1967–1972 — Fac. of Natural Sciences Comenius Uni., Bratislava, SK
1974 — RNDr., Fac. of Natural Sciences Comenius Uni., Bratislava, SK
1975–1980 — Ph.D., Institute of Physics Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SK Thesis: Charge and mass transport in alkali-free alumina-phosphate glasses
2001 — DrSc., Comenius Uni., Bratislava, SK “The role of interfaces in soft X-ray and magnetoresistive multilayer structures”
Research:
1972–now — Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
1985–1994 — researcher
1994–up to now — principal researcher (senior scientific worker)
Management of the research:
1997–up to now — head of the Department of Multilayers and Nanostructures
1999–2007 — director of the Institute of Physics SAS
2009–up to now — vice-president of the Slovak Academy of Sciences responsible for research
Stays abroad:
University H. Poincare, Nancy I, France 19 months (6 months visiting professor) 1989–1992
University Bielefeld, Germany, 12 months, (research worker) 1998–1999
material science, nanoscience and nanotechnology, soft matter
Research topics (last 10 years):
Thin film layered systems (layer thickness of several nm or below), X-ray and magnetic multilayers and spin valves: preparation (UHV e-beam deposition) and analysis: structure, morphology of surfaces and interfaces roughness and its lateral and vertical correlation, processes at the interfaces under heat treatment and laser treatment (fs excimer laser).
Colloidal nanoparticles (diameter 5–20 nm), preparation of nanoparticles, ordered nanoparticle arrays and hybrid structures, characterization, properties, self-assembling. Application of nanoparticles and nanoparticle arrays in sensors, photovoltaic and plasmonic structures.
Key experimental methods: X-ray diffraction and scattering techniques, (esp. grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering, GISAXS), physical vapour deposition techniques.
Most important outputs (last 10 years):
The presented outputs are the outputs of my research team (since 1995), my PhD students (8 up to now) and my postdocs.
We elaborated a modified Langmuir Schaefer method of preparation of ordered nanoparticle mono and multilayers over large areas suitable for applications (pending patent). This method allows preparing ordered nanoparticle multilayers composed of different types of nanoparticles. We showed for the first time that only using GISAXS it is possible to identify the presence of vertical correlation of nanoparticles in a multilayer.
Important are original results on the assembling process by spontaneous evaporation of solvent inspected by time resolved GISAXS measurements (20 ms). We showed the formation of ordered monolayer starts at the three phase boundary substrate–colloid–air. For magnetic nanoparticles formation of periodic mesostructure was observed (columns composed of nanoparticles) by spontaneous evaporation of solvent in external magnetic field. We analysed also the internal structure of these columns. The orientation of columns was given by the orientation of the applied magnetic field.
In the field of multilayer structures prepared by physical vapour deposition techniques the most important results were obtained in the morphology of multilayer interfaces in dependence on the preparation technique, thermal treatment including the laser treatment (fs excimer laser). We showed that only using the GISAXS technique it is possible to indentify the formation (presence) of clusters in ultrathin layers (below 1 nm layer thickness). We also proposed and studied original multilayer structures with high thermal stability.
We build up NANOLAB — cluster of laboratories for nanoscience and nanotechnology Period I.
Principal investigator (last 10 years):
Projects suppported by the European Community:
Correlation of structure and magnetism in novel nanoscale magnetic particles (2000–2005), 5th FP EC HPRN-CT-1999-00150; responsible of the project from Slovak part;
Subpicosecond KrF laser nanopatterning of metallic multilayers for soft X-ray optics and giant magnetoresistance structures, HPRI-CT 1999-00074;
Ordered arrays of nanoparticles for spintronic devices, support by EC and DESY, Contract RII3-CT-2004-506008, II 05 083 EC);
Novel structures with 2D nanoparticle arrays II-20080036 EC, 2008–2011.
