar pressure
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-Molarity up to 2.5 M High pressure and temperatures autoclaves
-temperature up to 500 °C -pressures up to 3000 bar -Molarity up to 2M
3. Characterization (XRD, SEM-EDS, UV-Vis-NIR, AFM/STM, piezoelectric measurements, dielectric measurements).
The projects obtained by the group through National and International competitions are:
Advanced piezoelectric single crystals with alpha-quartz structure for electronics and communications, obtained in extreme hydrothermal conditions (National Research Program, CEEX, 2006 – 2010)
Novel piezoelectric sensors based on α-quartz type materials, for safety and quality control food industry (National Research Program PNII, 2007-2010)
Advanced piezoelectric materials functionalized for the quality and security control of food (International Cooperation’s Program: MNT-ERA.NET, 2010-2012)
Hydrothermal growth of ZnO piezoelectric single crystals (National Research Program PN 0934 0302 , 2009-2011)
Development of ZnO single crystals and nanostructures for optoelectronics. (Joint Research Program with Institute for industrial technology and electronics engineering of Moldavian Academy of Science, Chisinau, Republic Moldova, 2010-2012)
FP7- PEOPLE – 2007 – 1 – 1 – ITN-214040, cu titlul Spin and Orbital Physics : Research for Advanced New Oxides (SOPRANO), 2008-2012
The group has constant collaborations and important joint publications with the following national and international research laboratories:
CRISMAT Laboratory, ENSICAEN, Caen, France ICMCB, Bordeaux, France Universität zu Köln, Germany; Max-Plank-Gesellschaft, Germany; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; University of Liverpool, United-Kingdom University from Szeged, Hungary, Nanocolltech Ltd., Hungary Institute for industrial technology and electronics engineering of Moldavian
Academy of Science, Chisinau, Republic Moldova Universitatea de Vest Timisoara Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole si Medicina Veterinara a Banatului Timisoara
– USAMVBT Universitatea Politehnica Bucuresti
Recent publications
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1. M. Miclau, J. Hejtmanek, R. Retoux, K. Knizek, Z. Jirak, R. Fresard, A. Maignan, S. Hebert, M. Hervieu, and C. Martin, Structural and Magnetic Transitions in CaMn1-xWxO3, Chem.Mater.19, 4243-4251, 2007.
2. M. Miclau, R. Bucur, P. Vlazan, N. Miclau, R. Trusca, I. Grozescu, Hydrothermal synthesis of Al1-xGaxPO4 and Ga1-xFexPO4 α-quartz single crystal, Journal of optoelectronics and advanced materials, vol.9, no.9, 2792-2794, 2007.
3. M. Miclau, R. Bucur, M. Poienar, I.Grozescu, N. Miclau, I. Muscutariu, A. Grozescu, P. Vlazan, The new piezoelectric single crystal obtained by the Ge doping in the SiO2 structure. APS March Meeting, American Physical Society, 16-20 martie 2009, Pitsburg, SUA;
4. Martin C, MIclau M, Hebert S, Giot M, Maignan A, Andre G, Bouree-Vigneron F, Magnetic study of CaMn0.96Mo0.04O3, canting vs. Phase separation, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Volume : 321 Issue : 23 Pages : 3938-3944, 2008.
5. M. Miclau, N. Miclau, M. Poienar and I. Grozescu, A new piezoelectric single crystal obtained by Ge doping in the SiO2 structure, Cryst. Res. Technol. 44, No. 6, 577 – 580, 2009.
6. M. Miclau, N. Miclau, Hydrothermal synthesis of Si1-xSnxO2 single crystal, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials - Rapid Communications, vol.4, nr.12, pag.1984-1987, 2010.
7. M. Miclau, Nouveaux cristaux alpha- quartz obtenus par croissance hydrothermale , oral presentation, CRISTECH, 6-8 October 2008
8. S.Kumar, S. Marinel, M. Miclau, C. Martin, Fast synthesis of CuCrO2 delafossite by monomode microwave heating, Materials Letters, doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2011.11.091, 2011.
National patentsM. Miclau, R. Bucur, P. Vlazan, I. Grozescu- Process for synthesis of Si1-xGexO2 type monocrystals with alpha-quartz structure in extreme hydrothermal conditions, 2008
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E2. Multifunctionale Micro- and NanomaterialsTeam Leader: Dr. Carmen Lazau
In the National Institute of Research-Development for Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter it was developed a research team based on nanostructured materials synthesis and development of innovating synthesis methods of different materials.
For nanostructured materials synthesis were developed modern synthesis laboratories equipped with high-generation research equipments and original installations, developed in our institute.
Besides the classic synthesis methods for materials obtaining, like as: sol-gel, classic hydrothermal, microwave-assisted hydrothermal, were designed and accomplished new installation with high originality degree for hydrothermal synthesis of nanomaterials. Thus, for obtaining of materials with high crystallinity degree and low dimensional dispersion were developed hydrothermal installations with immersed sonotrode and hydrothermal with ultrasound and microwave heating.
The materials developed by our team through the previously methods mentioned are:
- Materials based on nanostructured titanium dioxide undoped and doped with metallic and non-metallic ions;
- Nanostructured materials based on Bi2Te3 doped with Sb, Sn and Ag ions;- Nanostructured materials based on Zn4Sb3;
- Nanostructured ferrite materials on type AxFe3-xO4, where x=0.5; 0.8; 1; 1.2; 1.5; and A= Co, Cu, Ni, Zn.
- Nanostructured materials on type AB2O4, where A=Zn and B= Ga, Al, undoped and doped with rare earths.
The scientific results obtained were appreciated at the national and international level, and presented like as invited papers, published papers in prestigious international journals, cited, awarded and published in important journals from the field.
Our team acquired a national and international reputation in nanostructured materials field, and in the period 2005-2012 our group coordinated some of the national and international projects, published more than 37 original papers in journals with high impact factor, and communicated more than 20 oral presentation or poster presentation at national and international conferences and more that 10 national petents.In the present our team is involved in national and international projects based on developing of nanostructured materials with applications in different fields, like as medicine, biology, environment protection, agriculture, etc.
The projects coordinated by our team in the National competitions are: ‘Obtaining by alternative methods of TiO2 nanocrystals doped with metallic ions. The
study of the applications for health, biology, environment.” 2007 – 2009 “Use of TiO2 doped nanoparticles functionalized zeolite materials for sewage
treatment in order to recirculation” 2008-2011 “The establishment of the action and stress protector effects and/or
immunostimulators of new biologic active materials ” 2007-2010 “Synthesis of functionalized zeolite materials with doped titanium dioxide
nanoparticules and testing in water potabilization pilot stations ” 2007-2010 “Virtual center for integrated technologies with applications of the electro-ultra
acoustic energy in the advanced materials engineering” 2006- 2008 “Nanocomposite advanced materials with antibactericidal, of self-cleaning
properties, and integrated structures of concentrators of solar energy used in constructions sites” 2005- 2008
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Achievement of some nanocomposites/nanocrystals with applications in biotechnology, agriculture, food industry, health and environment protection” 2005-2008
“Piezoelectric advanced monocrystals with alpha-quartz structure obtained under extreme hydrothermal conditions, for electronics” 2005- 2008Our team has constant and important common publications with the following
research teams: “University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes” Timisoara, research team Prof. Dr. Carmen Bunu, University “Politehnica” Timisoara research team Conf. Dr. Florica Manea, Technische Universität Graz / Institut f. Angewandte Geowissenschaften Austria, research team Prof. Dr. Martin Dietze, Technical University from Delft, The Netherlands, research team Prof. Dr. Joop Schoonman, University from Szeged, Hungary, research team Prof. Dr. Imre Dekany.National and International awards obtained by our team: Experimental installations developed in the INCEMC, installations in patenting registration, were presented to the national and international innovation salons where were awarded with awards and medals: - „Installation for nanocrystalline materials synthesis in ultrasonic field by immersing the sonotrode” Silver Medal la- 8th International fair of innovations, new product and technologies ARCA 2007, Zagreb, Croatia , - „Synthesis installation of nanocrystalline materials obtained through hydrothermal assisted ultrasonic method combined with microwave heating” Gold Medal at -The Belgian and International Trade Fair for Technological Innovation EUREKA, Bruxxels, 2010 and Salon of Innovations - ProInvent, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2010; Silver Medal at - International Salon of Innovations and Investments 2010, Moscow, Russia si International Warsaw Invention Show IWIS, Poland 2010;- “Hydrothermal method for rapid synthesis of nanomaterials by autoclave immersion in thermo stated bath in molten salts and silicone oils” Gold Medal la International Salon of Innovation, Geneva 2011 and International fair of innovations, new product and technologies ARCA 2011, Zagreb;-„Hydrothermal method for nanomaterials synthesis by assisted heating” - International Salon of Innovation, Geneva 2010 – Gold Medal.
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E3. “Materials and structures for solar energy conversion” (MASSEC)Team leader Dr.Terezia Nyari
The first researches on materials and structures for solar energy conversion started in INCEMC more than 10 years ago, at the initiative of Dr. Terezia Nyari. In these years, there have been addressed several research topics of international interest in the field: micro- and nanostructured materials via colloidal processing; advanced nanocrystalline materials type I-III-VI2, II-III2-VI4, II-VI/I-III-VI2 obtained by hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted methods; oxide and chalcogenide thin films and structures deposited by innovative methods (spray pyrolysis, hydrothermal, solvothermal, electrochemical); chalcogenide visible active photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production.
Expertise
Solid state physics, inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry; Ternary and multinary chalcogenide compound semiconductors:
crystal growth (chemical transport reactions, hydrothermal) and characterization of ternary chalcogenide compound semiconductors (II-III2-VI4, I-III-VI2) and solid solutions based on them; synthesis (hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted) and characterization of micro- and nanostructured ternary chalcogenide compound semiconductors (II-III2-VI4, I-III-VI2) and solid solutions based on them; thin film deposition (spray pyrolysis, hydrothermal/ solvothermal, electrochemical); characterization (XRD, SEM-EDS, UV-Vis-NIR, AAS, AFM/STM).
