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    • Prof. Dr Iztok Arčon

    Scientific CounselorE-mail:

    Prof. Dr Iztok Arčon is a full professor for the field of physics, employed at the University of Nova Gorica and part time at J. Stefan Institure (F2).  His main research field is analysis of atomic and molecular structure of new functional materials (different catalysts and photocatalysts, cathode materials for Li-ion, Li-sulphur and Mg-sulphur batteries, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic ceramics, …) and analysis of environmental pollution (soil, water and plants) with X-ray absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation (methods XANES, EXAFS), In addition, he uses synchrotron radiation for experimental study of multielectron photoexcitations in free and bound atoms, to provide information on collective motion of electrons in the atomic system, and exact atomic absorption background in EXAFS spectra.  He performes experiments with advanced sychrotron radiation techniques at different European synchrotron radiation laboratories (PETRA III at DESY, Hamburg; Elettra, Trieste; ESRF, Grenoble; Alba in Barcelona; Soleil, and previously Lure, Paris,).  Until 2020 he published more than 180 scientific papers in reviews with high impact factor and  his work is highly cited (over 2300 citations). He received national “Zois award” for outstanding achievements in the field of X-ray absorption spectroscopy in 2006. He is ESUO (European User Synchrotorn Organisatio) delegate for Slovenia. He is a member of project evaluation committees at four synchrotron radiation facilities (PETRA III at DESY, CERI-ERIC at Elettri, ESRF and Soleil).

    Education

    • Physics Diploma: University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1986

    Field of study: Physics

    Diploma title: Extended X-ray Fine Structure (EXAFS) in Bragg Reflectivity of X-rays

    • Masters Degree: University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1989

    Field of study: Solid state physics and experimental methods in nuclear physics.

    M. Sc. diploma title: X-ray Extended Fine Structure in Coherent Scattering of X-rays on Mosaic Crystals

    • Ph. D.: University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1992

    Fields of study: Experimental atomic physics research with synchrotron radiation

    Thesis title: Multielectron excitations in the L-subshell photoabsorption of xenon

    Employment

    Jožef Stefan Institute, Dept. for Medium and Low Energy Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia:

    • Associate researcher (1996 – present)
    • Post-doctoral researcher, (1993 – 1996)
    • Assistant researcher, (1989 – 1993)

    University of Nova Gorica, Laboratory for quantum optics, Slovenia

    • Full professor for the field of physics (2010 – present)
    • Dean of Graduate school (2006 – present)
    • Researcher and teacher (1996 – present)

    Sincrotrone Elettra, Trieste, Italy

    • Post-doctoral researcher (1993 – 1994)

    University of Ljubljana, Department of physics, Slovenia

    • Teaching assistant for physics (1989 – 1995)

    Field of work

    • Material research with x-ray absorption spectroscopy: methods EXAFS  (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) and XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) with synchrotron radiation.
    • Experimental atomic physics with x-ray synchrotron radiation: study of multielectron photoexcitations in free and bound atoms. And study of exact atomic absorption background in EXAFS spectra.
    • X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements with synchrotron radiation performed at different synchrotron radiation facilities: (DESY, Hamburg; Elettra, Trieste; ESRF, Grenoble; Alba in Barcelona; Soleil, and previously Lure, Paris).
    • X-ray synchrotron radiation beamline: Conceptual design for the multipurpose x-ray beamline at ELETTRA  (1993-1994).

    Awards

    • The Jožef Stefan Golden Emblem Prize Award (1996)
    • Slovenian "Zois award" for outstanding scientific achievements in the field of X-ray absorption spectroscopy in 2006.

