Laboratory for Synthesis of Functional Materials

• Assist. Prof. Maria Kolympadi Markovic, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Iva Šarić Janković, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Ivana Jelovica Badovinac, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Ivna Kavre Piltaver, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Robert Peter, PhD

External members

• Prof. Dr Mato Knez (CIC nanoGUNE, San Sebastian, Spain)
• Prof. Dr Ivana Gobin (Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka)

In the Laboratory for Synthesis of Functional Materials, we develop new hybrid materials for use in environmental protection and advanced technologies.

1. UNIRI Project (Experienced Scientists 2023): “Development of a Gas-Phase Method for the Synthesis of Advanced Hybrid Materials”. Leader: G. Ambrožić.
2. UNIRI Project (Experienced Scientists 2023): “Light-Activated Reactions for the Growth of Organic Thin Films Using Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD)”. Leader: M. Kolympadi Markovic.
3. UNIRI Project (Young Scientists 2022): “Preparation of Functional Organic Thin Films Using Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD)”. Leader: M. Kolympadi Markovic.
4. HRZZ Project: “Preparation of Porous Thin Film Materials for Water Purification Using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)”. Leader: G. Ambrožić.
5. UNIRI Project (Grants 2016 – Young Researchers): “Ex-Situ Preparation of Thin Film Hybrid Materials with Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)”. Leader: G. Ambrožić.
6. UNIRI Project (Stimulative Grants 2018): “Preparation of Porous Thin-Film Materials for Water Purification Using the Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Technique”. Leader: G. Ambrožić.
7. UNIRI Project (UNIRI Projects 2018): “Development of New Nanotechnologically Improved Materials Resistant to the Formation of Bacterial Biofilms”. Leader: D. Markovic. Collaborator: G. Ambrožić.

1. S. Mežnarić, I. Jelovica Badovinac, I. Šarić, R. Peter, M. Kolympadi Markovic, G. Ambrožić,* I. Gobin
   Superior UVA-photocatalytic antibacterial activity of a double-layer ZnO/Al₂O₃ thin film grown on cellulose by atomic layer deposition (ALD), Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 10 (2022) 108095.
2. F. Vranješević,, M. Kolympadi Markovic, D. Matulja, G. Ambrožić, J. Á. Sordo, S. Laclef, V. Vrček, D. Marković
   Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Five-Membered Cyclic Carbonates and Carbamates from Allylic or Propargylic Substrates and CO₂, Catalysts 12 (2022) 547.
3. T. Sharifi, D. Crmaric, M. Kovacic, M. Popovic, M. Kraljic Rokovic, H. Kusic, D. Jozić, G. Ambrožić, D. Kralj, J. Kontrec, B. Zener, U. Lavrencic Stangar, D. D. Dionysiou, A. Loncaric Bozic
   Tailored BiVO₄ for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9 (2021) 106025.
4. I. Šarić, Iva, M. K. Markovic, R. Peter, P. Linić, K. Wittine, I. Kavre Piltaver, I. Jelovica Badovinac, D. Marković, M. Knez, G. Ambrožić
   In-situ multi-step pulsed vapor phase surface functionalization of zirconia nanoparticles via copper-free click chemistry, Applied Surface Science 539 (2021) 148254.
5. A. Omerzu, R. Peter, D. Jardas, I. Turel, K. Salamon, M. Podlogar, D. Vengust, I. Jelovica Badovinac, I. Kavre Piltaver, M. Petravic
   Large enhancement of photocatalytic activity in ZnO thin films grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition, Surfaces and Interfaces 23 (2021) 100984.
6. I. Jelovica Badovinac, R. Peter, A. Omerzu, K. Salamon, I. Šarić, A Samaržija, M. Perčić, I. Kavre Piltaver, G. Ambrožić, M. Petravić
   Grain size effect on photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ thin films grown by atomic layer deposition, Thin Solid Films 709 (2020) 138215.
7. M. Kolympadi Markovic, R. Peter, I. Jelovica Badovinac, I. Saric, M. Perčić, R. Radičić, D. Marković, M. Knez, G. Ambrožić
   “Sandwich”-like hybrid ZnO thin films produced by a combination of atomic layer deposition (ALD) and wet-chemistry using a mercapto silane as single organic precursor“, Nanotechnology;31 (2020) 185603.
8. R. Peter, K. Salamon, A. Omerzu, J. Grenzer, I. Jelovica Badovinac, I. Šarić, M. Petravić
   Role of Hydrogen-Related Defects in Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Films Grown by Atomic Layer Deposition, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C  124 (2020) 8861.
9. D. Matulja, K. Wittine, N. Malatesti, S. Laclef, M. Turks, M. Kolympadi Markovic, G. Ambrožić, D. Markovic
   Marine Natural Products with High Anticancer Activities, Current Medicinal Chemistry 27 (2020) 1-63.
10. D. Matulja, M. Kolympadi Markovic, G. Ambrožić, S. Laclef, S. Kraljević Pavelić, D. Marković.
    Secondary Metabolites from Gorgonian Corals of the Genus Eunicella: Structural Characterizations, Biological Activities, and Synthetic Approaches, Molecules 25 (2020) 129; (https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010129)
11. G. Ambrožić*, M. Kolympadi Markovic, R. Peter, I. Kavre Piltaver, I. Jelovica Badovinac, Duško Čakara, D. Marković, M. Knez.
    Building organosilica hybrid nanohemispheres via thiol-ene click reaction on alumina thin films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), ‎J. Colloid Interface Sci. 560 (2020) 303–311.
12. I. Saric, R. Peter, M. Kolympadi Markovic, I. Jelovica Badovinac, C. Rogero, M. Ilyn, M. Knez, G. Ambrožić.  
    Introducing the concept of pulsed vapor phase copper-free surface click-chemistry using the ALD technique, Chem. Commun. 55 (2019) 3109–3112.
13. E. Borello, M. Cifelli, C. Duce, G. Galli, M. R. Tine’, V. Hamplova, G. Ambrozic, V. Domenici.  
    Chemical-Physical Characterization of a Binary Mixture Made of a Photosensitive Azobenzene Derivative and a Smectogen, Mol. Chryst. 614 (2015) 54.

