On March 24, 2026, Rafaela Radičić successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, titled “Development of Synthesis Methods for Two-Component Nanoparticles and Their Application in Photocatalysis and Polymer Composites,” at the Faculty of Physics, University of Rijeka. The dissertation was conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Nikša Krstulović and is linked to the Croatian Science Foundation (HrZZ) projects: “Synthesis of advanced nanoparticles and applications in photocatalysis and textile materials” (HrZZ – PZS-2019-02-5276) and “Laser synthesis of nanoparticles and applications” (HrZZ IP-2019-04-6418). In addition to the experimental measurements performed at the Institute of Physics, the dissertation includes research conducted at the Jožef Stefan Institute (Ljubljana, Slovenia) as part of the HrZZ mobility program “Outgoing Mobility of Assistants” (MOBDOK-2023).
The doctoral research explored the synthesis and application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, as well as their doped and heterojunction forms, for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in water. A specific focus was placed on developing new synthesis methods, including a combination of pulsed laser ablation and deposition, as well as a simplified synthesis of ZnO-Ag heterojunctions. Furthermore, the study investigated the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles onto PET polymer surfaces using cold plasmas and their subsequent impact on material properties. The results demonstrated enhanced UV protection, strong antimicrobial activity, and high nanoparticle stability on the surface. Additionally, a significant reduction in oxygen permeability was observed following cold plasma treatment. Overall, the developed methods enable higher photocatalytic efficiency and improve the functional properties of materials for potential industrial applications.
We congratulate Rafaela on successful completion of her doctorate and wish her luck in her future career!