Projects of the Slovak Research and Development Agency APVT, APVV:
Ordered arrays of metallic and magnetic nanoparticles for information patterns — preparation and collective properties, APVT 51-021702: 2002–2005;
Scanning magneto-optical Kerr microscope for studying magnetization changes on nanostructures, 2006/2008, APVV LPP-0080-06;
Hybrid Spintronic Nanostructures Controlled by Spin-Polarized Current, 2007-2010, APVV-0173-06;
Self assembling of nanoparticles and molecules at the water/air interface APVV LPP-0175-09 2009–2012.
Other projects:
New materials and devices in submicron technology Part 01 SO 51/03R 06 00/03R 06 01; 2003–2006, E. Majkova;
Assemblies of magnetic nanoparticles and nanoparticle membranes for sensor application, SAV-FM-EHP-2008-01-01, 2009–2010, E. Majkova (projects supported by the EHP);
Preparation and studies of nanoparticle arrays for plasmonic applications, SAS-NSC JRP (Taiwan) 2011/05 2012–2014, E. Majkova.
Projects supported by the structural fonds of EU:
Center of excellence for new technologies in electrical engineering, period I, ITMS 2624012001, 2009–2011, E. Majkova resposnible for IP SAS (project leader K. Frőhlich, Institute of Electrical Engineering SAS);
Center for applied research of nanoparticles, ITMS 26240220011, 2009–2012, E. Majkova;
Center of the commercialization of knowledge and protection of the intelectual property of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, ITMS 26240220006, 2009–2012, E. Majková resposnsible for IP SAS (project leader M. Janek, Institute of Technology SAS);
Center of excellence for new technologies in electrical engineering, period II, ITMS26240120019, 2010–2011, E. Majkova responsible for IP SAS (project leader K. Frőhlich, Institute of Electrical Engineering SAS);
Effective control of production and consumption of energy from renewable resources, ITMS 26240220039, 2010–2013, E.Majkova responsible for IP SAS (project leader M. Janek, Institute of Technology SAS);
Competence Centre for New Materials, Advanced Technologies and Energetics, ITMS 26240220073, 2011–2014, E. Majková responsible for IP SAS (project leader K. Frőhlich, Institute of Electrical Engineering SAS).
Participation in the projects:
NATO collaborative and linkage grants 3×
Centre of Excellence SAS project CE-PI I/2/2005 “Physics of information”
COST P7 X-ray and neutron optics
projects supported by the structural fonds of EU:
Applied Research of Advanced Photovoltaic Cells, 26240220047, 2010–2013, P.Šiffalovič
Research Centre of Light and Light Technique), 26220220150, 2011–2014 project leader RNDr. V. Levársky, OMS s.r.o. Dojč
Patent applications:
Preparation of nanoparticle mono and multilayers by modified Langmuir Schaefer method (L. Chitu, P. Šiffalovič, E. Majkova, M. Jergel, Š. Luby), PP 5006-2010
Method of preparation of polystyren latex Spôsob prípravy polystyrénového latexu (I. Capek, E. Majková), PP 5073-2009
Method of preparation of linked polymer nanoparticle based on butzlacrylate (I. Capek, E. Majková, K. Gmucová, P. Šiffalovič), PP 5001-2010
Member of International Committees, awards:
national representative in International Union of Vacuum Science, Technology and Applications IUVSTA (1995–now)
member of Program and Advisory Committees of International Conferences (15th IVC , ICTF12, ICTF13, PXRMS 2010)
member of Steering Committee of Micro-nanotechnology ERA Net program (part of the 7th framework programme of EC).
member of the High Level Group of EU Member States and FP7 Associated States on Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies
national Representatives of the Programme committee forthe FP7 Specific Programme “IDEAS”
medal of D. Ilkovic in physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Socius ordinarius, Academia Europea Scientiarum et Artium, Vienna
national representative at ESUO (European synchrotron users organization)
representative of the Slovak Academy of Sciences at ELI DC consortium
Reviewer of papers for IoP journals, Thin Solid Films, Appl. Surface Science
Reviewer of various scientific projects (national, international).
Publications:
original papers in regular journals (CC | database) — 141
Supervisor of:
PhD students: 8 at IP SAS, 8 during 1 year stay at the University of Bielefeld
Diploma work: 6 at IP SAS, 4 at the University of Bielefeld
