Porous materials

The research team focuses on porous materials in three main areas – synthesis and modification, characterization, and applications. Within the field of synthesis and modification, we have long focused on the development of carbon-based materials, such as aerogels, xerogels, and cryogels. Particular attention is paid to carbon monoliths with hierarchically structured porosity, which possess unique properties and therefore significant application potential. Porous materials are prepared both by conventional methods and from bio-based precursors with the aim of valorizing waste biomass. Over time, our research has expanded to include porous materials based on titanium oxide, silica, and especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In recent years, we have been intensively focusing on MOF-carbon composites, which combine the advantages of both components while minimizing their individual limitations. Furthermore, the porous materials are modified in terms of porosity and surface chemistry to deliberately optimize their properties for various applications.

In the field of characterization, we develop and employ a broad range of modern techniques. Special attention is given to the development of thermoporometry – an innovative method for determining porosity, where our team is among the pioneers in methodology, including the use of various probe molecules. We also focus on NMR relaxometry as an alternative method for evaluating the porous structure and further develop gas physisorption, in which we deal with the identification and elimination of artifacts arising during the measurement of sorption isotherms and interpretation of the results, in order to obtain more reliable data on the porosity of materials. The third pillar of our activities involves the application of porous materials, primarily in the environmental field. We study the capture of carbon dioxide and other substances from the air, hydrogen storage, and energy accumulation in (super)capacitors. Furthermore, we focus on water purification from hazardous ions, dyes, and pharmaceutical pollutants, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms of immobilization of these substances on porous surfaces. We also explore the use of porous materials in catalysis and photocatalysis, and more recently, in bioapplications, such as targeted drug delivery.

The team collaborates with domestic and, in particular, international institutions, both through long-term research partnerships and project-based cooperation. We emphasize the integration of fundamental and applied research, in line with current global trends in the field of porous materials. Our research activities have resulted in the publication of numerous scientific papers in prestigious scientific journals as well as in the granting of patents. The research direction is also strongly reflected in the topics of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses.

Research Teams and Staff Involved:

  • Tomáš Zelenka (Research Team Coordinator)
  • Václav Slovák
  • Gabriela Zelenková
  • Eva Kinnertová
  • Madhav Chavhan
  • Lucie Kořená
  • Petra Bulavová
  • Alžběta Parchaňská
  • The team currently includes 4 PhD students. (L. Zelená, S. Kowalczyk, S. Perveen, S. Shaghaghi)

Major projects over the last five years:

  • MŠMT INTER-EXCELLENCE II (Inter-Action) Bilateral Collaboration CZ–SK, LUASK22049 – Monolithic, Hierarchically Porous MOF-Carbon Composites for Environmental Applications, 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2025
  • MŠMT Danube Collaboration, 8X20001 – Multifunctional Monolithic Aerogels for Efficient Water Purification, 1 March 2020 – 31 December 2022
  • MŠMT Danube Collaboration, 8X23021 – Multifunctional ZnO-Based Hybrids for Wastewater Remediation, 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2025
  • MŠMT Danube Collaboration, 8X25002 – Doping of Porous Carbon Gels with N and S Heteroatoms for Electrochemical Capacitors, 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2027
  • MŠMT Danube Collaboration, 8X25008 – ZnO Activity with Oxygen Vacancies under Visible Light, 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2027
  • Moravian-Silesian Region Support and Funding for Incoming Excellent Researcher at OU, 2984/2022/ŠaV – Research on the Use of Renewable Organic Sources for Selective CO2 Capture and Wastewater Purification, 1 September 2022 – 31 August 2024

Significant publications:

  • Ľ. Zauška, T. Zelenka, E. Beňová, M. Želinská, M.Č. Hološová, V. Zeleňák, M. Bálintová, A. Eštoková, M. Almáši, From drug delivery to environmental impact: Long-term behaviour of functionalized SBA-15 over a 20-year simulation, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13 (2025) 119561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.119561.
  • A. Migasová, Ľ. Zauška, T. Zelenka, D. Volavka, M. Férová, T. Gulyásová, S. Tomková, M. Saláková, V. Kuchárová, T. Samuely, J. Bednarčík, C. Slabý, M. Máčajová, B. Bilčík, T. Schubert, A. Walter, V. Hornebecq, V. Huntošová, M. Almáši, Histidine-modified UiO-66(Zr) nanoparticles as an effective pH-responsive carrier for 5-fluorouracil drug delivery system: A possible pathway to more effective brain cancer treatments, Chemical Engineering Journal 522 (2025) 167857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.167857.
  • M.P. Chavhan, X. Liu, T. Zelenka, S. Arya, T. Das, B.D. Boruah, Combined effect of hierarchical porosity and surface oxygen functional groups on the performance of carbon xerogels in H2 storage, CO2 capture, and Zn-ion hybrid capacitors, Journal of Energy Storage 122 (2025) 116712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.116712.
  • G. Zelenková, T. Zelenka, D. Majda, E. Kinnertová, M. Almáši, Exploring macroporosity and partial mesoporosity in carbon materials through thermoporometry with menthol, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 390 (2025) 113598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2025.113598.
  • G. Zelenková, T. Zelenka, M. Almáši, Characterizing mesoporosity in MOFs: a thermoporometry approach, J Therm Anal Calorim 149 (2024) 12675–12683. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-024-13667-7.
  • E. Kinnertová, T. Zelenka, G. Zelenková, L. Kořená, V. Slovák, M. Almáši, The effect of pyrolysis heating rate on the mesoporosity of Pluronic F-127 templated carbon xerogels, Carbon Trends 17 (2024) 100401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cartre.2024.100401.
  • T. Zelenka, M. Baláž, M. Férová, P. Diko, J. Bednarčík, A. Királyová, Ľ. Zauška, R. Bureš, P. Sharda, N. Király, A. Badač, J. Vyhlídalová, M. Želinská, M. Almáši, The influence of HKUST-1 and MOF-76 hand grinding/mechanical activation on stability, particle size, textural properties and carbon dioxide sorption, Sci Rep 14 (2024) 15386. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66432-z.
  • T. Zelenka, L. Zelená, C. Abreu‐Jaureguí, J. Silvestre‐Albero, G. Zelenková, V. Slovák, On the Low‐Pressure Hysteresis (LPH) in Gas Sorption Isotherms of Porous Carbons, Small 20 (2024) 2311990. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202311990.
  • L. Kořená, V. Slovák, G. Zelenková, T. Zelenka, The effect of porosity and particle size on the kinetics of porous carbon xerogels surface oxidation, Carbon 206 (2023) 303–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2023.02.057.
  • T. Zelenka, T. Horikawa, D.D. Do, Artifacts and misinterpretations in gas physisorption measurements and characterization of porous solids, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 311 (2023) 102831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2022.102831.

Updated: 29. 05. 2026