Faculty Interest (PDF file from offcicial NIU brochure)
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Petr Vanýsek
Office LaTourette Hall 418
phone: +1-815-753-6876
e-mail:

Areas of interest

Analytical chemistry
Electrochemistry

    Study of the structure of a double-layer
    Modeling of biochemical processes, especially in biological membrane models
    Electrochemical processes on liquid membranes
    Elucidation of processes in ion sensitive electrodes with liquid membranes
    Study of processes involving electrochemical microdomains
    Metal surface analysis and corrosion studies
    Corrosion protection
    Development and introduction of new analytical methods
    Rapid throughput screening methodology

Liquid-liquid interfaces:

Figure 1 Diagram of a liquid-liquid setup

Figure 2 Solid oxide fule cell schematics

We are interested in properties of interfaces that form between two phases in contact, either as a solid/liquid interface or as immiscible liquid phases such as water and oil. The primary focus is on electrochemistry of such interfaces. Although electrochemistry is considered a part of analytical chemistry, our projects involve all five branches of chemistry--analytical, in sensor and methods design; biological, in studies of biologically active substances; inorganic, in studies of metal extraction mechanisms; organic, in investigation of electrochemical properties of organic compounds and in synthesis or organic conductors; and ultimately, in physical chemistry, which, of course, is the basic principle of all electrochemical research. Main interest of our research group is in the study of the interfacial structure, in ion and charge transport, and in modeling of transport through pores and channels. Modern electrochemistry is quite active in this field which is called the electrochemistry of microdomains.

Example of an applied research project is corrosion study of aluminum alloys. We know aluminum as a shiny metal that usually tarnishes only very little. But it also suffers corrosion, which can be difficult to see and can be sometimes very dangerous, as aircraft engineers will attest. The cost of corrosion to the society is estimated to be almost 10% of the gross national product. Although corrosion of aluminum, typically an inert metal, has much smaller share in this expense, it has come recently to the front of attention of corrosion specialists. There is in existence very good paint system for aluminum aircraft, both civilian and military. However, one of its components, ion of chromium, was declared environmental hazard and this type of corrosion protection is no longer available and so far, there is not an adequate alternative. Since corrosion is inherently part of electrochemical studies, we became recently involved in several aspects of corrosion, realizing the timeliness and importance of such work.

Advanced methods of electrochemistry are used in the research; potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, impedance measurements, signal noise analysis and optical measurements using fiber optics and light deflection techniques. Results are usually evaluated using a personal computer. Word processing equipment with a laser printer is also available for writing the honors thesis and research manuscripts.


Some literature: (For updated vitae click here.)

P. Vanýsek The Chalkboard: The glass pH electrode. Electrochemical Society Interface  (2004), 13(2),  19-20

P. Vanýsek: Meeting reports – Paris Attracts Analytical Chemists. Report on the 203^rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, held in Paris, France, 26 April – 2 May 2003. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol 22, Nos. 7 + 8, 2003, pp. x-xii.

Chemical Sensors IV; Butler, M., Yamazoe, N., Vanýsek, P., Aizawa, M., Eds; Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Vol. PV 99-23; The Electrochemical Society: Pennington, NJ, 1999.

Dinh, H. N.; Vanýsek, P.; Birss, V. I. The effect of film thickness and growth method on polyaniline film properties. J. Electrochem. Soc. 1999, 164, 3324-3334.

Basáez, L.; Vanýsek, P. Transport studies of-lactam antibiotics and their degradation products across electrified water/oil interface. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 1999, 19, 138-192.

Janata, J.; Josowicz, M.; Vanýsek, P.; DeVaney, D. M. Chemical sensors. Anal. Chem. 1998, 70, 179R-208R.

Description of the graduate program, facilities available and admission information can be found on the web hosted by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.