Chalcopyrite-based (CIGS) thin film solar cellsPhotocatalytic hydrogen production using sulphide photocatalysts (type II-III2-
VI4, II-VI/I-III-VI2)
Projects developed in the period 2007-2011Photoelectrolytic hydrogen production (National Research Program CEEX – Partner, 2006-2008)Photonic opal nanostructures with application to solar cells (National Research Program PN, 2007-2008)Development of chalcopyrite-based solar cells (National Research Program PN, 2009-2011)Solar photocatalytic hydrogen production using industrial sulfurous wastes (H2S, SO2) (National Research Program PN II, 2008-2011) http://www.icmct.ro/H2Solar/index.html
Recent publications (2007-2011)1. R. Banica, Contributions to the synthesis of materials for CuInS2 based solar
cells, “Politehnica “ Publishing House, Timisoara, 2009; ISBN: 978-606-554-021-7
2. R. Banica, P. Barvinschi, N. Vaszilcsin, T. Nyari: A Comparative Study of the Electrochemical Deposition of Molybdenum Oxides Thin Films on Copper and Platinum, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 483 (2009) 402–405
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3. R. Banica, T. Nyari, P. Barvinschi, P. Negrea, N. Vaszilcsin: Early stage formation of CuInS2 nanocrystals and microspheres by ambient pressure solution synthesis in glycerol, J.Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 11 (7) (2009) 950 – 956
4. R. Banica, N. Vaszilcsin, T. Nyari, G. Bandur, Study on the Electrodeposition of Molybdenum Oxides on Copper Support, Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Chemia, 2 (2009) 87.
5. E. Indrea, S. Dreve, D.T.l Silipas, G. Mihailescu, L. Olenic, V. Danciu, V. Cosoveanu, A. Nicoara, L.E. Muresan, E.J. Popovici, V. Popescu, H.I. Nascu, V.R. Tetean, G.L. Baia, T. Nyari: Semiconductor photoelectrodes for solar water splitting, J.Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 10 (9) (2008) 2213 – 2222
6. R. Banica, T. Nyari*, A. I. Bucur, Zn2x(CuIn)1-xS2 photocatalysts synthesis by a hydrothermal process using H4EDTA as complexing agent, International Conference on Hydrogen Production (ICH2P-11), 19-22 June 2011, Thessaloniki, Greece, Book of Abstracts (submitted to Int. Journal of Hydrogen Energy)
Patent applications:1. Banica R. N., Gurgu R., Nyari T., Photoreactor, Patent application OSIM no. U
/ 00071 / 09.12.20102. Banica R., Nyari T., Novaconi St., Method and installation for microwave-
assisted synthesis of multinary chalcogenide semiconductors, Patent application OSIM no. A 01210 / 24.11.2011
Collaborations: Institute of Applied Physics Chisinau, Moldova Technical University Chisinau, Moldova University of Szeged, Hungary KFKI Budapest, Hungary National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular
Technologies INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca Institute of Chemistry of the Romanian Academy Timisoara National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotope
Technologies Ramnicu Valcea The West University of Timisoara Politehnica University Timisoara
Research interest / Partner search in the fieldsSolar energy conversion (solar cells, photocatalysis)New materials for thin film and nanostructured solar cellsSolar hydrogen production (photocatalytic H2S / water splitting,
photoelectrochemical water splitting)
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E4. Biopolimeri, proteomica si glicomicaTeam leader : Prof.dr. Alina Diana Zamfir
After habilitation in Germany, Prof. Dr. Zamfir returned to Romania where she established in 2007 the first Romanian group of Biological Mass Spectrometry at Mass Spectrometry Laboratory of National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, it is a young research group focused on and committed to development of novel mass spectrometry and related hyphenated methods for biopolymer analysis and their direct application in proteomics and glycomics for biomedical research.
Since 2008, the novel MS protocols developed by the group were successively introduced in the following areas of research: a) glycolipidomics: investigation of ganglioside expression and structure in human brain in health and disease for determination of biomarkers to be used for early diagnosis, treatment and vaccine development; b) glycoproteomics: analysis of protein glycoforms and glycosaminoglycans from different proteoglycans expressed in the extracellular matrix or central nervous system, which are of high biological relevance with respect to molecular interactions and their implications in several diseases;c) glycomics of free oligo- and polysaccharides: development of high-throughput methods for screening, sequencing and structural analysis of various complex mixtures of glycans among which O-glycans from body fluids of patients suffering from lysosomal storage diseases, congenital disorders of glycosylation, fructooligosaccharides produced by bacteria and long-chain functionalized polysaccharides. Obtained results were appreciated at national and international level and presented as invited or contributed lectures, review or contributed papers in prestigious journals, cited, awarded or advertised through “highlights upon new technology” published by several important journals in the field.
The laboratory is equipped with most advanced MS and hyphenated MS instrumentation. The group has the highest expertise in this area of research as proven by its international reputation in the field of biological mass spectrometry in general, proteomics, glycomics and glycoproteomics by MS and related techniques in particular and 4 years of successful work in carbohydrate, protein, glycoprotein, proteoglycan, and glycolipid identification and structural analysis by mass spectrometric methods. The group is currently engaged in projects aiming at development and de novo application of high performance microfluidic-based MS methods for highthroughput glycan, peptide/glycopeptide, protein/glycoprotein and glycolipid screening, sequencing and structural identification as well as biomarker discovery.
Within national and international projects, Dr. Zamfir’s group developed and applied several innovative microfluidics-MS protocols among which, the first world coupling of fully automated chip-based ionization to high capacity ion trap mass spectrometry for glycolipid analysis.
The arsenal of fully functional and constantly in-use instruments to be involved in group’s activity consists of:
1. High capacity ion trap mass spectrometer (HCT MS Ultra PTM from Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany) with CID, installed ETD kit and corresponding software functioning up to MS11 in manual and automated mode of ion selection and fragmentation to be used as the main equipment for coupling with fully automated chip-based nanoESI.
2. NanoMate robot for fully automated chip nanoESI infusion (from Advion BioSciences, Ithaca, USA) with HCT MS interfacing systems and mounting brackets;
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3. HPLC 1200 system (Agilent Technologies) 4. Complex and modern equipment and facilities for diverse sample preparations,
sample/solvent treatments i.e. purification by dialysis, ZipTip, ultra-centrifugation, filtration; vortexing; analytical Speed Vac-rapid solvent evaporation for sample concentration; incubation; pH adjustment and measurement etc., facilities for sample handling and storage (from room temperature down to -40oC), analytical/precision weighing balances; fume hood etc.;
5. One original, in-laboratoryconcevied (and in development) software for the interpretation of glycan mass spectra (functional portals for: short oligosaccharides and gangliosides).
The group has international reputation in the field of biological MS in general, proteomics and glycomics-Bio-MS in particular. Within 2007-2011 the group conducted 5 national and 2 international projects, published 30 original or review articles in impact factor journals, of which 25 in journals with a relative influence score above 0.7, one book and 5 book chapters at Springer Verlag Publishing House, had over 100 invited, contributed oral/poster presentations at international conferences. The group also organized 3 international conferences on Mass Spectrometry and founded in 2009 the Romanian Society for Mass Spectrometry.
The projects obtained by the group through National competitions are: 2005/2008 Research of Excellence, CE.EX. NO. 14 MODULE I:
High performance mass spectrometric study of ganglioside in defined regions of the human brain in health and disease: composition, strucutre and functional interactions
2006/2008 Research of Excellence, NO. 98/CE.EX. MODULE III:Integration of a Romanian biomedical high performance mass spectrometry center in the international and European research area
2006/2008 Research of Excellence, NO.111/CE.EX. MODULE I:Determination of complex glycosphingolipid expression in central nervous system by polyfunctional integrated microchip devices coupled to high performance mass spectrometry
2007/2010 PNCD II NO. 40401:The Identification and Characterization of Brain Cancer Biomarkers Expressed in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Through Advanced Glicomic Methods Based on Mass Spectrometry
The group has constant collaborations and important joint publications with the following national and international research laboratories: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes Timisoara the group of Prof. Dr. Sisu Eugen, University of Zagreb Medical School, Croatia the group of Prof. Željka Vukelić; Department of Genetics. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology. University of Tartu, Estonia the group of Prof. Tiina Alamäe; Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Austria the group of Prof. Andreas Rizzi; University of Konstanz, Germany the group of Prof. Michael Pryzbylski; Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Münster University, Germany the group of Prof. Daniela G. Seidler; University of Münster, Institute for Medicinal Physics and Biophysics, Germany the group of Prof. Jasna Peter-Katalinic; Mass Spectrometry Unit, Biological Services, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel the group of Prof. Alla Shainskaya.
National and international prizes:2007: Third prize of ANCS for Research of Excellence project: Determination of
complex glycosphingolipid expression in central nervous system by polyfunctional integrated microchip devices coupled to high performance mass spectrometry
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2007 First prize of the jury for poster presentation at 1st Advanced Research Workshop on Applications of Mass Spectrometry in Life Safety, “The NATO Science for Peace and Security Program”, September 23-27, 2007 Baile Herculane, Romania.
2007 Second prize of the jury for the poster presentation: Mapping and sequencing of gangliosides from anencephaly by electrospray ionization high capacity ion trap mass spectrometry, Poster: 1st Advanced Research Workshop on Applications of Mass Spectrometry in Life Safety under NATO auspices, Sept. 23-27, 2007, Herculane, Romania
2008: The prize of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (VIASAN) for the paper: Investigation of novel under- and over-sulfated regions in decorin glycosaminoglycans by electrospray ionization collision-induced dissociation multistage mass spectrometry
2008 Third prize of the jury for the poster „Investigation of glycosaminoglycan sulfation pattern by high performance chip electrospray multistage mass spectrometry” offered at the International Symposium Research and Education in Innovation Era, 2nd Edition, November 20 - 21, 2008 Arad, Romania
2010 Third prize of the jury for the poster „Chip-Based Nanoelectrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Of Biglycan Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate Oligosaccharides” offered at 1st Romanian Society for Mass Spectrometry Conference “Introducing Life Science Mass Spectrometry in Romania” April 25-29 2010 Sinaia, Romania
2010: Elsevier Award for Top Cited Article: A.Zamfir, Recent advances in sheathless interfacing of capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry J. Chromatogr. A (2007) 1159, 2–13;
2010 Steinbeis-Lohn Prize of Steinbeis Foundation (Germany) for the results in the project: Establishment and validation of diagnostic screening methodology of patients with LSD using LC-MS/MS.
2011 Second prize of the jury for the poster presentation: Characterization of fructooligosaccharides produced by levansucrases from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca by fully automated chip-based nanoESI tandem MS; Presentation: 2nd International Conference of the Romanian Society for Mass Spectrometry, 1-5 May 2011, Timisoara, Romania
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E5. The electrochemistry and electrochemical technologies Team leader : CS I Dr.Ing. Ioan ŢĂRANU
During the last several years, the scientific activity of the Electrochemistry Laboratory was directed towards the investigation of some electrochemical processes related to the development of products for health and the pharmaceutical industry.