1. Workshop on Optical Thin Films,  April 22-24, 2024, Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb
   Synthesis of semiconductor thin films and hybrid materials using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique, Invited lecture (G. Ambrožić)
2. 9 th Symposium of Chemistry Students, October 11–12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagreb
   Atomic Layer Deposition: A powerful technique for the synthesis of semiconductor thin films and functional hybrid materials, Plenary lecture (G. Ambrožić)
3. 28th Croatian Meeting of Chemists and Chemical Engineers (28HSKIKI), 28. – 31.3.2023., Rovinj (https://28hskiki.org/)
4. V. simpozij supramolekulske kemije (Supramolecular Chemistry 2022), 8.12.2022., Zagreb (https://supramolchem.org/)
5. Natural resources, green technology & sustainable technology (Green 2022), 14. – 16.9.2023., Zagreb (https://www.sumins.hr/green2022/)
6. Mini-symposium of the Croatian Chemical Society, July 4, 2022, Rijeka (https://www.biotech.uniri.hr/en/component/content/article/83-hr/naslovnica/1116-mni-simpozij-hkd.html); organizing committee members: G. Ambrožić, M. Kolympadi Markovic
7. Symposium “Synergy at the Interface of Chemistry – Nanotechnology” (SinChemNano 2022), 28.5.2022., Zagreb
8. IV. simpozij supramolekulske kemije (Supramolecular Chemistry 2021), 10.12.2021., Zagreb (https://supramolchem.org/)
9. 27th International Scientific Meeting on Vacuum Science and Technique, 9. – 10. 9. 2021., Gozd Martuljek, Slovenija (I. Šarić, R. Peter)
10. 27th Croatian Meeting of Chemists and Chemical Engineers (27HSKIKI), 5. – 8. 10. 2021. Veli Lošinj (https://27hskiki.hkd.hr/) (M. Kolympadi Markovic, G. Ambrožić).
11. Solid-State Science & Research 2019 (SCIRES 2019), 27. – 29. 6 .2019, Zagreb (https://scires2019.irb.hr/).
12. 26th International Scientific Meeting on Vacuum Science and Technique (ISMVST-26), 16. – 17. 5. 2019, Njivice (http://ismvst26.irb.hr/).
13. 2nd ZORH – Meeting of scientists, employees and students on the topic of environmental protection, 26–27 April 2019, Split (https://zorh2.wordpress.com/program/).
14. International workshop “Atomic Layer Deposition: Fundamentals and Applications”, 21–22 September 2017, Rijeka. Organisers: EU Cost Action HERALD, Department of Physics and Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies (CMNZT), University of Rijeka.

