News

GraftiD team members participated at PIM 2023 International Conference (September 19-22, Cluj-Napoca). During the PIM 2023 the team members presented the results of the project in one oral presentation (Dr. Crina Socaci) and 2 posters (PhD student Alexandra Urda and PhD student Dragoș Cosma).

On 23rd May 2023, the project promoter (INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca), hosted a short visit to discuss GrafTiD project’ implementation stage & outputs. The delegation consisted of members of the EEA and Norwegian Grants Research Program Committee as well as representatives of the Donor States, Financial Mechanism Office – EEA and Norway Grants, National Focal Point, Norwegian Embassy & UEFISCDI.

Dr. Crina SOCACI shared the latest on the project results at the 8th edition of the International Workshop of Materials Physics (IWMP) with the main topic “Advanced Materials and Methods for Heterogeneous Catalysis” 8th International Workshop of Materials Physics – NIMP (infim.ro)

The aim of the workshop was to share the latest scientific results related to advanced materials and characterization techniques with an emphasis on heterogeneous catalysis. The most exciting recent experimental and theoretical developments in materials synthesis, characterization, and potential applications were presented and discussed. With speakers from all around the world, from countries like Belgium, UK, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, France, Romania, as well as USA, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, IWMP marked participation from 12 countries spread across three different continents.

The congress served as a platform to exchange new ideas and discuss developments in advanced materials. The goal was to entice prominent researchers, ultimately aiming to establish new partnerships resulting in joint publications, initiatives, and personnel exchanges.

The partnership developed thanks to Graftid project allowed to Dr. Marcela Rosu (2nd April 2023-1st May 2023) and Dr. Adriana Vulcu (29th April-22nd May 2023) to explore future possible collaborations between INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca and USN Norway during their research visits at the norwegian partner, Department of Microsystem (IMS), University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norway.

The Marketwatch number in March 2023 published an article written by Adriana Rotar, communication officer of UEFISCDI advertising the first episodes of the Reasearch in the spotlight series, including our Graftid project: http://www.marketwatch.ro/articol/18084/Research_in_the_spotlight_-_un_instrument_util_pentru_comunicarea_stiintei/

As part of the project management, Dr. Crina SOCACI has visited the norwegian partner Dr. Kaiying Wang (18-23rd March, 2023) to disscus organisatoric, financial and scientific issues. She was accompanied by Dr. Monica DAN (team member), to disscuss some tehcnical details of the project deliverables.

The project director took the opportunity to present the results of the project to the stuff members of the norwegian partner during an invited lecture with the title: TiO2 nanotubes/graphene-based nanomaterials to address the emerging contaminants pollution.

Project Director Dr. Crina SOCACI was the subject of a Research in the Spotlight podcast. Research in the Spotlight is a series of podcasts, designed by UEFISCDI as Research Programme Operator, funded by EEA and Norway Grants, dedicated to researchers and science enthusiasts featuring the directors of Collaborative Research Projects funded in the 2018 & 2019 competitions under EEA and Norway Grants.

This podcast is dedicated to the work carried out in the GrafTiD project funded under the Norway Grants programme.

Dr. Marcela-Corina ROȘU, one of the key-persons of the project has been hosted as a visiting experienced researcher at the norwegian partner, Department of Microsystem (IMS), University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norway.

During the two months stay (September – October 2022) she had the opportunity to disscus in detail the preparation of titania nanotubes for optimizing it. She also explored other potential applications of the final photocatalysts prepared in INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca.

The September 2022 edition of Marketwatch published an article on our project.

In July 2022, students from the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Babes-Bolyai-University performed the summer internship at INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca. They were involved in activities related to our project also.

The PP team participated at the 13th International Symposium of The Romanian Catalysis Society (RomCat 2022), precedated by the Summer School: CATALYSIS for PROMISING FUTURE (20-24 iunie 2022) in Baile Govora, Romania.

On April 14th 2022 a meeting of GRAFTID project took place, online.

The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazăr, Marcela Roșu from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu and Alice Mateescu from IFIN Bucharest. We disscused the expected results, deliverables and milestones for 2022, together with some financial issues.

