About Us

The "FTIR & Thermal analysis laboratories" were established during the decade of in the '70s under the joint supervision of Prof. J. Spyridelis (Thermal Analysis Lab) and Assoc. Prof. D. Siapkas (FTIR Lab). Since 2000, the infrastructure has passed to new generation of instruments (facilities), and Prof. Dr K.M. Paraskevopoulos and Prof. Dr K. Chrissafis have been the directors and academic supervisors of the Labs.
The vision of our Labs is dual:

• The preparation of materials having technological interest, and
• The study and the solution of problems associated either with materials having technological interest or with natural materials, by using the methods of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy or micro-spectroscopy (FTIR /μs-FTIR) and Thermal Analysis (DSC, DTA, TG) along with other complementary characterization techniques, for various types of applications.

Throughout the years, more than 10 funded scientific research projects, 11 PhD Theses, more than 30 MSc Theses and more than 60 Undergraduate Theses have been performed in our facilities and the network of collaborating laboratories.

You are welcome to take a look at our Research Labs and Facilities and contact us for any possible inquiries or collaborations.

Prof. K.M. Paraskevopoulos,
Director

Projects

Over the years, our laboratories have participated in a number of conferences as listed bellow.

1. “Study of the intercalation of inorganic and organic molecules in layered structured monocrystalline materials.” (PΕΝΕD 89ΕD482 1991 - 93)
2. “Identification of Byzantine period treasures-icons: Influence of Byzantium on the Bulgarian icon technology” (Greece – Bulgaria: Joint Research and Technology Programmes 1998-99)
3. “New Generation of X and gamma ray Sensors and Devices for real time digital imaging: Application in Airports safety systems” (ΕPΕΤ ΙΙ [Project 97ΕΚΒΑΝ2 #30#] 1998 - 2001).
   
4. Documentation of Byzantine Icons in Balkan Peninsula. (Project ΥΜΑ-THR : EBYTE 1999-2000)
5. “ Bioactive Materials : Application in Dental Fixed Prosthetic Restorations” (Research Project: Operational Program for Research and Technology PENED 99ΕΔ544 (1999) General Secretariat for Research & Technology, Greek Ministry for Development 1999-2001).
6. “Pilot study of the poisoning in deactivated catalytic converters” (Project RC 2001).
7. “Study and Characterization of textile fibres by FTIR spectroscopy” (Project RC 2002)
8. “The biological response and Interactions of Fibroblast Cell Lines to Dental Ceramics Modified by Bioactive Glass” (Greece – Romania: Joint Research and Technology Programmes 2003-05)
9. “Identification of late -Byzantine and post- Byzantine wall paintings’ materials and technology in Albania: The mutual influence between Greek and Albanian iconographers” (Greece- Albania: Joint Research and Technology Programmes 2003-05).
10. “Investigation of Functional Materials for Production of Air Gas and Humidity Sensors ” (Greece- Serbia: Joint Research and Technology Programmes 2004-06).
11. “Manufacture of modern materials with bioactive behaviour- Investigation of cell –biomaterials interactions and physico-chemical properties of new dental ceramics modified by bioactive glass-ceramics” Research Project: Operational Program for Research and Technology, Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. (2005-2007)
12. "Photosensitive Amorphous Materials as Raman Amplifiers and Optical Data Recording Media” (Research Project: Operational Program for Research and Technology PENED 03ΕΔ887 (2005) General Secretariat for Research & Technology, Greek Ministry for Development 2006-2008).
13. “Development of composite dental bioactive ceramics with biopolymer scaffolds for tissue engineering” Operational Program for Research and Technology PEΝED 2003 (03ΕΔ/736)-General Secretariat for Research & Technology, Greek Ministry for Development 2006-2008).
14. "Optimized Thermoelectric Materials and Technology” (Research Project: Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation 2006-2008).
15. “Application of Advanced Materials Thermoelectric Technology in the Recovery of Wasted Heat from Automobile Exhaust Systems” (Research Project: Bilateral Cooperation with non EU countries [Greece – USA] General Secretariat for Research & Technology, Greek Ministry for Development 2006-2008).
16. European Project Marie Curie "Novel bioactive glass-ceramic composites for dental restorations" sort title: "DENTBIOCOMP" in Intra-FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF (2008-2010) in cooperation with Imperial College (London)
17. Cooperation with Dept of Mech. & Man. Engineering, University of Cyprus “High Temperature Nanocomposite Materials for Thermoelectric Power Generation (THERMO-PRESS)” funded by Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation (2009-2013)
18. Proposal No: 263207-2 ThermoMag CP-FP in Theme 4 -NMP-Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (FP7-NMP-2010-SMALL-4) European Community Financial support (2011-2014)

Facilities

Among others our laboratories provide

• FTIR spectrometer IFS 113v, Bruker, (spectral range from 20.000 to 15cm^-1 with vacuum operation)
• Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), SETARAM model SETSYS (1750°C)
• FTIR microscope i-series Perkin-Elmer, connected with spectrometer Spectrum 1000, Perkin-Elmer
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC SETARAM 141
• UV/VIS spectrometer Lambda18 Perkin-Elmer, with an Integrating Sphere
• Incubators, MMM Medcenter Einrichtungen GmbH, (5°C above ambient temperature up to 70°C)
• Automatic Microtome RM2155, Leica
• Furnaces, Nabertherm (Tmax 1600°C)
• Optical microscopes connected with digital camera StemiDV4, Zeiss
• Ball milling with inox or agate container and balls, Retsch

Plus :
Accessories compatible for the FTIR spectrometers :

• Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR)
• Variable Angle Specular Reflectance
• Diffuse Reflectance. (Graseby-Specac)

MIR polarizer (KRS-5) and FIR polarizer (polyethylene). Rotation unit for the polarizers for IFS113v feedthrough, remote control
Balances with 4 decimals KERN 770
Hydraulic press (up to 15 tons), Beckman Ltd and hardened stainless steel pellet dies (various diameters) Perkin-Elmer