News: Faculty of Science

An international team of scientists, including experts from CATRIN at Palacký University, has developed a new type of plasmonic photocatalyst capable of converting biomass into key raw materials for bioplastic production with high efficiency and selectivity using solar energy. The research results, which represent a significant step towards more sustainable chemical manufacturing, have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Catalysis.

Biomass—organic material of plant or animal origin—is among the most promising renewable resources for the production of high value-added chemicals and materials. The research focused on the molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is derived from sugars contained in plant biomass and is regarded as one of the key intermediates in modern biorefineries. Through controlled oxidation, HMF can be converted into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a compound that serves as a fundamental building block for biopolymers, such as PEF plastic, an environmentally friendly alternative to the widely used PET.

However, current industrial methods for producing this compound are technologically demanding. They often require strongly alkaline conditions, elevated temperatures, or increased pressure. Despite this, they suffer from low selectivity, leading to the formation of unwanted by-products and higher energy consumption. As a result, contemporary research is seeking new approaches that would allow this chemical transformation to be driven by light energy under milder and more environmentally friendly conditions.

The newly developed catalyst is based on a combination of nanostructured titanium nitride and extremely small nanoparticles of a ruthenium–platinum alloy. Titanium nitride acts as a material that very efficiently absorbs light, particularly its infrared component, converting it into energy-rich electrons and local heat. These effects subsequently promote the activation of molecular oxygen on the surface of the catalytically active nanoparticles, where the chemical reaction itself takes place.

“The key aspect is that the individual components of the catalyst work together in perfect synergy. This allows us to control the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with great precision and achieve an almost complete conversion to the target product without the use of strong chemical additives or extreme reaction conditions. Compared with existing technologies, the process is significantly more selective, more energy-efficient, and produces substantially less waste,” said one of the corresponding authors of the study, Štěpán Kment from Palacký University.

The authors emphasise that this approach enables oxygen activation in a fundamentally different way than conventional catalytic systems. As a result, the reaction can be carried out in an aqueous environment without the addition of alkaline agents, while avoiding non-selective reactions that would otherwise lead to material losses. The outcome is a highly efficient and precisely controlled process suitable for future applications.

According to the researchers, this plasmonic catalytic platform represents a previously unexplored concept in the field of biomass conversion. “It opens up new opportunities for future biorefineries that could use solar energy and renewable feedstocks to produce plastics, solvents, and other chemical products with a significantly lower carbon footprint than current industrial technologies,” concluded Kment.

The research involved scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University, the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, and the national supercomputing centre IT4Innovations at VSB–TUO, in collaboration with partners from China, Italy, and the United States.

Experts connected with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University have once again made it into Forbes magazine’s list of the fifty best doctors in the Czech Republic, professionals who studied there, work there, or are otherwise affiliated with the Faculty.

One of them is František Kopřiva from the Department of Pediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University and University Hospital Olomouc. He is one of the founders of pediatric pulmonology in the Czech Republic and recently received the Medal for Merit in Science and Healthcare from the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel.

“Our work is not the work of an individual, but of the whole team. That’s also how I view these awards, although they are presented under my name, they belong to our entire staff. And far more important than the awards and honours themselves are the results of caring for the health of our pediatric patients,” he said.

Also selected among the fifty best Czech doctors was Karel Pacák, a specialist in endocrine tumours, especially adrenal tumours, who has been working closely with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University since returning from the United States.

As in previous years, the selection also included psychiatrist and psychotherapist Ján Praško Pavlov from the Department of Psychiatry of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University and University Hospital Olomouc, as well as Olomouc graduates, plastic surgeon Bohdan Pomahač and ophthalmologist Pavel Stodůlka.

Another selected graduate of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University is neurologist Daniel Václavík, who is head of the Neurology Department at AGEL Hospital in Ostrava-Vítkovice. Another doctor included in the selection who works in Ostrava is Ondřej Šimetka, head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava and University Hospital Ostrava, who completed his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University.

You can find the complete list of the fifty best doctors in the Czech Republic, selected by Forbes magazine on the basis of consultations and expert review, here.

International students and alumni of Czech universities and higher-education institutions from across the country gathered in Olomouc. Palacký University Olomouc hosted the International Student and Alumni Meetup (ISAMOL) for the first time—an event regularly organized by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (Dům zahraniční spolupráce, DZS) with the aim of sharing experiences and building new friendships.

Fort Science became a venue where people could meet and network. The guests were welcomed by representatives of the university leadership - Rector Michael Kohajda and Vice-Rector for International Relations Ivona Barešová.

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The Rector emphasised that internationalisation is among the university’s top priorities. It communicates and cooperates with partners all around the world and takes part in a wide range of exchange programmes. He also highlighted the importance of Palacký University’s membership in the Aurora network of European universities. “Palacký University currently educates more than four thousand international students from nearly one hundred countries, reflecting both the trust they place in us and the truly global character of our academic community. Through initiatives supported by the Aurora alliance, we continue to strengthen cutting-edge international research,” said Michael Kohajda. According to Vice-Rector Ivona Barešová, the university is also building the necessary support structures for international students so that they feel part of the local academic community: “At Palacký University, we strive not only to provide top-quality education and research, but also to create a truly supportive and welcoming environment for everyone who chooses our university as part of their academic journey,” the Vice-Rector stated.

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A rich programme was prepared for more than 150 international students and alumni who arrived in Olomouc, including a tour of the university’s Science and Technology Park and career workshops. “We also organised a fair of universities and regional organisations, during which participants met partners who play a key role in the integration of international students and alumni. Exhibitors included, for instance, the Archdiocesan Charity, the Integration Centre for Foreigners, the Expat Centres in Brno and Ostrava, and the Olomouc Region Innovation Centre, as well as Charles University, Masaryk University, the University of Ostrava, Czech Technical University in Prague, and the Technical University of Liberec,” said Alena Vyskočilová from the Palacký University Welcome Office, which prepared the Olomouc meetup in cooperation with DZS.

Entertainment was not missing either. Students could take advantage of the Palacký University Press offer and make their own university notebook, play language games, take a souvenir photo in a special photo booth, and more.

“The evening culminated in a concert by the popular Czech–Bosnian band No Barriers, which contributed to the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that accompanied the entire event. The meetup was rated very positively by participants and offered not only an opportunity to make new contacts and share experiences, but also inspiration for academic, professional, and cultural development,” Alena Vyskočilová added. In her view, ISAMOL 2025 confirmed that Olomouc is an ideal place for bringing together students and alumni from around the world, and it created space to connect the academic sphere with regional initiatives, business, and cultural life.