    Bibliography

    Project list

    Other projects

    International (Bilateral projects for beamtime at different synchrotrons radiation facilities in the period from 2014):

    • 20197108, Characterization of bi-functional (Ni/Al)-zeolite catalysts for vapor-phase catalytic hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid Conversion to gamma-Valerolactone, project CERIC – Elettra, beamline XAFS (29-31. 5. 2020)
    • I-20180898 EC 'In-situ XAS analysis of of Ni-Rh/CeO2-TiO2 catalysts during thermo- and photocatalytic CH4 and CO2 conversion to syngas', PETRA III, DESY, Hamburg (beamline P65),  (27. 3. - 1. 4. 2019)
    • I-20190077 EC’ Electrochemical reactions in organic-metal batteries studied by X-ray Raman spectroscopy, PETRA III, DESY  Hamburg (beamline P01),  (1. 10. - 7. 10. 2019)
    • 20185348 “Al XANES analysis of dealumination in zeolites for improved heat storage materials performance”. ELETTRA v Trstu (beamline BACH),     (4.3. - 10. 3. 2019)
    • 20185092 “In-situ XAS analysis of thermo- and combined phototermo-catalytic CH4 and CO2 conversion to syngas over Ni-Rh/CeO2-TiO2 catalysts”., ELETTRA  Trieste (beamline XAFS),      (9.5. - 13. 5. 2019)
    • 20185165 “XAS study of quantum electron correlations in the electronic cloud of 5p elements”., ELETTRA (beamline XAFS),      (22.5. - 25. 5. 2019)
    • 20192018 “Understanding the electrochemical mechanism and performance of calcium-sulfur batteries”., ELETTRA v Trstu (beamline XAFS),      (21.11. - 25. 11. 2019)
    • 20181566 Soleil  Paris , Francija (beamline LUCIA),  (13. 6. - 18. 6. 2019)
    • I-20180356 EC,  X-ray absorption in gaseous hydrides of 5p elements, PETRA III, DESY Hamburg (beamline P65),  (5. 11. - 12.11. 2018)
    • I-20170691 EC,  ’In operando XAS analysis of new Li2VO2F and Li2TiO2F cathodes materials for Li-ion batteries’, PETRA III, DESY, Hamburgu (beamline P65),  (12. 7. - 17. 7. 2018)
    • CH-5487 »Local coordination of sulfur in the Mg-S battery cathode studied by in-operando S K edge EXAFS analysis, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline ID26),     (3. 4. - 10. 4. 2018)
    • 20175158, In operando XAS analysis of new Li2FeO2F cathodes materials for Li-ion batteries, ELETTRA (beamline XAFS),      (7.3. - 11. 3. 2018)
    • I-20170160 EC 'XAS,  'XAS studies of Sn or Zr modified TiO2 photocatalytic coatings', PETRA III, DESY, Hamburgu (beamline P65),  (11. 10. - 17. 10. 2017)
    • 20170045,  ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),   (18. 12. - 23. 12. 2017)
    • 20165258,  ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),      (1. 2. - 5. 2. 2017)
    • EV-236, ESRF v Grenoble (beamline BM30b),  (7. 2. - 14. 2. 2017)
    • CH-5124, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline ID26),       (15. 3. - 22. 3. 2017)
    • I-20160764 EC, Ligand environment of Hg, Zn and Se in edible mushrooms - indication for bioavailability and food safety, PETRA III, DESY  Hamburg (beamline P64),  (27. 6. - 3. 7. 2017)
    • I-20170160 EC, PETRA III, DESY  Hamburg (beamline P65),  (12. 10. - 16. 10. 2017)
    • 2016091810, Alba v Barceloni (beamline CLAESS),  (28. 6. - 3. 7. 2017)
    • 20155510,  ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),   (23. - 28. 2. 2016)
    • 20140487,  ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),      (3. - 6. 3. 2016)
    • 20157057, ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),       (6. - 9. 5. 2016)
    • 20162028,  ELETTRA  (beamline XAFS),   (16.  17. 11. 2016)
    • 20160239, ELETTRA (beamline XAFS),    (17. 12. - 20. 12. 2016)
    • EV-210, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline BM08),         (7. 12. - 13. 12. 2016)
    • HC-2592, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline ID26),        (15. 7. - 19. 7. 2016)
    • I-20160044 EC, PETRA III, DESY , Hamburg (beamline P64),  (9. - 13.9. 2016)
    • LS-2403, The role of phytochelatins in Cd tolerance and hyperaccumulation in hyperaccumulator A. halleri, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline ID21), (26. 6. - 1. 7. 2015)
    • CH-4422, The role of phytochelatins in Cd tolerance and hyperaccumulation in hyperaccumulator A. halleri, ESRF  Grenoble (beamline ID26), (1. 7. -  7. 7. 2015)
    • 20120044,  In situ XAS studies on Li-sulfur batteries, ELETTRA (beamline XAFS),  (5. 6. - 9. 6. 2015  and 30. 7. - 3. 8. 2015)
    • 20140041, XAS studies of Mn and Fe local environment in bimetal catalysts on porous silicate supports, ELETTRA (beamline XAFS (12. 2. - 16. 2. 2015)
    • LS-2275 Studies of cadmium and mercury ligand environment in fungal endophytes to improve the outcomes of phytostabilisation of extremely metal contaminated sites, ESRF, bemaline BM23, (23. 7. - 31. 7. 2014)
    • 20142014, Water sorption within the Al/Fe mixed-metal metal-organic framework MIL-100, Ceric project, ELETTRA, beamline XAFS, (19. 12. - 22. 12. 2014)
    • 20140312, XAS study of crystallization processes of Cu and Ti containing MOF systems, ELETTRA, beamline XAFS, (15. 12. - 19. 12. 2014)
    • 20120044 In situ XAS studies on Li-sulfur batteries, ELETTRA beamline XAFS  (27. 5. - 31. 5. 2014,
    • (20120044) In situ XAS studies on Li-sulfur batteries, ELETTRA, beamline XAFS,  (27. 11.  2. 12. 2014)

