Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RCH1

The work of a scientist is not only about research and the laboratory, and our electrochemists know this perfectly!

On May 22-24, we had the great pleasure of taking part in the "Implants 2024" conference in Sopot, organized by the Association of Universities in Gdańsk. Daniel Fahrenheit (FarU). Prof. Wojciech Simka began the event with the inaugural lecture "Zirconium or zirconia?", showing how important interdisciplinarity is in the scientific world. In turn, prof. Alicja Kazek-Kęsik gave a plenary lecture entitled "Tests on the biocompatibility of titanium implants with a coating containing antibiotics." Both lectures were received with great interest and an interesting discussion ensued after them. Biomaterials are also familiar to our students. Agata Kołkowska working under the supervision of prof. Wojciech Simka won the competition for the best paper, presenting "Plasma electrochemical oxidation of the NiTi alloy".

At a similar time there was a visit paid by Maciej Sowa in Krakow as part of the conference "7th International Symposium on Surface Imaging/Spectroscopy at the Solid/Liquid Interface" (5-7.06) organized by the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University and the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Our representative had the opportunity to deliver an invited speaker entitled: "The role of post-treatment parameters on the properties of oxide films formed on light metal alloys via plasma electrolytic oxidation" and present the results of the OPUS-LAP project (2020/39/I/ST5/03493) in the form of a poster entitled "Self-healing effect of silica-based coatings induced by scratches of modified steel substrate". In the following days, the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University also hosted student delegates during the 15th "Horizons of Science" conference which was attended by our graduates: Maciej Gdala and Hubert Knap. You can read more about their visit on the website of the Chemistry Students Research Society.

That's not all! Our graduates Julia Grzonka and Agata Kołkowska flew to Italy. At the conference in Genoa "Sharing knowledge. The way to go!” (9-11/06), organized by the Italian branch of AMPP, they presented posters: "Post-treatment of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on 6061 aluminum alloy promoted by soft sparking" and "Corrosion resistance of surface-modified NiTi alloy". Poster by Agata Kołkowska was selected as one of the three authors whose authors will be able to present the results of their work at the world's largest corrosion conference AMPP in Nashville, USA. An important role in the preparation of the students was played by: prof. Wojciech Simka and Maciej Sowa.

Each conference is an extremely important experience, and joint discussions on solutions to problems arising in the scientific path are an invaluable opportunity to acquire and deepen knowledge. For young scientists, such experience is particularly important, which is why they do not rest on their laurels, but keep working!