Seminar by Prof. Zaneta Swiatkowska-Warkocka: "Laser-Driven Transformations of CuO Nanoparticles in Liquids: From Irradiation Conditions to Functional Properties"

"Laser-Driven Transformations of CuO Nanoparticles in Liquids: From Irradiation Conditions to Functional Properties"

Abstract

Pulsed laser irradiation in liquids provides a versatile approach for modifying the phase composition, morphology and functional properties of oxide nanoparticles. In this seminar, I will present our studies on laser-induced transformations of CuO-based nanoparticles dispersed in liquid media, with particular emphasis on how irradiation conditions and the surrounding solvent influence the resulting material structure.

Depending on the laser parameters and liquid environment, CuO nanoparticles can undergo partial reduction, restructuring and changes in morphology and aggregation. I will discuss both recent and previously published results obtained using different irradiation regimes, highlighting the role of laser energy input and solvent composition in determining the transformation pathway.

The resulting structural and compositional changes can strongly affect material functionality. Selected examples related to antibacterial and electrocatalytic properties will be presented to illustrate how laser processing can be used to tailor CuO-based nanomaterials for different applications.

The seminar will focus on the relationships between laser processing conditions, material transformation and functional response, as well as on current challenges and future directions in the controlled laser processing of nanoparticles in liquids.

==bio===

Dr. hab. Żaneta Świątkowska-Warkocka is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) in Kraków, Poland. She is a renowned materials scientist specializing in laser-assisted synthesis in liquids, functional nanoparticles, and magneto-plasmonic nanostructures.Her groundbreaking research focuses on designing advanced nanomaterials for antibacterial, environmental, and biomedical applications, notably targeting global challenges like antimicrobial resistance. She has held prestigious international fellowships, including a JSPS scholarship at AIST (Japan), and research positions at Hokkaido University (Japan), Institut Lumière Matière (France), and as a Kosciuszko Foundation Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA).Currently, she leads the EU-funded CARDEA project. With over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications, her work heavily advances the fields of nanotechnology and applied physics.

This seminar will be held in English.