1. Prof. Dr Sc. Mato Knez, University of Rijeka, Department of Physics, 25 May – 9 June 2019.
2. Prof. Dr Gabriela Ambrožić, CIC NanoGUNE, San Sebastian, Spain, 23 – 30 June 2018.
3. Assoc. Prof. Dr Sc. Iva Šarić, CIC NanoGUNE, San Sebastian, Spain, 9 – 25 February 2018.

1. Iva Lovrović: “Antiproliferative and antioxidant effects of structural analogues of the marine natural compound granulatamide B” (2021). Supervisor: D. Marković. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
2. Silvestar Mežnarić: “Synergistic effect of zinc oxide particles and UV-A radiation on the growth kinetics of resistant hospital pathogens” (2021). Supervisor: I. Gobin. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
3. Karlo Šurlina: Chemical and biological evaluation of organic extracts of the tunicate Phallusia mammillata from the Adriatic Sea (2020). Supervisor: D. Marković. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
4. Rafaela Radičić: Photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide prepared by thermal decomposition of a cellulose template (2019). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
5. Petra Linić: “Click chemistry of bis(alkynes) and bis(azides) for the functionalisation of inorganic materials” (2019). Supervisor: K. Wittine. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
6. Vedrana Tolić: “Investigation of the adsorption of olive leaf extract on zeolite supports” (2019). Supervisor: D. Marković. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
7. Antonija Samaržija: “Photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide thin films” (2018). Supervisor: I. Jelovica Badovinac.
8. Karla Gobo: Extraction and quantification of metabolites from olive leaves from the Istrian region (2017). Supervisor: D. Marković. Co-supervisor: G. Ambrožić.

1. Tihana Kraljiček: “Wetting properties of cellulose materials coated with ZnO” (2023). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić. Co-supervisor: M. Kolympadi Markovic.
2. Matteo Martinčić: “Chemical composition of atmosphere” (2023). Mentor: G. Ambrožić. Matea Šmintić: “Application of photocatalytic processes in water purification technology” (2019). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
3. Rafaela Radičić: “UV/Vis spectroscopy and its application in the analysis of photocatalytic activities of thin zinc oxide films” (2018). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
4. Katarina Kolak: “Principles and applications of IR spectroscopy” (2018). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
5. Šimun Mandić: “Intermolecular interactions” (2016). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.
6. Mia Žudić: “Corrosion and corrosion protection” (2015). Supervisor: G. Ambrožić.

1. Workshop: “Journey of Molecules through Silicon Dioxide” (G. Ambrožić, M. Kolympadi Markovic), UNIRI NANO DAY 2022 (https://nanori.uniri.hr/hr/uniri-nano-day/), 9 October 2022, Rijeka
2. Open Day of the Faculty of Physics, University of Rijeka, 25 April 2023
3. Rijeka Technologies, 30January 2024 – Science Festival 2024, 23April 2024
4. “Rijeka’s team develops innovative water purification method”, interview, Novi list, 30 May 2018

1. Award for Best Final Thesis at the Faculty of Physics in 2024 – Tihana Kraljiček: “Wetting properties of cellulose materials coated with ZnO”. (Supervisor: G. Ambrožić. Co-supervisor: M. Kolympadi Markovic).
2. Award for the best scientific paper of the Department of Physics in 2023: “Superior UVA-photocatalytic antibacterial activity of a double-layer ZnO/Al2O3 thin film grown on cellulose by atomic layer deposition (ALD)”, published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (G. Ambrožić).
3. Award for the best scientific paper of the Department of Physics in 2020: “Introducing the concept of pulsed vapour phase copper-free surface click chemistry using the ALD technique”, published in Chemical Communications (G. Ambrožić).