Ionic Liquids With Solid State Nanopores: New Valuable Progress From Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB)
May 28, 2021 - A recently published study on ionic liquids with solid state nanopores at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) can help the energy storage sector.
The top scientific and research institution in Croatia, the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB), continues to be the home of interesting scientific progress.
Researchers from the IRB's computer bioscience team, Nataša Vučemilović-Alagić, and dr. Mario Špadina under the mentorship of dr. Ana Sunčana Smith cleared the phenomenon of transport inside liquids on the principle of nanopores in the solid-state. A nanopore is a small cavity in solid matter, invisible to the naked eye. This IRB research was done in collaboration with dr. Sanjin Marion and dr. Aleksandra Rađenović from École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and the research results are published in the prestigious scientific journal Small which specializes in nanotechnology.
Professor Ana Sunčana Smith's IRB team deals with molecular descriptions of chemical and physical interactions of ionic liquids (liquids that are not neutral but have either positive or negative electric charge) on various solid surfaces. The goal was to determine the impact of specific ions and specific surfaces. The appliance of this knowledge is in line with guidelines of the EU Green Deal, and the UN sustainable development goals", explained IRB in the official press release.
The press release added this knowledge is useful in storing energy, as ionic liquids in nanopores represent an alternative to batteries.
„In this research, starting from the principle of water solutions, we combine ionic fluids and nanopores of different geometric features and materials to secure new nanofluid functionalities. This solves some of the relevant issues in the understanding of basic principles of transports in space-limited ionic liquids and ensuring better control of the speed of translocating within an analyte“, explained Dr. Ana Sunčana Smith.
It's worth noting that dr. Sunčana Smith is one of the Croatian scientists that received support from the Croatian European Research Council (ERC) for a very prestigious project in researching biological membranes worth 1,5 million euros.
Energy efficiency is something IRB shows to be really dedicated to, as evident by the progress IRB researchers made in exploring materials for converting CO2 to methanol alcohol, and IRB's Rovinj Sea Research Centre that celebrated 130 years of existence this year priorities maritime ecology and its protection in its research.
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Green Plan for Croatian Economy - Investment Focus on 3 Key Areas
November the 30th, 2020 - The Croatian economy has been dealt a very heavy blow this year as a result of the ongoing pandemic and all of the economic downturn caused by it. Despite that, the proverbial show must go on and investments must continue in order to pull ourselves out of this unprecedented situation. What are the main points of focus for the Croatian economy within the much talked about Green Plan?
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Darko Bicak writes, Vladimir Nisevic, the editor-in-chief of Poslovni Dnevnik, pointed out that Croatia's destiny, both in terms of recovering from the economic difficulties which have ensued since the coronavirus crisis took hold, and the Green Plan, is closely linked to the European Union (EU) as a whole and therefore the Green Plan and its implementation in Croatia are even more significant.
Ivo Miletic, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Economy and Sustainable Development, emphasised that the European Green Plan is a big step forward in regard to energy transformation, and as such the idea opens up a number of opportunities for the Croatian economy, and we must all adapt to it readily in order to benefit to the fullest extent possible.
"Croatia is also sensitive to the threats posed by climate change, which is why we've adhered to the provisions of the Green Plan, which doesn't leave any European Union member state behind, but instead provides everyone with an opportunity for development.
Stricter environmental standards await us, primarily in regard to the reduction of CO2 emissions, and the goals will almost certainly be higher and thus need to be adjusted. We will focus on efficient construction, decarbonised energy and clean transport.
The EU will commit a minimum of 100 billion euros in this budget perspective for precisely this purpose, and at least 30 percent of the money from the Next Generation programme, out of a total of 700 billion euros, will be directed to numerous green projects.
The situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic has also shown how vulnerable energy supply routes actually are, and it has once again highlighted the fact that decentralised renewable energy projects are necessary and strategic and will continue to be the focus of the Croatian Government,'' concluded Miletic.
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