Because of this we established together with our partners – The „Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timişoara (UMP), The POLITEHNICA University from Timişoara (UPT) and The Institute of Chemistry Timişoara member of the Romanian Academy (ICT) – a research network (ELMED) with the purpose of investigating some electrochemical processes directly related to medicine and the quality of life, more precisely, the synthesis of intermediary products for the Pharmaceutical Industry and the development of an up-to-date sensor for identifying and controlling Parkinson’s disease.
The synthesis of intermediary products for drug development using electrochemical technologies, as a more economical alternative and with a smaller environmental impact than current synthesis methods, had the goal of obtaining pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA) – an intermediary in the synthesis of pyrazinamide. Pyrazinamide is a tuberculostatic relay drug, highly efficient in the destruction of the Koch bacillus. It is used in the treatment of chronic tuberculosis, a disease resilient to most medications, and is recommended both as a pre- and post-operative treatment. Pyrazinamide is obtained starting from pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid.
The purpose of our studies was to obtain PDCA through quinoxaline (Q) oxidation in the presence of electrochemically regenerated potassium permanganate. Currently PDCA is obtained only through the chemical oxidation of Q with KMNO 4 in the presence of NaOH and KOH. This method is not competitive because it involves a very high consumption of potassium permanganate (in the end the oxidant species is destroyed using methanol and leads to the formation of MnO2 and formic acid). The ratio of the reagents is Q : KMnO4 = 1 : 16 molar or 1 : 14,6 mass (kg/kg).
The alternative proposed and studied by us consists in Q oxidation in an electrochemical system that includes KMNO4 and KOH. The chemical reaction taking place is similar to the one in the classical chemical method, but the potassium permanganate is regenerate continuously through the electrochemical oxidation of the resulting managante. This fact leads to a considerable decrease in permanganate consumption, the mass ratio between reagents being only: Q : KMnO4 = 1 – 3 : 1 Kg/Kg.
Our research included a literature overview, the investigation of the process from a kinetic point of view through cyclic voltammetry, preliminary studies of the process, the design and development of several types of laboratory electrolysers for development of the process. Finally, based on our investigations, we chose the best electrolyser type – the honeycomb electrolyser. This design ensures the best current distribution and the best packaging – the highest volumetric current density. With this constructive alternative we tried various metals as materials for electrode development. The anodic materials used were copper, nickel, stainless steel, bronze and brass – in the shape of punctured plate and mesh.
In all cases stainless steel wire was used as cathodic material. Constructively we achieved a ratio between the anodic and cathodic surfaces (Sa/Sc) = 15, sufficient for ensuring a good electrode process selectivity – the maximum reduction
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of the unwelcomed reduction of Mn7+ on the cathode. In these conditions, the best results were obtained on the stainless steel electrode – substance and current efficiencies of ~ 80% and energy consumptions of ~ 5 KWh/Kg. The established protocols as well as the designed and developed electrolyser are suitable for industrial modeling.
A laboratory technology was developed and homologated for the investigated process.
Another research direction was the development of highly active polymeric films, usable as sensors for ion and bio-substance determinations – for instance in the determination of dopamine, a biogenic amine that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in motricity control. The decrease in dopamine concentration under 10 nM is indicative of a neurodegenerative disease – such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Parkinson’s disease manifests through muscle stiffening, reduction of movement speed and tremor while resting. The detection precision of the relevant dopamine concentrations is still a current issue at the global level, even if in the last 30 years significant progress has been made in treating this disease. The main issue consists in identifying the disease in its initial stages due to the absence of a laboratory method that is fast and sufficiently sensitive for dopamine monitoring.
The quantitative determination of dopamine, with 1 nM precision, can be ensured using a gold electrode covered with a polyaniline film functionalized with boronic acid – poly 3-aminophenilboronic acid (PABA) – deposited on carbon nanotubes. The disadvantage of obtaining such composites PAAB/nanotubes consists in the complexity of the electrode development process as well as the difficulties with ensuring a perfect contact between the electrode metal – usually platinum or gold – and the composite.
The proposed alternative consists in developing the active PABA film on a Raney nickel (skeletal) electrode in order to ensure a low cost, a very good electric contact between the metal and the active layer and also the advantage of an electrode with a very large real surface as compared to the geometrical one.
Preliminary studies performed using cyclic voltammetry have shown that 3-aminophenilboronic acid polymerization on the nickel electrode in not possible. In order to successfully obtain a PABA film on the nickel electrode we identified and requested a patent for an original solution – the development of a multilayer electrode. An intermediary polyaniline film was deposited on the nickel electrode and on this substrate the PABA film was obtained.
First, the electrochemical polymerization of aniline on the nickel electrodes was investigated – on glossy nickel, pressed and sintered nickel dust and on skeletal (Raney) nickel. The conditions in which this reaction takes place have been established and the obtained films were characterized.
On these polyaniline films we studied again, through cyclic voltammetry, the electrochemical polymerization of ABA. After establishing the primary conditions for the process, an optimization study was performed – using the statistical analysis program STATGRAPHICS CENTURION XVI. This way the conditions in which a sensitive and resistant film, usable for obtaining an efficient sensor for determining dopamine at concentrations of up to 10-9M, were established.
The obtained films – the polyaniline ones and the PABA ones on aniline substrate – were studied using cyclic voltammetry, IR spectroscopy, SEM imagery and Faraday impedance. Their viscosity and capacitance were also being determined.
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We obtained the multilayer Raney Ni/polyaniline/poly 3-aminophenilboronic acid electrode in the most convenient established conditions and tested it in the process of dopamine determination. The results confirmed our expectancies and dopamine was determined up to the 10-10M concentration – based on our knowledge this is the smallest dopamine concentration determined so far.
It is very important to note that these modified electrodes – with the potential of being used as dopamine sensors – can be regenerated using a simple chemical treatment. After regeneration the voltammetric response is similar to the initial one (from the PABA film generation). This behavior shows the possibility of a complete regeneration of the immobilized boronic groups. This way the sensor can be reused.
The electrode thus obtained was used to determine dopamine in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with pH = 7.44. The best method for measuring dopamine concentration proved to be Faraday impedance. From the EIS spectra, the polarization resistance variation with dopamine concentration was determined. The variation is linear.
In this context, the development of a multilayer sensor for dopamine determination on the Raney (skeletal) Ni/polyaniline/poly 3-aminophenilboronic acid electrode has the following advantages:
the sensor can be developed directly on the metal substrate (ignoble), the advantages of the skeletal electrode are maintained – a very large
active surface, low cost of manufactured sensor.
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E6. Applied Chemistry for Environment and Health research team (ACEH)Team leader: CS II Dr. Ing. Mariana Nela ŞTEFĂNUŢ
The research team disposes of qualified human resources, most of them young PhD and PhD students, with various complementary specializations: food chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmacy, electrochemistry, environment protection, quantum chemical computations (HyperChem, Gamess), chemical engineering, optimization and modeling of the processes, advanced processing of experimental data (Matlab, Origin, etc.).
The research directions approached by the research team provides the opportunity to consolidate the research skills and to acquire new research methods and techniques in order to obtain new knowledge and a better understanding of the phenomena with possible practical applications in health and environmental protection.
Some of the most important research equipments owned by INCEMC relevant for our research directions are: HPLC Ultimate 3000 with Photodiode array detector, Dionex; Chromatographic system HPLC-MS (1200 Series, Agilent Technologies); UV-VIS Spectrophotometer (V 530, ABL&E-JASCO); Voltalab 80 (universal electrochemical laboratory, Radiometer Copenhagen), novAA 400 atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace and hydrides system HS-55/1 (Analytik Jena, Germany), AOX multi X 2000 (Analytik Jena, Germany), Flue gas Analyzer TESTO 350XL (Germany), etc.
In the past four years, publishing activity of the research team members includes: 13 papers published in ISI journals, 16 papers published in journals indexed in other international data bases, 29 papers communicated at international conferences, and 17 papers communicated at national conferences.
The ACEH team is a young research group focused mainly on the following research directions:1. Separation, identification and characterization methods of natural compounds with applications in health
In the last three years, the research team was focused on the study of anthocyanins, polyphenolic bioactive compounds which are being actively studied because of their benefits such as the impact on the sensorial characteristics of food products and scientifically proven health benefits for both the treatment and prevention of disease. Anthocyanins extracts are widely used as adjuvant for the treatment of the cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, for the visual acuity improvement, as anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory agents and also in pyrexia, liver disorders, diarrhoea, urinary problems and common colds. Scientific investigations were part of the PNII project no. 52145 / 2008 - “Hypoglycemic and antioxidant dietary supplements with anthocyanidinic structure”.
In this field, the research team was particularly concerned in: anthocyanins extraction from various fruits such as: bilberries, blackberries,
mulberries, elderberries, blackthorns, red currants, black currants, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, grapes, etc. using different extraction methods;
optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds from fruits;
separation and purification of anthocyanins on Amberlite XAD-7 resin; analysis and characterization of various fruits extracts using modern and
advanced analytical techniques such as FT-IR, RMN, HPLC-DAD, MS, UV-Vis; evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of fruits extracts using DPPH, ABTS
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and FRAP assays, and also electrochemical methods; stability testing of fruits extract and thermal degradation kinetics of
anthocyanins; evaluation of hypoglycaemic effect of some fruits extracts rich in anthocyanins
in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetic rats. In this research direction, the research group published 3 papers in ISI journals,
4 papers in journals indexed in other international data bases, and communicated 16 papers at international conferences, and 6 papers at national conferences.
This field provide real opportunities of cooperation with economics agents from food industry such as producers of juices, compotes, jams and other canned fruits, food supplements, wine, etc. who are interested in results regarding anthocyanin coloring and nutritional properties.2. Evaluation of the reactivity of organic and natural compounds by quantum-chemical methods
Researches are focused on the evaluation of the electrophile/nucleophile character of various types of organic and natural compounds and comparisons with experimental data (where they exist) are made. Studies regarding the theoretical evaluation of the antioxidant character of anthocyanidins based on global and local reactivities and, also, by using a number of thermodynamic parameters - heat of formation, entropy, Gibbs free energy - were performed. Similar computations were also performed for anthocyanins, and comparisons with experimental results were made.