Workshop GRAFTID project

Cluj-Napoca, 23rd of September 2021, 10.00 am (Conference room at PP – INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca)

Participants: Crina Socaci (PP), Kaiying Wang (P1), Gheorghe Mateescu (P2), Marcela Rosu (PP), Diana Lazar (PP), Monica Dan (PP), Adriana Vulcu (PP), Teodora Radu (PP), Alexandra Ciorita (PP), Alexandru Turza (PP), Dragos Cosma (PP), Alexandra Urda (PP), Alice Mateescu (P2), Ion Burducea (P2), Paul Mereuta (P2)

  1. Crina Socaci – Welcome thoughts, dissemination results so far;
  2. Scientific update from PP:
      • Diana Lazar – preparation of ternary hybrids: TiO2NTs/metal (Au, Ni and Pt)/graphene
      • Alexandra Urda – preliminary photocatalytic tests of the prepared hybrids on ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin under visible light exposure
      • Adriana Vulcu – preparation of N-doped graphene and ternary hybrids with TiO2NTs/metal/N-doped graphene
      • Dragos Cosma – preparation and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles/Cu-Cu oxides/graphene composites
  3. Scientific update from P1:
      • Kaiying Wang – progress report
  4. Scientific update from P2:
      • Alice Mateescu – deposition of TiO2 on surfaces
  5. Crina Socaci – Conclusions regarding the deliverables and objectives status

On 17th April 2021 took place an exclusively scientific meeting.

The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazăr, Marcela Roșu, Adriana Vulcu, Alexandra Urda, Dragos Cosma from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang, Chaoqun Cheng and Kim Gustavsen from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu, Alice Mateescu, Paul Mereuta and Ion Burducea from IFIN Bucharest.

The March 2021 meeting of GRAFTID project took place on 11th March 2021 online.

The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazăr, Marcela Roșu, Adriana Vulcu from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang and Chaoqun Cheng from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu, Alice Mateescu, Paul Mereuta and Ion Burducea from IFIN Bucharest.

Agenda

  1. Communication plan (recommendations from the Program Operator)
  2. Discussion on the scientific progress of each partner
  3. Activities plan for 2021
  4. Summary and next meeting – on April 2021 we will have scientific presentations

The third meeting of GRAFTID project took place on 17th December 2020 online.

The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazăr and Marcela Roșu from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang and Chaoqun Cheng from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu and Alice Mateescu from IFIN Bucharest.

Agenda

  1. Discussions on the outcome of Deliverables 2020, last modifications in order to finalize them: Project Web Site; Dissemination and Communication Plan & Project Management Plan
  2. Discussions on the scientific progress of each partner, including scientific reports
  3. Financial issues to be resolved – if case
  4. Summary and next meeting
  5. Thoughts and improvement proposals at the end of the first phase

The second meeting of GRAFTID project took place on 7th October 2020 online. The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazar and Marcela Rosu from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang, Chaoqun Cheng and Kim R. Gustavsen from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu and Alice Mateescu from IFIN Bucharest.

The agenda:

  1. Discussions on Deliverables 2020
  2. Deliverables – and Dissemination plan: Project Web Site; Dissemination and Communication Plan & Project Management Plan
  3. Role and contribution from project partners on upcoming deliverables.
  4. Practical information after one month (e.g. individual reports; procedure in case of contract changes)
  5. Scientific progress – if case
  6. Summary and next meeting

The kick-off meeting of the project took place on 15th September 2020 online. The following team members participated in the meeting: Crina Socaci, Diana Lazăr and Marcela Roșu from INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca, Kaiying Wang, Chaoqun Cheng and Kim R. Gustavsen from USN and Gheorghe Mateescu and Alice Mateescu from IFIN Bucharest.

The agenda:

  1. Welcome and HSE: escape routes / practical info.
  2. Presentation of participants.
  3. Project objectives, resources, schedule from application.
  4. Plans for 2020, eventual changes from the proposed schedule.
  5. Role and contribution from project partners on upcoming activities.
  6. Summary and next meeting.

The principal investigator, Crina Socaci presented the project on 8th October 2020, within an internal seminar organized at INCDTIM Cluj-Napoca. The link to the presentation.