Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry The honorary title of RTU Scientist of the Contents Year 6 Kārlis Agris Gross, Dr.sc.ing., Lead Researcher (IIC, 2016) Facts and Figures Gundars Mežinskis, Dr.habil.sc.ing., Professor (ISM, 2015) 10 Jānis Zicāns, Dr.sc.ing., Institute of Applied Chemistry (IAC) Lead. Researcher (IPM, 2013) Līga Bērziņa-Cimdiņa, Dr.sc.ing., 14 Professor (IGCE, 2012) Institute of Design Technologies (IDT) Valdis Kampars, Dr.habil.chem., Professor (IAC, 2009) 18 Māris Knite, Dr.habil.phys., Professor (ITP, 2007) Institute of General Chemical Engineering (IGCE) 22 The honorary title of RTU Young Scientist Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (IIC) of the Year Biomaterials Research Laboratory Kristīne Šalma-Ancāne, Dr.sc.ing., 26 (IGCE, 2016) Institute of Polymer Materials (IPM) Dagnija Loča, Dr.sc.ing., Lead. Researcher (IGCE, 2015) 31 Andris Šutka, Dr.sc.ing., Lead. Researcher (ISM, 2014) Institute of Silicate Materials (ISM) Jānis Ločs, Dr.sc.ing., Assoc. 34 Professor (IGCT, 2013) Remo Merijs-Meri, Dr.sc.ing., Assoc. Institute of Technical Physics (ITP) Professor (IPM, 2011) 38 Māris Turks, Dr.chem., Assoc. Professor (ITOC, 2010) Institute of Technology of Organic Chemistry (ITOC) 46 Study programmes of the faculty 2 Facts and figures Main research Institutes of the faculty – Academic and research work have been areas among 42 institutes of RTU closely interconnected since the foundation of the Faculty. The Faculty of Materials Synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles, in 2014 and 2015 Science and Applied Chemistry has nanofibers and catalysts, development considered research excellence a priority of nanocomposites and nanocoatings Science capacity*, % Rank in RTU/year right from the start and attracted such production technologies from polymer 2014 2015 2014 2015 renowned scientists as Wilhelm Ostwald, and inorganic nanomaterials, products Paul Walden, Lidija Liepiņa and Gustavs application Institute of General Chemical Vanags. The structure and research Engineering with Rūdolfs Cimdiņš Riga 6.27 6.12 2 3 directions of the Faculty have changed Biomaterials Innovations and in the course of time, but the Faculty has Synthesis of components and materials for Development Centre been able to maintain high standards in electronics, photonics, optoelectronics and academic work and research. information technologies, smart materials Institute of Applied Chemistry 3.97 2.47 6 18 Institute of Design Technology 3.50 2.21 10 19 Innovative biomaterials, materials/ biomaterials technology Today the Faculty of Institute of Silicate Materials 3.20 3.94 14 7 Materials Science and Applied Chemistry has the Synthesis of topical organic substances, Institute of Polymer Materials 3.38 3.79 11 9 highest research potential, structure research, technology solutions for the needs of pharmaceutical, medical and Institute of Technology of Organic external funding, developed bioorganic chemistry Chemistry 3.17 4.51 15 6 research infrastructure and Institute of Technical Physics 3.95 2.81 7 13 is ranked among the best Control of interfacial and boundary at Riga Technical University processes for design of micro-, submicro- Institute of Biomaterials and and nano- scale heterogeneous polymer and 2.66 18 (RTU). inorganic composites to obtain materials Biotechnology with a target-oriented functionality In total, the Faculty received Biomaterials Research Laboratory 0.99 31 28.65 % of core funding Development, research and quality allocated to RTU in 2015. assurance of alternative, renewable and mixed fuels, lubricants and their *Science capacity – an index characterizing the number of publications and patents, components attracted external funding and effectiveness of defended doctoral theses. Modification of natural and chemical fibres and optimisation their properties, smart textiles and clothing Synthesis, modification, investigation and use of inorganic materials and composites for special objectives and the economy Ecological solutions in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science and allied branches Conversion of biomass, renewable and mixed fuels 4 5 Institutes of the faculty Funding in national research centres (NRC) NRC of Technologies of Acquisition and Sustainable Use of Energy and for purchase Environmental Resources € 4.97 of research equipment during Leading institute – Riga Technical University (RTU) mill. 4 years Faculty institutes: ISM, IAC Partners: University of Latvia (UL), Agency of UL Institute of Biology and Institute of Physical Energetics € for renovation 200,000 of premises (475 m2) NRC of Pharmacy and Biomedicine 40 TOTAL FUNDING Leading institute – Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis units or complexes (LIOS) of purchased Faculty institute: ITOC research equipment. € 5.17 mill. Partners: LIOS, UL, AUL Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre NRC of Nanostructured and Multifunctional Materials, Structures and Technologies Leading institute – AUL Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) Faculty institutes: IBB, IAC, IP, ITP, IDT, IGCE Partners: AUL ISSP, UL, AUL Institute of Physics, AUL Institute of Polymer Mechanics, ARTU Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (IIC) NRC of Information, Communication and Signal Processing Technology Leading institute – VUC Engineering Institute «Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre» Faculty institute: IAC Partners: UL, RTU, UL Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, AUL Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science 6 7 Contributions to Research in 2015 the 10 Top scientific achievments in the 179 (65.22) - total number of elected researchers field of practical (in full-time equivalent or FTE) 77 (36.73) leading researchers applications in 79 (24.32) researchers Latvia 23 (4,17) research assistants 97 from them Doctors of Sciences New catalytic processes for conversion of biomass in fuels (IAC, 2015). Organized 108 research projects with attracted external activities and funding Synthesis and study of organic glasses € 1 576 791 - investments attracted from with original structure for application in publications external sources photonics equipment (IAC in collaboration with AUL ISSP, 2013). Awarding of Paul Walden Prize (biannually, in € 24 170 - annual external funding per one FTE two nominations) researcher Development of new catalytic methods for € 570 819 - core (maintenance) funding the production of glycerine acid and lactic RTU International Scientific Conference, € 113 059 - attracted financing from research acid by means of oxidising glycerol with section Materials Science and Applied performance (second pillar) air or molecular oxygen. Development of Chemistry (annually, in October) a new method for the synthesis of more active and more selective catalysts (IAC in collaboration with ARTU IIC, 2012). Baltic Polymer Symposium (once every three 272 - total number of scientific publications years, by IPM) 1,52 (4,17) scientific publications per Development of a super-elastic sensor one researcher (FTE) prototype (composite of elastomers and Baltic Conference on Silicate Materials 174 scientific publications in databases electroconducting nanoparticles) applicable (biannually, by ISM) in wide-area detection of pressure and WoS and Scopus impacts (ITP, PI in collaboration with JSC 0.97 (2,67) publications in databases WoS and Scopus Baltijas Gumijas Fabrika, 2011). RTU Students Scientific Conference per one researcher (FTE) (annually, in April) Technology for manufacturing novel porous high-temperature oxide ceramics. The 7 awarded patents (Latvia) intrinsic characteristics of these oxide Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University: 7 patent applications (Latvia) ceramics allow filtration of aggressive Materials Science and Applied Chemistry (2 and hot liquids and the use as thermal journals per year, issued 32 journals) insulation at high temperatures (ISM, 2009). Materials Science (1 journal per year, issued 11 4 PhD study programmes journals) 4 Promotion councils Technology for production of a novel heat 144 000 - Grants for Doctoral students (second pillar), insulating building material from layered EUR silicates and by-products of biodiesel production (ISM, 2009). 83 PhD students 17 defended Doctoral theses 68% success rate (number of defended Doctoral theses to number of enrolled students) 8 9 The Institute of Applied Chemistry (IAC) at Riga Technical University and all laboratories of the institute The current scientific directions of IAC are involved in the study process, based on previous investigations at the including the Laboratory Faculty of Material Science and Applied Chemistry. Several of these directions are of Fuel Quality Control longstanding, for example, the synthesis and Investigation, were and investigation of non-linear optical chromophores and catalytic oxidation with established in 2006. The air and oxygen. Department of Chemistry Also several new scientific investigations was founded in 2002 by have been succesfully developed: production merging the Department of fuel from biomass conversion processes, synthesis of organic glasses, dendronised of General Chemistry, the chromophores and luminophores, synthesis Department of Organic of lanthanide complexes, functionalised graphite and graphene oxides and the Chemistry, the Department of synthesis and practical use of mezoporous Inorganic Chemistry and the catalysts for biomass conversion processes. Department of Analytical and Institute takes place in research supported Physical Chemistry. by two national programmes. The Institute of Applied Chemistry is