The results of the researches were finalized through the publishing of an ISI article („Ab initio study regarding the evaluation of the antioxidant character of cyanidin, delphinidin and malvidin”, Cent. Eur. J. Chem. 2012, 10(1), 180-186), and also by means of two communications, at a national conference („Theoretical and experimental determination of oxidation potential of cyanidin”, The XIIth International Symposium "Young People and Multidisciplinary Research", 11-12 November, 2010, Timisoara, Romania) and an international conference („Anthocyanines antioxidant activity by computational methods”, The 26th International Course and Conference on the Interfaces Among Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science MATH/CHEM/COMP, Dubrovnik, 13-18 Jun 2011), respectively.3. Obtaining and testing of novel potential biological active compounds, with applications in medical field
This research topic meets the development of knowledge in this field based on the innovations it brings in terms of obtaining new compounds from a basic structure with known biological effect, which is then diverse substituted and grafted with active structures in turn to combine effects and achieve a synergy of action. In this regard, novel 2-hydroxy-N-phenyl-benzamide derivatives were synthesized: anilides, ethyl esters, hydrazine, hydrazone whose structure was confirmed by modern methods of analysis (IR, NMR, MS). Evaluation of the biological activity of synthesized compounds against several bacteria and fungi, using disk-difusimetric method was also performed and structure - biological activity relationships (QSAR) based on minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), determined. The results of these researches have materialized through publication of 5 ISI articles in Rev. Chim., 64(4), 368-371, 2010; JOAM - Symposia, 1(1), 88-91, 2009; J. Serb. Chem. Soc. 74 (8-9), 847–855, 2009; Rev. Roum. Chem., 53(4), 273-276, 2008; Rev. Chim., 59(1), 56-59, 2008.
Part of this work is included in the project PN 07-33 04 01/2009 - “Synthesis and characterization of some O-substituted salicylamides – new potential biological
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active compounds”. Simultaneously, to ensure continuous and consistent concerns, close contact with academia will be maintained to promote the results to develop new technologies for obtaining biological active substances and their applications in the medical field.4. Environment protection
The team has also developed research in: Recovery and advanced exploitation of metals from batteries and
accumulators, PN 07-33 02 03/2008. Recovery and higher exploitation of valuable metals as Au, Ag and Cu from
wastes (computers, mobiles, electrical apparatus), PN 09-34 03 05/2009.These activities involved studies for: electrical wastes classification,
possibilities for collection, wastes manufacture, technologies for metal recovery, economic effects on environment and other uses for recovered metals.
Determination of heavy metals in: food stuff, drugs, cosmetics, potable water, residual and underground waters, sludges, plastics, tissues, blood, etc.
PET waste recycling. The research activity refers to glycolysis of PET waste using different catalyst.
Accelerated carbonation of concrete;Part of obtained scientific results in this research area was published
(Electrochemical Recovery of Nichel and Cadmium from Spent Ni-Cd Batteries, Chem. Bull. Politehnica Univ. Timişoara, 53(67), 2008; The Heavy Metals Analyses in Canned Tomato Paste, Journal of Agroalimentary Processes and Technologies, XIV (1), 2008; The microelements analyses in canned tomato paste, Journal of Agroalimentary Processes and Technologies, XIV (1), 2008; The Monitoring of Heavy Metals in Fruits, Chem. Bull. Politehnica Univ. Timişoara, 52(66), 2007; Evolution of heavy metals concentration when using electro screened ash in building materials, Chem. Bull. Politehnica Univ. Timişoara, 52(66), 2007; Studies of Galvanizing Industry Sludge Embedment Possibilities into Concrete Mixtures, Chem. Bull. Politehnica, Univ. Timişoara, vol.52(66), 2007; Preliminary studies about PET degradation. Rheological determinations on glycolysis products obtained with propylene glycol, Chem. Bull. Politehnica Univ. Timişoara, 52(66), 2007) or communicated at international and national conferences.
The team has constant collaborations with “Politehnica” University of Timisoara – Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering and Faculty of Construction, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Timisoara and “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timisoara- Faculty of Food Processing Technology and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, “Politechnica” University of Bucharest - Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Sciences, Department of Organic Technology and Macromolecular Compounds and “Vasile Goldiş” West University of Arad - Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry.
This research group has the required ability to work with economic agents from industrial field such as: SC Westmetal SRL Timişoara - monitoring the level of Zn, Cr, Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb metals on waste waters (Ctr. 46/14.01.2011). The galvanic sludges from the factory were analysed and tested to be applied in building materials. Also, flue gases measurements was carried out. COLTERM S.A. Timişoara – analysis of ashes for building materials;SC. Nestle SRL Timisoara – monitoring of peroxide value for various food products: wafers, chocolate, oils (Ctr. 244/18.02.2011, Ctr. 1080/02.10.2009).
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E7. Renewable energyTeam leader CSIII Dr.Ing. Marius MIRICA
1. Main areas of interest (research subjects):- Photovoltaic materials and technologies- Photovoltaic and hybrid small/medium energy systems for various applications- Biocombustibles
2. The laboratory is a founding member of “Photovoltaic group – Romania”, mirror group of “European Technology Platform – Photovoltaic”; Marius Constantin MIRICA is the group leader for the western part of Romania.
3. Projects developed by Renewable energy laboratory:
No. Project code and title Competition
122-101. Statie autonoma de monitorizare cu aplicatii in domeniul energiei fotovoltaice si al protectiei mediului
PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 - PARTENERIATECOMPETIŢIA 2
222-124. Producerea fotocatalitica a hidrogenului cu ajutorul energiei solare utilizand deseuri industriale sulfuroase (H2S, SO2)*
PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 - PARTENERIATECOMPETIŢIA 2
322-127. Sinteza de semiconductori nanostructurati pe baza de Bi2Te3 si Zn4Sb3 dopati cu aplicatii in energetica curata*
PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 - PARTENERIATECOMPETIŢIA 2
421-077. Biocombustibili obtinuti prin valorificarea deseurilor celulozice intr-un sistem integrat chimico-enzimatic
PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 - PARTENERIATECOMPETIŢIA 1
5 71-017. Obţinerea galiului în vederea valorificării complexe şi ecoeficiente a bauxitei
PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 - PARTENERIATECOMPETIŢIA 1
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176/2006. Creşterea vizibilităţii internaţionale şi dezvoltarea Grupului Fotovoltaic – România din cadrul Platformei Tehnologice Europene Photovoltaics
CEEX – MODUL III – CORINT
7163/2006. Creşterea vizibilităţii internaţionale a comunităţii ştiinţifice prin dezvoltarea de parteneriate în programele europene şi internaţionale de cercetare
CEEX – MODUL III – CORINT
8 C23/2006. Dezvoltarea de celule fotoelectrochimice nanostructurate bazate pe TiO2 si coloranti*
CEEX – 2006
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C6103/2005. Materiale avansate nanocompozite cu proprietati antibacteriene de autocuratare si structuri integrate de concentratoare de energie solara utilizate in constructii civile* (NANOAMBIENT)
CEEX – 2005
10 C710/2006. Producerea hidrogenului pe cale fotoelectroliticã*
CEEX – 2006
11 PN 09 34 02 01. Dezvoltarea de celule solare pe baza de calcopirite* Program nucleu
12 907/2010. Laborator energii regenerabile – fotovoltaic POS-CCE
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* project developed with the support of other INCEMC laboratory/laboratories
4. The laboratory activity is conducted within the frame of INCEMC’s strategy (“renewable energy” being one of the two research areas lately developed at INCEMC). The laboratory is currently being further developed by the 9 mil. EURO “907/2010: Renewable energy – photovoltaic - laboratory” POS-CCE Project, in such manner that at the end of 2013 it will be located in a new, dedicated building:
The new building will be equipped with all the required infrastructure to be used by the future 19 members of INCEMC team and 15-20 members of partner teams. The future activity will be developed together with our partners, according to the figure showed below:
5. Recently there was launched laboratory’s web site (some areas are still under construction):
www.repvl.ro
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This is a public access web site and it will reflect laboratory’s activity.Also, there is a public access site, developed within one of laboratory’s projects, where can be visualized the parameters monitored by the autonomous monitoring station developed within the same project:http://meteo.netprotect.ro/
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E8. Synthesis and Characterisation of Organic CompoundsTeam leader CSIII Dr.Ing. Adina SEGNEANU
Starting from November 2007, Dr. Adina Elena Segneanu established a research group at the Institute National Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, in the area of fine organic synthesis and of the analysis and characterization methods of the organic and natural compounds and of the organic compounds that are hazardous to the environment.I. NATURAL COMPOUNDS
Researches regarding the natural compounds have focused on the development of new, innovative methods and techniques regarding:
1) Extraction of different types of compounds from natural products;2) Identification, separation and characterization by different chromatographic,
spectroscopic (UV-Vis, FT-IR) and mass spectrometry methods of: capsaicines, anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, caffeine, vanilla, sterols, fatty acids, volatile oils, etc.;
3) Studies regarding the antioxidant activity of natural compounds by electrochemical means (cyclic voltammetry).
The scientific results are quantified by the 6 published ISI articles, over 25 scientific papers presented at national and international conferences, and a patent application. Also, the results were capitalized by two proposals in the national and international competitions regarding the research and mobility projects, namely the bilateral cooperation Romania-Austria (2011) program (accepted for funding) and PN II (2011) competition.II. METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF SOME ORGANIC COMPOUNDS WITH HAZARDOUS RISK TO THE ENVIRONMENT
a) volatile organic compounds (VOC): chromatography and mass spectrometry
b) pesticide traces from food productsc) organic pollutants from wastewaters from the pharmaceutical industries
The studies implied the identification, analysis and evaluation of the emissions of volatile organic compounds by chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results of these studies have been the subject of numerous contracts with third parties and led to the preparation of scientific communications presented at national and international scientific meetingsIII. SYNTHESIS OF NANOCOMPOSITES USED FOR CORROSION PROTECTION
- development of new methods for the reuse of some industrial wastesThe results are quantified by one ISI article, two papers in the proceedings of two international conferences, communications at national and international scientific meetings, and two patent applications.IV. BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION
The researches were mainly focused on the identification and evaluation of some new pretreatment and fermentation methods, starting from lignocellulosic waste. The results consist in 3 patent applications, 2 ISI papers, and scientific communications at national and international conferences. V. SYNTHESIS OF NEW PROTECTIVE GROUPS, USED IN THE SYNTHESIS OF NEW BIOLOGIC ACTIVE DIPEPTIDES
Within the PN II research project (Contract no. 32-129/2008), CONDAB, the research team has developed complex studies regarding the obtaining of new
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reactive organic carbonates with nucleofuge group, with applications in the synthesis of biologic active dipeptides. The research activity led to the development of innovative methods and technologies of synthesis (at laboratory scale), concretized in 4 patent applications, one published ISI article and two ISI articles accepted for publication, scientific communications at national and international level.
