Ing. Mgr. Neda Neykova, Ph.D.
Advanced Optical Nanomaterials and Composites Research Group is active in both technology and characterization:
The technology laboratory specializes mainly in the synthesis of hydrothermally grown metal oxide (ZnO, MoO3,..) nanostructures, including powders (nanorods, hedgehog-like structures) and substrate-oriented morphologies (nanorods, columns, pillars, cones), developed for applications in solar cells, gas sensing, biological interfaces (e.g., cell adhesion), and antimicrobial surfaces. Doped ZnO nanostructures (e.g., with Mo, Er, Ga) finds their application in ultrafast scintillator technologies. Technology include also plasma treatment to further manipulate surface properties.
The characterization laboratory focuses primarily on photoactive materials, typically photovoltaic absorbers and wide bandgap semiconductors (ZnO, diamond). One of the group’s core strengths lies in the precise measurement of absorptance and photocurrent spectroscopy, employing Fourier-transform-based techniques to dramatically enhance speed and reliability—especially important for unstable or rapidly degrading samples such as hybrid perovskites. Lead halide perovskite thin films and complete perovskite solar cells, are characterized routinely for defect density and device stability. A notable added value is the expertise in optical simulations and the role of light trapping effects. Additionally, the group is advancing frequency-resolved photoluminescence using Fourier-transform methods to analyze photoluminescence time decay and carrier dynamics in nanomaterials.
The group actively participates on the following research topics:
- ZnO a MoO3 nanostructures and interfaces for energy conversion
- Study of stability of hybrid perovskites by methods of weak absorption measurement
- Study of opto-electronic properties of hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite
The group is closely connected to the SOL-MAT group at Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering mainly in the field of solar cells and novel materials. On top of that the group collaborates extensively with international institutions to ensure access to a broad range of materials and multidisciplinary expertise. Selected international key collaboration partners include:
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)
- Hasselt University (Belgium)
- Institute for Light and Matter, University of Lyon (France)
- National Pingtung University (Taiwan)
- Institute of Chemistry Slovak Academy of Sciences (Bratislava, Slovakia)