    National:

    • ARRS program P1-0112 Raziskave atomov, molekul in struktur s fotoni in delci (Nosilni partner iz UNG, Nosilec programa dr. M. Žitnik IJS) (2004-2021)
    • ARRS projekt J7-9418 »Raziskave ionoma kulturnih rastlin za pridelavo varne in kakovostne hrane« (nosilec projekta K. Vogel Mikuš, BF, Uni-Lj) (2019-2022)
    • ARRS projekt L7-1848 »Fotokatalitsko čiščenje vode - razvoj pritrjenih katalizatorjev in kompaktnih reaktorskihsistemov« (Nosilni partner iz UNG, nosilec projekta U. Lavrenčič Štangar, FKKT Uni-Lj) (2019-2022)
    • ARRS projekt J2-1726 »Termokatalitski in kombiniran termo-fotokatalitski reforming CH4 in CO2 na nanooblikovanihNi/CeO2 in PM-Ni/CeO2-TiO2 katalizatorjih« (Nosilni partner na UNG, nosilec P. Djinović, KI) (2019-2022)
    • ARRS projektu L1-7665 »Napredni materiali za shranjevanje toplote za celostne rešitve skladiščenja« (Nosilni partner iz UNG, nosilec projekta  N. Zabukovec Logar, KI) (2016-2019)
    • ARRS projekt J1-5447 Spektroskopija molekul ujetih v mikropore in mezopore aluminofosfatnih in kovinsko-organskih materialov (Nosilni partner iz UNG, Nosilec projekta  G. Mali, KI) (2013-2016)
    • ARRS projektu J1-0447Ocena tveganja s kovin.kontamin.zemlje in aerosolov za člov.zdravje z uporabo naprednih in vitro gastroint.in respir.test.biorazpoložlj (Nosilni partner iz UNG, Nosilec projekta H. van Eletern, KI) (2008-2011)
    • ARRS projektu J2-01650 Feroelektrične tanke plasti in nanoprahovi s sintezo raztopin (Nosilni partner iz UNG, Nosilec projekta M. Kosec, IJS) (1999-2001)