The obtained innovative results represent the basis of four project proposals in national and international competitions:
a) bilateral cooperation project Romania-Sloveniab) proposal project at the Exploratory Research Projects (IDEI) 2011 (accepted
for funding)c) proposal project at the Exploratory Research Complex Projects (IDEI) 2011d) proposal for the Partnership competition PN II 2011
The research team benefits from a modern research infrastructure that consists in: GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC chromatographic systems; FT-IR and UV-Vis spectrometers, ultrasonication bath, centrifuge, vortex, water purifying system. The team members took part at trainings regarding the FT-IR spectroscopy, HPLC, GC-MS and HPLC-MS chromatography. During 2008-2011, the research group activity was focused on two national projects, and there was published: 10 articles in journals with impact factor, two book chapters at InTech, and over 70 communications at national and international conferences and symposia.Patent applications:1. OBTAINING PROCEDURE OF SOME MIXED/ASYMMETRICAL CARBONATES, No. A/00620-15.07.2010 - Segneanu Adina-Elena, Raluca Pop, Martagiu Raluca, Balcu Ionel, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Macarie Amalia Corina, Cristian Vaszilcsin.2. OBTAINING PROCEDURE OF A SYMMETRICAL CARBONATE WITH NUCLEOFUGE GROUP, No. A/00259/2010 - Segneanu Adina-Elena, Raluca Pop, Martagiu Raluca, Balcu Ionel, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Macarie Amalia Corina, Cristian Vaszilcsin, Mariu-Silviu Milea. 3. OBTAINING PROCEDURE OF SOME CARBAMATES, No. A/01252/2010 - Adina-Elena Segneanu, Ionel Balcu, Amalia Corina Macarie, Raluca Pop, Cristian Vaszilcsin, Mariu-Silviu Milea.4. PROCEDURE FOR TREATING A LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS, No. A/00619/2010; Segneanu Adina-Elena, Balcu Ionel, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Pop Raluca Oana, Peter Francisc.5. PROCEDURE FOR THE OBTAINING OF A BIOETHANOL FUEL, No. A/00967/2010 - Segneanu Adina-Elena, Balcu Ionel, Macarie Amalia Corina, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Gherman Vasile-Daniel, Peter Francisc.6. PROCEDURE FOR THE OBTAINING OF BIOETHANOL FROM BIOMASS, No. A/00966/2010 - Segneanu Adina-Elena, BALCU Ionel, Macarie Amalia Corina, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Gherman Vasile-Daniel, Peter Francisc.7. COMPLEX SYSTEM FOR CORROSION PROTECTION, No. A/00824/2009; Balcu Ionel, Segneanu Adina-Elena, Urmosi Zoltan-Gyula, Macarie Amalia Corina, Ivan Adrian Marin, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana.8. CORROSION INHIBITOR – OBTAINING PROCEDURE AND COVERING PROCEDURE WITH THIS INHIBITOR, No. A/00243-17.03.2010, Balcu Ionel, Segneanu Adina-Elena, Urmosi Zoltan-Gyula, Macarie Amalia Corina, Mirica Marius Constantin, Iorga Mirela Ioana, Vlatanescu Valeria Nandina, Ivan Adrian Marin.
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9. MODERN PROCEDURE FOR THE EXTRACTION OF DIFFERENT CLASS OF COMPOUNDS No. A/00347/2011, Segneanu Adina-Elena, Macarie Amalia Corina, Balcu Ionel, Grozescu Ioan.10. MODERN PROCEDURE FOR THE OBTAINING OF A DIPEPTIDE, No. A1282/2011, Segneanu Adina Elena, Macarie Amalia Corina, Grozescu Ioan, Marius-Silviu Milea.Proposals accepted for funding within national competitions:2011-2014 – Immunomodulante fluoroglycopeptide molecular architectures, Contract no. 341/05.10.2011;2008-2011 – Study regarding the obtaining of some reactive organic carbonates with nucleofuge group with applications in the biologic active dipeptides synthesis – Contract no. PN II 32 – 129/2008 (project manager)2009 – Contributions at the biofuels obtaining (ethanol, superior alcohols) through the gasification of the lignocellulosic biomass – Contract no. PN 08 33 01 09 (project manager)Scientific collaborations
The research team has established scientific collaborations with research groups from well-known universities and companies from Romania and Europe:1) University Carolo-Wilhelmina at Braunschweig - Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Technical, team of Prof. Martin Bröring2) University Carolo-Wilhelmina at Braunschweig - team of Prof. Thomas Lindel3) University Carolo-Wilhelmina at Braunschweig - team of Prof. Martin Tamm4) InnochemTech GmbH – Prof. Ion Neda5) Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Department of Chemical Engineering – Prof Athanasios SALIFOGLOU6) Graz University of Technology - Prof. Harald Kainz7) University of Ljubljana - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, team of Prof. Dr. Andrej Petrič8) Academia din Szeged, Universitatea de Medicina, Prof.Dr. Imre Dekany,9) “Politehnica” University of Timisoara (UPT), research teams of: Prof. Vasile Pode, Prof Francisc Peter, s.l. Marius Milea, s.l. Vasile Gherman, s.l. Daniel Hadaruga, Assist. Prof. Viorel Ungureanu.10) Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucuresti, team of Prof. Gabriel Racoviteanu11) University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova – team of Prof. Liviu Chirigiu12) Babes-Bolyai University - Institute of Technology, team of Academician Paul Serban Agachi13) University Politehnica Bucuresti – Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science – Prof. Ion Untea14) University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Banat, Timisoara, Prof. Iosif Gergel15) University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara - Prof. Virgil Paunescu, Prof. Dan Ciubotariu, Prof. Zoltan Szabaday
National and international prizes:2011: 1st prize for the communication: Oxidative degradation of Antibiotics
Ampicillin and Penicillin G type from water using the photo-fenton procedure modified by in-situ Fe2+ catalyst generation - 8th International Conference on Water Reclamation & Reuse, BARCELONA, 26-29 SEP 2011.
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E9. ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND PATLAB BucharestTeam Leader: CS I Dr.Chim. Raluca van Staden
Electrochemistry and PATLAB laboratory was modernized in 2007, when a first project was funded within the PN II competition (Capacities). It was extended in 2008, when apparatuses for the sensor development and for process analysis were acquired. The top modern equipments in the field of electrochemistry and of process analytical technology represented a good starting point for winning other projects within the PN II competitions: Partnership project (PORFSENS), Ideas project (DOT sensors, stochastic sensors and analytical platforms), a project within FP7 competition, as partner (DENAMIC) and two bilateral projects with the Cyprus University and Oncology Institute from Chisinau. Also, a project within the Nucleus Program regarding electrochemical sensors for clinic analyses was developed.
The results of the researches consist in: 31 ISI papers, published in international journals (most of them in journals with impact factor higher than 3), two patents, participations at national and international conferences, plenary sessions, keynotes, communications and posters.
Participations at national and international exhibition of inventions with the patents that were obtained within the national projects were awarded with medals (most of them, gold medals) and numerous awards, two of the most important ones being the award from OMPI for best female researcher and the Special Award of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca.
Prizes Raluca-Ioana van Staden:
- 2009 – Second Prize on the competition Gala of Prizes in Education, Section: Research, organized by Foundation “Dinu Patriciu”, Bucharest, Romania, 2009.
- 2010 – Diploma of Excellence for the activity of invention from ANCS (National Authority of Scientific Research), Romania, 8 June 2010, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2010 – Diploma of Excellence for the representation with success of Romania to Salon International des Inventions de Geneve 2010, from ANCS (National Authority of Scientific Research), Romania, 8 June 2010, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2010 – Romanian Oscar for Excellence, 11 October 2010, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2010 – VIP Prize for Science and Life, 1 September 2010, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2010 – Honorary Citizen of Campulung-Muscel- 2010 – Honorary Citizen of Arges county- 2010 – 10 FOR ROMANIA, research section, 15 December 2010.- 2011 – Man of the year 2010, from Argesul magazine, Pitesti, February
2011.- 2011 – Man of the year 2011, from Asociatia Pro Democratia (Pro
Democracy Association), December 2011.- 2011 – Radio Romania Cultural award, research section, March 2011.
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- 2008 – Gold Medal and Diploma of Excellence for a patent on stochastic sensors at the 2nd International Congress of the Researchers and Inventors from Romania, 11-12 December 2008, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2009 – Pro Invent Medal and Diploma of Excellence, and Diploma of Excellence of the Society of Inventors from Romania, for a patent on stochastic sensors at the Pro Invent, 24-27 March 2009, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- 2009 – Gold Medal, and Arca Prize of the Society of Inventors from Croatia, for a patent on stochastic sensors at the 37eme Salon International des Inventions des Techniques et Produit Nouveaux, 1-5 April 2009, Geneve, Switzerland.
- 2009 – Gold Medal, and the Prize of the Polish federation of Engineering Association - NOT, for a patent on stochastic sensors at the International Warsaw Invention Show, IWIS 2009, 1-3 June 2009, Warsaw, Poland.
- 2009 – Gold Medal, and Prize of Technopol Moscow, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at IX Moscow International Salon of Innovations and Investments, 26-29 August 2009, Moscow, Russian Federation.
- 2009 – Silver Plate, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at ARCA, 15-19 September 2009, Zagreb, Croatia.
- 2009 - Gold Medal, and the Prize EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD of the Society of Inventors from Croatia, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at INVENTIKA, 28-31 October 2009, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2009 - Gold Medal with merit, and the Prize of AGEPI, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at EUREKA 2009, 19-21 November 2009, Brussels, Belgium.
- 2010 - Gold Medal with special mention and Diploma of excellence, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at PRO INVENT 2010, 16-19 March 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- 2010 - Gold Medal with the congratulations of the jury, WIPO award for the best woman inventor, and AGEPI medal, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at 38e Salon International des Inventions de Geneve, 21-25 April 2010, Geneve, Switzerland.
- 2010 – 2nd Prize, Category “Inventions”, for a patent on a stochastic microsensor for early detection of cancer, at Bright fair 2010, World Forum of Researchers and Inventors, 8-10 October 2010, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2010 – SIR award, Exhibition of inventions, Iasi, Romania.- 2011 – Award of Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, PRO INVENT- 2011 – Gold medal and Special Award of inventors from Europe, 39 Salon
International des Inventions de Geneve, April 2011, Geneve, Switzerland
The research directions of the laboratory are the chemical analysis in the clinic, pharmaceutical and environmental area.
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2.4. Representative project (maximum 5 pages)
Project development within INCEMC’s Renewable Energy Laboratory: “GALLIUM OBTAINING FOR COMPLEX AND ECOEFFICIENT BAUXITE
PROCESSING”
A. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Every project is developed within INCEMC’s Renewable Energy Laboratory in four stages.Stage 1 – preparing the project
- the basic concept of the project is outlined; - the new, original aspects are identified, as well as the main results that
might come out from the project;- if necessary, some tests are proposed to show the viability of the project;- possible beneficiary of the results are identified; if necessary, they are
approached and preliminary discussions are conducted;- the objectives of the project are listed;- the main work packages are identified;- possible partners are considered for the project;- a budget draft is established;- if necessary, the main idea of the project is tested at a level that shows its
viability. This can be done by meetings between specialist from INCEMC, meetings with specialists from other entities (and possible partners), simple laboratory experiments, or, if more elaborate tests / experiments / studies are in order, by proposing a “Nucleus” project that will generate results that can be used as starting point for the project.
- a decision is being made regarding following the next stages or not.Stage 2 – preparing the funding application
- the appropriated funding instrument is identified;- a basic proposal draft is established;- possible partners are contacted and discussions are initiated;- agreements are reached with all partners – a consortium is established;- clear objectives, results and work packages are discussed and accepted
by the consortium;- a work program is discussed and accepted by the consortium (comprising
the activities, deadlines, deliverables, human, time and financial resources distribution, distribution of intellectual property rights, research ethics, etc.)
- a proposal is written for the funding application; it is further discussed and accepted by the consortium;
- the final proposal is submitted to the financing entity, using the appropriated call for proposals.
Stage 3 – the project- if the necessary funds are granted, a contract is signed with the authority;
contracts are signed with the other members of the consortium, too;- the project is developed properly contracts mentioned above, aiming at the
meeting of deadlines and objectives of activitatillor in the project budget and achieve initial set of performance indicators;
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- the results are clearly identified and the industrial property issues are solved accordingly to the law and previously signed contract.
- the project is closed on presentation of a final report stating how scientific results obtained and their future recovery.
Stage 4 – using the resultsFor technology transfer (with the full support of TIM SCIENCE PARK – Science and Technology Park, and/or of RENITT national network):- if the end result of the project is suitable, possible beneficiaries are
identified and approached;- if they are interested, discussions are conducted in order to transfer the
results of the project. For future research projects:- new basic concepts for future research projects are derived, based on the
experience just gathered; - the new project concept is sent to Stage 1.
B. GALLIUM OBTAINING FOR COMPLEX AND ECOEFFICIENT BAUXITE PROCESSING
Stage 1In the frame of “Increasing of international visibility and development of
Photovoltaic Group Romania – Mirror Group for European Photovoltaic Technology Platform” project, a number of future projects were established. Among them was “Gallium obtaining for complex and ecoefficient bauxite processing”.
Gallium is a very important material for photovoltaic industry. It is very dispersed in nature and only obtaining it as a secondary product in bauxite and zinc industry is profitable. Until now, worldwide, gallium was obtained by electrolysis on mercury cathode, technology which, because its environmental problems and new regulations, will soon not be used anymore.
Because one of the main areas of interest of the Renewable Energy Laboratory is “photovoltaic materials and technologies”, an idea for a research project was outlined: to obtain gallium from bauxite industry via a eco-friendly new technology, without using mercury cathode.
During several meetings, the future project was discussed in depth, undergoing the path described above. A project concept was outlined; based on the experience (from past projects) of those present at the meeting, the main idea was considered scientifically viable and a possible beneficiary was identified: SC ALUM Tulcea SA. After other meetings with the technical stuff and management of the possible beneficiary the future project (which comprised of 4 work packages and was to be developed by a consortium of 3 partners) was considered worth to pursue from financially and technical point of view, too.
The final decision was that the future project is viable and it will be further developed.
Stage 2Using the path described above, a proposal was finally submitted to CNMP’s call for proposals, within PNCDI 2 PROGRAM 4 frame, by a consortium of 3 partners: INCEMC Timisoara, IMNR Bucuresti and University “Politehnica” Timisoara.
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Stage 3The funds were granted and the necessary contracts were signed.The project was developed according to the foreseen plan.Two technologies for gallium obtaining without using Hg were developed; the
respective results of the project were prepared to be properly used during the nest stage.
The project was considered closed.Stage 4
With the full support of TIM SCIENCE PARK – Science and Technology Park, the results of the project were analyzed and one of the two technologies was considered suited for technology transfer (the other can reach this level, too, but more research is needed).
The beneficiary (SC ALUM Tulcea SA) was approached again and presented with the technology transfer technology opportunities. Unfortunately, the new owner of the beneficiary intended to purchase another technology developed in its own country and was not interested in the results of our project. Since there are no other bauxite-processing plants in Romania, the technology is still available for transfer.
Based on the results obtained in this project, an idea for a new project was developed, and undergone already the first two stages. The new consortium comprises 4 members (2 of them were part of the already closed project) and is coordinated by INFM Bucuresti.
A new project proposal was submitted to the last PN-II-PT-PCCA2011-3 call, regarding studies over gallium-based semiconductors obtaining technology and over practical uses for those materials in new-concept hybrid cells used to simultaneously convert solar energy in both electric and thermal energy.
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3. INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
3.1. SCIENTIFIC SWOT ANALISYS.
STRONG POINTS
Human and social resourcesCompetitive managerial teamQualified personnel with research experience in inter- and multidisciplinary fields.Young researchers (students, Master’s students, doctoral students) with specific attributions in research projects.Team work in every department, specific tasks, relaxed working environment and good interpersonal relationships.Seminaries where employees discuss and debate existing scientific and administration issues inside the institute (department).
Technical and material resourcesInstallations, stands, scientific research equipment acquired through self-endowment.Up-to-date equipment and devices used for the morpho-structural characterization of new materials and for analysis in the fields of organic chemistry and electrochemistry.Systems for acquiring and processing efficient data.Niche field in the scientific research concerning the hydrothermal environment at very high pressures and high temperatures.Niche research for the synthesis and applications of pure and doped (with metallic and nonmetallic ions) titanium dioxide (TiO2).Scientific research installations for hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured oxidic materials at high pressures and temperatures through novel and forefront techniques at the global scientific research level, using
WEAK POINTS
Human and social resourcesMany young employees, inexperienced in scientific research.Team work takes place only at the department level, but not at the interdepartmental one.The incomplete involvement of experienced researchers in improving the skills of the younger researchers.There is no coherent plan for Human Resources development and personnel motivating.Insufficient trust in one’s forces and a certain state of pessimism between employees.Uncertain basic financing through governmental programs.
Technical and material resourcesExisting equipment is not used at the fullest and there are no sufficient contracts with the economic environment for capitalizing the equipment’s working capacity, A certain sufficiency is present among employees due to the existence of an efficient material base.
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up-to-date techniques and technologies (microwave field syntheses, ultrasonic and combined ultrasonic field).Unlimited access to the internet and to some scientific and technical data bases.The existence of an investment plan for adapting to the new scientific research tendencies at the global level.
Informational resources The elaboration of regular activity reports.The involvement of the management team in important decision making. Availability of personnel with experience in scientific research for know-how sharing. Access to technical and scientific literature is available to the researchers.Communication between departments and partners through e-mail, phone, meetings etc.Regular information updating letters.
Foresight and contractingThe existence of organizational management strategies, Regular planning for contacting partners, The status of long-term and short-term applicability projects is known
The efficient positioning on the market/ segments/ niches Uniqueness at the national level and one of the few institutes in the world with scientific research activity in the field of hydrothermal synthesis at high pressures and temperatures. The existence of solid relationships with foreign partners.A relatively good national reputation, but in a restricted environment: the institute co-organized internal scientific manifestations, such as ROCAM, The National Physics Conference, The International Symposium of Young Researchers from the DMKT Euro-region, The Timiş Academic Days,
Informational resourcesNot enough subscriptions to professional journals and to specific websites.The institute’s webpage is not fully functional.
Foresight and contractingNo implemented quality insurance system exists.
The efficient positioning on the market/ segments/ niches Insufficient international acknowledgementPoor publishing activity.The institute’s activity is not well known in the relevant business environment.The absence of a marketing plan.A weak participation to congresses, conferences, symposiums, internal and international seminaries.
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Condensed Matter Physics. Over 150 scientific research and technological development projects conducted as part of national programs (ORIZONT2000, CEEX, PNI, PNII).Ongoing scientific research projects with national and international financing.Valuable scientific results with immediate applicability, obtained in the energy, health and environment domain.
Efficient assimilation of new scientific opportunitiesNew or improved laboratory technologies and methods, for synthesis and physical-chemical analysis,Scientific papers published and communicated nationally and across borders, as well as specialization courses – scientific papers published in journals with a higher than zero relative influence score (91 in the last 4 years with a cumulated score of 87.92 and total citations of 197), national and international scientific manifestations (187 in the last 4 years) and 38 studies.Patents – 4 patents valued during the research process and one applied through the INFRATECH project at the economic agent
Production and efficient sale of services and/or products Synthesis of bulk, micro and nanostructured materials,Novell research ideas with applicability in the economic environment.Efficient techniques for promoting the institute (web page, leaflets, presentation maps, mass-mailing offers etc.).
Meeting the need and earning the loyalty of partners and suppliersConsultancy and openness towards partners.Relationship preservation activities with traditional partners and allurement of new ones.Negotiation of activities, objectives and
Efficient assimilation of new scientific opportunitiesDue to insufficient financing, the results obtained at the micro scale were not implemented at the macro scale.
Production and efficient sale of services and/or products A relatively small number of contracts with the economic environment.
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payment deadlines.Leadership:Respect for employees.Personal example in actions.
Other facilitiesFast communication systems.Access to scientific literature.Financial stability.Location and available utilities.Favorable legislative framework.Small equipment gap compared to competitors
Leadership:The absence of a plan for dividing the departments into profit centers.
Others:Poor participation to international scientific manifestations and reunions.Poor publishing activity. Insufficient trust in one’s abilities and in the available possibilities – this would lead to a more vigorous tackling of some pioneering scientific issues.Poor communication with the business environment.Insufficiently used spaces.Unclear ownership status.
OPPORTUNITIES
Human and social resourcesEncouraging specialists from the higher education area to engage in scientific research activities within the institute.Permanent contact with the academic environment from Timişoara.Attracting students in order to help them develop their Graduation Thesis, Master’s Dissertation and PhD Thesis inside the institute.Organizing scientific events where researchers and students interact with the purpose of developing common projects.Global level scientific research ideas, as well as human and material resources for their development and application.
Technical and material resourcesThe possibility of accessing some national and international financing sources for scientific research.The capacity to tackle various and interdisciplinary scientific research fields of wide international interest.The existence and capacity of human and technical resources for solving most technical issues specific for the
THREATS
Human and social resourcesThe migration of highly qualified specialists. The institute’s discrediting by employees, collaborators or other persons in the entourage.Aggressive politics form foreign institutes competing for qualified personnel by offering more substantial wage packages.The predisposition of some employees for going to other companies.Problems generated by a lack of interest from young researchers to join the academic environment.The absence of trained or experienced persons for the new jobs.New rules imposed by syndicates or the government.
Technical and material resourcesDecrease in research financing will increase the competition.Political instability can worsen national economic conditions and implicitly affect the institute’s ability to acquire new funds.The existence of similar projects on the market with more efficient management.
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institute’s scientific research activity.Projects portfolio in latent state. Informational resourcesInformation circuit improvement through approval by an auditing commission with the implementation of a quality management system.Quick access to scientific and technical information resources with efficient possibilities for scientific literature research.Free access to national and international financing programs.
Foresight and contractingCollaboration agreements with consultancy companies.Collaboration with other research institutes and universities in organizing various events, workshops etc.Relationship development with external partners.
Efficient positioning on the market/ segments/ nichesThrough government financed programs that support the participation of institutes to international conferences
Efficient assimilation of new scientific opportunitiesUsing the experience of other successful institutes.Improving product quality through scientific research activities.
Production and efficient sale of services and/or productsNew markets/ research domains.New clients for obtained results.Publications containing successful case studies presented to clients and collaborators. Proposals for research projects at the international level.
Informational resourcesAn increase in taxes for information access
Foresight and contractingLoss of partners due to the failure of gaining their loyalty or to the lack of punctuality in accomplishing the relevant activities and objectives.Erroneous marketing or short term valid data compared to estimated deadline.
Efficient positioning on the market/ segments/ nichesLow capacity to attract European funds due to ignorance, on the researchers’ part, towards existing financing programs and corresponding information packages.
Efficient assimilation of new scientific opportunitiesRestrictive laws concerning the economic environment’s involvement in scientific research.Lack of exposure to international competitions.Lack of involvement from economic agents in the research field.
Production and efficient sale of services and/or productsPoor willingness from companies for financing the CDI area, especially because of financial implications. The risk that research products will not be exploited due to the difficult economic situation.
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Identifying new partners for European projects.
Meeting the need and earning the loyalty of partners and suppliersDevelopment of a communication network between the institute and its partners with the purpose of extending the national and international web of partners
Leadership:Tuition/training possibilities,Support from specialized institutions
Meeting the need and earning the loyalty of partners and suppliersDeterioration of relationships with traditional partners due to management errors.Faster implementation by the competition of partner loyalty gaining programs.Migration of specialists towards the competition.
Leadership:Leadership maladjustment to current economic realities
3.2. STRATEGIC SCIENTIFIC DIRECTIONS AND OBJECTIVES
The institute’s scientific research activity is comprised of research-development-innovation activities as part of projects mostly financed by the government, but also technical services and research activities for third parties and technology transfer towards the economic environment.
The institute’s mean and long term strategic objectives, that assume a harmonious development of its specific domains by combining different activities and harmonizing them in one common action with international impact, will be accomplished as part of large scale research directions with considerable implications in leading socio-economical fields. In this sense, the research and development activities and the micro-production and technology transfer ones will be approached separately. An interdependency relationship exists between these activities since research results will be transferred to the economic environment and the profit will be oriented towards the development of fundamental scientific research activity.
A. Research and development activityThe research and development activity includes the scientific research activity
as well as the technological development one, carried out based on national research contracts. The two activities take place in the institute’s traditional domains that individualized it and provided it with scientific personality, but also in new recently approached fields of national and international interest.
A.1. Activity continuation in the institute’s traditional domains chemical / electrochemical technologies, nanotechnologies, the science and engineering of advanced materials, clean technologies / environmental protection.
The institute has a rich scientific and technological experience in the previously mentioned domains. This experience was accumulated based on the
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previous activity of each constituent entity of the institute and also throughout the 15 years since it was founded, by participation to over 300 scientific research projects (coordinator to over 120 of these). Based on this, solid internal partnerships and external collaboration relationships were built in order to continue attracting research funds from different sources (PNCDI, PC7, bilateral cooperation, across border cooperation etc.). Obtaining funds for continuing the development in these domains is a real possibility, because they constitute priorities for both European research (part of the PC7 program) and Romanian research (part of the national research strategy).
During its 15 years of experience, the institute’s scientific activity was generally oriented towards applied research, with the basic aspects of a large scale fundamental research in the advanced materials domain also being present. We intend to maintain this direction towards the development and use of technologies and advanced products, as well as their applications in the production activity of companies.
A.2. The development of new domains approached in the last few years renewable energies, medicine and the quality of life, biotechnologies, forefront domains in nanotechnologies (nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnologies etc.)
The interest generated in the last few years by these leading research domains at the international level, as well as the undeniable advantages offered by electrochemical technologies and nanotechnologies, determined us to approach those new directions and to develop new applications for them. The future development of these research fields of growing interest, present on the priority directions list from both PC7 and PN2 is ensured together with the capitalization of already obtained results from completed or soon to be completed projects, for applications in the production area or for the elaboration of new research and development projects part of national and international partnerships.
The principles of Physics, Chemistry and Electrochemistry as well as the nanosciences can be successfully applied in the previously mentioned domains and can lead to the development of new technologies/applications/products for new markets. The experience accumulated thus far in the institute’s research fields will allow research expansion and accumulation of new knowledge and abilities for resolving some highly important current issues related to renewable energies, biotechnologies and all the other sciences meant to improve the quality of life.
B. Development and technology transfer activities
B.1. Intellectual propertyThe institute’s employees will be encouraged to protect their original research
results through patenting/publishing/communication at the national and/or international levels. The institute’s personnel were trained into the intellectual property domain by participation to specialization courses. In the future, the institute will continue to provide funding for instructing the personnel in the field of intellectual property, especially in the context of scientific research at the consortium/research webs level.
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B. 2. Technology transfer infrastructureThe existence of the Scientific and Technological Park TIM SCIENCE PARK
has proven its usefulness in the transferring of research results. Several technologies developed by the institute were already transferred through it. This process will continue using the experience accumulated thus far, which will allow for an improvement in the mutually beneficial relationship between INCEMC and TIM SCIENCE PARK.
The Scientific and Technological Park TIM SCIENCE PARK disposes (after the institutional construction project ended) of proper space and equipment for the practical use of the technologies that were transferred. This material basis will be improved depending on future necessities.
The companies that took over the technologies transferred through the Scientific and Technological Park TIM SCIENCE PARK are prepared to initiate the economic activities, leaving only some minor problems to deal with.
We have the intention to continue the collaboration between INCEMC and the Science Park in order to transfer some of the technologies already developed or that will be developed in the future. B. 3. Microproduction / services
The institute is part of the venture associations that took over the technologies transferred until now. Production start-up will provide the institute with a constant financing source from personal funds that are highly important for ensuring its financial independence and flexibility.
Some of the technologies already developed or soon to be developed are very suitable for microproduction activities. The identification and acquirement of funds for starting these activities is intended.
Another current and highly profitable direction consists in performing services for third parties. This is possible due to the European level endowment of the institute. Significant income can be obtained through analysis and physical-chemical characterization services, research services, technological analysis, consultancy etc.
In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to develop a relationship with the industrial domain, as well as to accredit the institute’s specialized laboratories.
All available means will be exploited in order to identify and attract economic agents with an innovative profile that are interested in the institute’s scientific research results.
3.3. HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGYEven though new personnel have been constantly hired since the founding of
the National Institute in 1996 up until 2005, the number of employees continued to decrease due to objective reasons such as small wages, financial instability etc. (figure 1). Starting from 2006, a continuous increase in the number of employees can be observed up to 2009 when their number remained constant.
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Personnel evolution 1997 – 2011
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Figure 1. Personnel evolution between 1997 and 2011
The preoccupation of the institute’s management team was permanently oriented towards improving the personnel structure with regard to the number of employees with higher education, as well as (and especially) through a coherent encouragement policy for young researchers, doctors and doctoral students (figure 2).
Figure 2. Evolution of personnel structure between 1997 and 2011(annual averages)
Starting from 2004, the institute experienced a recovery and an improvement in its financial situation which allowed for a strategy reassessment with regard to human resources. Having the necessary financial requirements due to the projects
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contracted at the PNCDI Partnerships 2008 competition, a series of short and mean term strategic objectives were established starting at the beginning of 2008:
Employing the best university graduates from relevant faculties, ensuring the necessary research personnel and improving the mean age of the personnel,
Increasing the specialization and training degrees of research and auxiliary personnel by stimulating professional advancement,
Increasing the number of employees with higher education, Encouraging and stimulating young researchers to obtain the Doctor in
Sciences title by offering a temporary employment contract to doctoral students,
Monitoring senior year students or Master’s students, for the purposes of engaging them in research contracting activities with post-graduation hiring premises at our institute.
Evolution of personnel 1997-2015 (estimation)
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Figure 3. Estimated evolution of personnel until 2015(higher education, average education)
Due to this strategy, the number of employees engaged in research activity grew to 80. The only personnel hired consisted in higher education graduates, with outstanding results, capable of taking over and continuing the top research activities carried out in the institute and also of becoming the force leading to the institute’s progress and its further increase in terms of international visibility. It was impossible for us to overcome this limit due to the drastic reduction, during the last three years, in funds assigned for contracted research projects and for the ones under financing. This was a result of the economic crisis that affected most countries in the world, including Romania. Nevertheless, we will keep pursuing the previously mentioned objectives, established in 2008.
Thus, at least one exam for occupying vacant posts will be organized by the institute each year, both for advancing the existing research employees, as well as for hiring new personnel. The employees will be aided in acquiring the necessary
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qualities and aptitudes and to fulfill the required legal scientific standards for advancement, leading to an increase in the number of CS I and CS II personnel. Priority will be given to hiring young specialists, especially MSc’s, PhD students and PhD’s.
This will lead to an improvement in the qualification level of the institute’s research and auxiliary personnel, by taking advantage of all the existing possibilities for sending the employees to professional training and training in related fields (management, accountancy, intellectual property, quality management, internal auditing, public auction organizing, environmental protection etc.), both in Romania and across borders.
3.4. MECHANISMS FOR STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
Based on the current national policies for scientific research coordination and financing, ensuring the necessary financial resources for the institute’s existence and evolution will continue to represent one of the priorities, together with the efforts required to keep experienced researchers at the institute and to maintain the technical parameters of the scientific research infrastructure at optimum.
One of the measures considered for continuing to ensure the institute’s required financial resources is the exploitation of the currently existing scientific resource, with the purpose of capitalizing research results in the business environment and diversifying the scientific research activity, development and innovation, so that a large opportunity range of applications could be developed, oriented and implemented through scientific publications for visibility increase at the national and international levels and also through patents, products and technologies usable in the economic environment.
During the last years, by pursuing this institutional policy and strategy, the traditional activity domains such as chemical technologies, electrochemical technologies and nanotechnologies, with applications in the fields of energetics and environmental protection, were supplemented with new fields of national and international interest, namely: the fields of renewable energies, medicine and the quality of life, biotechnologies, security, IT, agriculture, constructions, electronics etc. All this was possible due to the unbounded imagination and creative spirit of our researchers, but also to the management team’s support for the development and implementation of new scientific research directions.
The growing interest for those fields and the positive results obtained, convinced us to continue pursuing these policies by elaborating scientific research projects destined for the development of new techniques, technologies and materials with applicability in leading scientific and economic fields, by improving our material basis, perfecting researchers and forming new national and international research partnerships. These new directions were identified, promoted and developed through team work, efficient and focused documentation and a good communication with the national and international research environment, with potential beneficiaries of obtained results. All this was also made possible by ensuring: information access to complete and complex national and international data bases, a corresponding material facilities, efficient computing, proper software and also trained and specialized personnel that can efficiently use this equipment.
Based on the very good results obtained by applying these measures, the management team decided to continue pursuing the same direction. We predict that this policy will materialize through the elaboration, development and implementation
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of new scientific research projects, even of some new research directions. The materialization and implementation of our policy will involve:- updating the material basis with computers and the latest software, required for developing the proper theoretical support given the new guidelines;- ensuring access to complex and up-to-date scientific and technical data bases;- ensuring unlimited access to scientific literature;- participating at scientific manifestations, fairs, expositions and international conferences relevant to scientific research, development and innovation or at any manifestations and reunions where one could come into contact with the business environment or with possible beneficiaries of current and future research;- participating to specialization and improvement courses in scientific and technical domains, specific and related to our research activity; - increasing the collaboration and communication capability between the institute’s departments in order to identify the most efficient methods and means for resolving scientific, technical and management problems;- encouraging researchers to discuss/propose/analyze new ideas with real chances of becoming research directions;- rewarding the researchers that propose new themes and new research directions, based on the degree that these propositions materialize into new contracts/projects;- encouraging interdepartmental collaboration by accepting new themes that can allow the maximally efficient exploitation of existing human and material infrastructure, as well as the attraction of new research and development opportunities; - continuously identifying the demands of the market and of the economic and scientific environments with the purpose of developing those fields that bring a maximum profit to the institute and its researchers; - encouraging the participation of researchers to international scientific meetings, ensuring access to large national and international research laboratories for developing abilities and professional techniques, information exchange and the initiation of new scientific collaborations in priority fields.
3.5. SWOT FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
STRONG POINTS WEAK POINTS- Financing comes from several sources (PC7, PN2, structural funds, bilateral cooperation, regional and foreign cooperation – the DKMT region etc),- Ongoing national and international projects,- Financing through direct governmental contracts,- Flexible and efficiently used work program,- The profit is reinvested in research,- There is the possibility of contracting credit for urgent needs.
- A change in political orientation so that research and development no longer represent a primary domain of interest,- Abandonment of current national strategy
concerning an increase in research funding up to 1% of GDP,- The competing similar institutes from the
European Union,- Few direct contracts,- Attraction of European funding sources is
poor,- Cashing is delayed,- The available financial means ensure only a
short term relative stability,- Current economic conditions make it difficult
to gain favorable credits.
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OPORTUNITIES RISKS- Access to national funding,- Access to European FP7 funding or
to other sources,- The possibility of temporary
employment,- Access to non-reimbursable funding,- Favorable research politics,
observance of international commitments.
- Lack of funding for projects that are already won and contracted,- Reduction in the number of organized
competitions,- Research budged reduction,- High interest rates for bank loans.
3.6. INFRASTRUCTURE: INVESTMENT PLAN AND STRATEGYBased on recently undertaken measures, some of the problems that were
encumbering the institute’s activity, such as inefficient spaces, water infiltration due to degraded hydro-insulation, obsolete sanitary installations, worn-out research equipment etc., have been eliminated. Both buildings from Timişoara that belong to the institute and the areas from the Bucharest subsidiary used for scientific research were completely renovated and refurbished. Furthermore, an additional 1000 m2 area was built/furnished for new laboratories, offices and production spaces. These measures led to the furnishing of some functional laboratories, provided with basic facilities for ensuring optimum, ergonomic and healthy working conditions, in accordance with the institute’s directions and current activity volume. This action was correlated with the institute’s long term and mean term strategic development predictions regarding the amplification and diversity of research and microproduction activities, which implicitly presuppose an increase in the research and auxiliary personnel.
Latest generation research equipment with the best characteristics, as well as technical and scientific possibilities, was acquired in the last four years due to the large number of national research projects carried out, but also due to the existence of new opportunities for participating in international, FP7 and bilateral projects.
New international tendencies in the filed of science and technology adapted to the consumer’s increasingly diverse demands, as well as the institute’s own development strategy, will require us to rethink the short term acquisitions plan and adapt it accordingly. Currently, a project for the development of a photovoltaic center is ongoing and financed from structural funds that. This center will be built in the next two years and will also be endowed with up-to-date research equipment. We also have a portfolio of research projects currently being scientifically evaluated and a list of research and mciroproduction equipment in accordance with the strategic domains under development.
The institute has supplementary spaces available for the purposes of developing research activities requiring the construction and use of new research and microproduction laboratories.
In order to ensure the institute’s financial resources (other than those from the state budget) and since we are organized as a self-financing research unit, we are considering a turnover increase from extra budgetary contracts by increasing visibility in the business environment, based on attracting companies into public-private partnerships, increasing service volume to third parties, transferring technologies and production/microproduction activities to the private sector.
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3.7. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND ATTRACTING NON-PUBLIC FUNDSThe increased number of gained and completed research contracts during the
last years have led to a portfolio of new technologies, methods and products. Since it is only natural to exploit these results, one of the strategic objectives for the following period is their efficient exploitation in the form transfers to possible beneficiaries. Useful funds can be attracted – other than public ones – that will ensure the necessary financing resources for approaching new research projects in order to develop the institute’s material basis, the maintenance of existing equipment etc. In this context we have decided to transfer to collaborators and other users the following technologies:
1. Technology for obtaining biofuels from cellulosic wastes. The proposed method eliminates the traditional disadvantages due to chemical hydrolysis and ensures the conversion of 85-95% lignocellulosic biomass. The resulted aqueous solution contains a 53-95% fermentable monosaccharides mixture which can lead to 95% fermentation efficiency.
Possible beneficiary: S.C. BEE TEAM SRL Timişoara and also agricultural farms and private entrepreneurs. 2. Electrochemical cleavage technology for polyethylene terephthalate wastes. The proposed method associates the cleavage reaction with modern techniques that considerably diminish reaction times and energy consumption implicitly. This technology is directly contributing to environmental protection due to the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate wastes.
Possible beneficiary: S.C. OXYGENS SRL and district/regional waste recycling centers.
3. Wastewater decontamination technology – a modern and efficient technology that relies on the photocatalytic properties of a novel product developed at our institute, namely titanium dioxide doped with metal (Au, Ag, Fe, Pt) and non-metal (N) ions.
Possible beneficiary: water/sewer commercial companies.4. The photonic heating system with variable geometry – is a heating system
that relies on luminous flux conversion from halogen lamps into variable energy heat. It can be used to dry surfaces with variable geometry.
Possible beneficiary: shipyards, auto services.
3.8. STRATEGIC AND VISIBILITY PARTNERSHIPS: EVENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, COLLABORATIONS
At the national level, the institute initiated and developed partnerships with universities, economic agents, research institutes etc., by participating at scientific manifestations, direct meetings, as well as personal and professional visits. It can be said that the institute is currently engaged in scientific collaborations with all major universities and National Institutes in Romania. Research webs were completed and consolidated in common interest fields through scientific research or mobility projects, as well as through visibility increase, based on the CEEX and PN2 programs (Partnerships, Capabilities and Ideas). Some examples are: ELMED – a research web in the field of “medicine and the quality of life”; Research and services web for the synthesis of nanostructures with applications in advanced products used in the textile industry, protective coatings and the environment; Technological web destined for Romania’s integration into the European nanoelectronics platform; The “Advanced materials – from national level research to integration into the European research area” project; The virtual center for integrated technologies with electro-ultra
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acoustic energy applications in advanced materials engineering, together with research institutes, universities and the Romanian Academy.
Also, the institute participated as a founding member to the formation of some groups in the relevant research fields: The Constructions Technological Platform, The Romanian Photovoltaic Group, The Romanian Electrochemistry Society, The Romanian Association for Applied Electrochemistry, The West Area Multidisciplinary Research Association etc. In the future we will keep pursuing the same directions, strive to consolidate the partnerships / webs / groups already existing and initiating new ones in the institute’s strategic fields.
The institute has rather few external partnerships and thus, an increase in external visibility, as well as the initiation of new partnerships and consortiums is necessary, especially strategic ones that will allow access to research funds and a consolidation of our position in The European Research Area.
One of the reasons the international visibility of the institute was diminished is due to the fact that given proper financing through national research programs and direct investment programs for equipment acquisitions, reparations and rehabilitation, our efforts were oriented towards consolidating the human and research infrastructure as well as the institute’s position as part of the national web of research institutes and higher education units. This was a difficult task, completed with small and certain steps that led to a good visibility and appreciation of the institute’s activity in the Romanian academic environment.
Efforts for increasing the institute’s international visibility were also present. Thus, the young personnel away for training purposes, the researches present in the institute and the three researchers that returned after completing their foreign specialization courses, contributed through scientific publications, participation at international scientific manifestations, participation at international fairs and expositions and also through the created personal and professional relationships, to the development of new international scientific collaboration opportunities.
Also, through national research programs important sums were allocated for visibility/dissemination/intellectual property protection through participations at scientific manifestations, patenting, international fairs and exhibitions and also for coverage of peer-reviewed publications costs.
The institute organized a series of international scientific manifestations, workshops, symposiums, conferences attended by researchers from France, Germany, USA, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Spain, The Rep. of Moldova etc.
All these measures have led to an improvement in the institute’s image both in Romania and across borders. Thus, there is a real possibility for the development of new collaboration relationships, new partnerships, new research webs, for participations at scientific conferences, specific fairs and expositions, for covering expenses with the patenting of scientific research results, for providing financial support in publishing papers at ISI quoted scientific journals with higher than zero relative influence score etc.
In the upcoming period, the institute will continue to pursue the same directions in order to ensure a higher degree of participation to international partnerships, research webs and scientific manifestations, to promote the institute’s scientific research activity and also to attract supplementary funding for further research.
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