EDUCATION
PRIMARY SCHOOL SILVO SLAK TREBNJE
1988-1996
I attended an 8-year long primary school in my hometown of Trebnje. As an excellent student, I participated in competitions in mathematics, English and German and achieved good results.
SECONDARY SCHOOL JOSIP JURČIČ IVANČNA GORICA
1996-2000
At the high school center in Ivančna gorica, I attended the general high school, where I was an excellent student. In addition to English and German, I started learning French. I competed in math-logic and German. At graduation, I received all 8 points in mathematics. My other graduation subjects were Slovene, English, German and chemistry.
FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS
2000-2008
I continued my undergraduate studies at the University of Ljubljana in Ljubljana, where my field of study was natural science physics. Because I worked through student service during my studies and helped high school students with math, chemistry, and physics instruction, it took me a while to finish college. I graduated by testing the LIDAR device, which was intended for testing dust in the Port of Koper. Measurements for the diploma entitled "Eye-safe LIDAR" were performed at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, the Port of Koper and Portorož Airport. A big thank you goes to my co-mentor doc. dr. Klemen Bergant and colleague dr. Nataša Grlj.
INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE JOŽEF STEFAN INSTITUTE
2008-2013
I continued my postgraduate studies in Ljubljana in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, nanophysics. The grade point average was 9.95, the grade of the doctoral dissertation entitled "Synthesis, growth, self-regulation and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by hydrothermal synthesis" was 10. Many thanks go to my mentor doc. dr. Goran Dražić for all the knowledge, help and ideas.
WORK
STUDENT INTERNSHIP
May 2006
Mandatory 1 month-long internship in the study of natural physics at FMF I did at EIMV at the OVN department. I was introduced to the reverse voltage method, which diagnoses quality of insulation (oil and paper in the transformer) and predicts its lifespan. Thanks for all the knowledge goes to Vuga Vojta, Boris Zupanc and dr. Stane Vižintin.
WORK THROUGH STUDENT SERVICE
June 2006 - June 2007
After the internship, I performed simulations for the installation of a high-voltage power line Beričevo-Krško through student work, calculated cable connections and made a couple of smaller useful software for the needs of the simulation under the mentorship of dr. Staneta Vižintina. Thanks for all the knowledge goes to the whole department.
YOUNG RESEARCHER
October 2008 - October 2013
Shortly after defending my diploma, I was introduced to the synthesis of nano TiO2 at the JSI in department K7 with dr. Nataša Drnovšek and her supervisor prof. dr. Saša Novak-Krmpotič. At the same time, my supervisor in the same department, doc. dr. Goran Dražić, introduced into all in the department available methods of material analysis with an emphasis on electron microscopy. In the project, I investigated the photocatalytic abilities of TiO2 in the crystal modification of anatase, which I also synthesized myself and monitored growth, formation and crystallization. Thanks for all goes to the whole department.
YOUNG DOCTOR
June 2017 - July 2020
After a 3-year period of acquiring skills, knowledge and education from non-scientific waters, I re-entered science through a European-Slovenian project, through which I was employed 70% at ZAG, in the Laboratory for Cement, Mortar and Ceramics, and in 30% on Termit. The aim of the project was to make lightweight porous thermal insulation boards usable in construction from waste raw materials from Termit under the supervision of dr. Vilma Ducman and mag. Alenka Sešek Pavlin.
DOCTOR - JUNIOR RESEARCHER
August 2020
After completing the post-doctoral project, I started working on several projects related to alkaline activation of waste materials, especially waste wool within the project Woll2Loop, or by chemical and mineralogical analysis of materials.
DOCTOR - YOUNG RESEARCHER
October 2021
In addition to participating in several projects, I started leading a project regarding the influence of microwaves of different frequencies, powers and time effects on alkali-activated materials in different stages of their development (synthesis-reaction, dehydration-drying, (pre)sintering).
MAJOR WORKS PUBLISHED
Where I am the first author
June 2008
For my diploma work, I tested the LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) of the Port of Koper for the detection of aerosols in the atmosphere. The device basically works similarly to RADAR (RAdioDetection And Ranging), except that it uses smaller wavelengths (IR, UV or visible light), which allows us to detect significantly smaller particles. Test measurements are presented, ranging from very basic measurements to aerosol detection and range testing.
April 2012
The paper presents the morphology, size and growth of nano-sized crystal anatase (TiO2). The material was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis from an aqueous suspension of amorphous TiO2 and studied with a transmission electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction. The initial growth phases are a combination of the basic crystallographic forms of anatase but are not symmetrical as would be expected with respect to the energy values of the individual planes. The asymmetry and growth into rod and wedge shapes is most likely due to the inhomogeneous influx of material. Higher temperatures and longer synthesis times allow the formation of simple bipyramidal structures.
September 2013
In my doctoral dissertation, I presented the results of synthesis, growth, self-assembly and photocatalytic properties of nano TiO2, mainly in anatase crystal modification, prepared by different methods (sol-gel synthesis, hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis, firing). Its nano property allows it to be used to purify water and air of hazardous organic substances, as a self-cleaning coating. However, in order nano-material not to present pollution, I prepared the material by self-assembly and "forced" assembly of a micron-sized flower-like structure that grew in geodes-cocoons and had a surface covered with nano-anatase, which had 3 times bigger BET specific surface area compared to Degussa P25 powder.
November 2018
The alkaline activation of mineral wools, both glass and stone, is presented. The results of compressive strength differ due to different chemical composition and response of mineral fibres to alkali. Higher compressive strength is obtained by using glass wool.
March 2019
The article covers a comprehensive analysis of waste foundry sand as a potential precursor in alkaline activation. The dependence of the curing temperature, as well as the temperature and method of drying, was observed. Higher-strength was achieved when curing at 70 °C than at room temperature, and the compressive strength was increased by drying at a temperature of 110 °C or, by volumetric drying (microwaves).
October 2019
An analysis of the green ceramics waste (ceramics before firing, which would be intended for fuses) was made according to the applicability in alkaline activation as well as for alkali-activated foams, which would be used as sound or. thermal insulators in construction.
November 2019
All wastes related to the foundry industry are analyzed according to the possibility of use in alkaline activation. The improvement of the properties of the used waste is presented with the addition of bottom ash and waste green ceramicss, which increase the compressive strength and shorten the drying and solidification time.
May 2020
The article on the influence of particle size in waste "refractory material" in the synthesis of alkali-activated materials or. alkali-activated self-foams. So far, only an increase in mechanical strength with decreasing particle size has been reported, but in the case of refractory materials, the mechanical strength has started to decrease from a certain fraction downwards as a result of self-foaming.
Konec leta 2020
Predstavitev dela, rezultatov in diseminacije.
December 2020
Influence of homogenization of alkali activated slurries on mechanical strengths of alkali activated materials and foams. Various precursors and activators were used, foaming agents and stabilizers were added in some experiments. The pastes were cured at different temperatures and for different times, so that only homogenization was common to all the prepared products.
April 2021
The influence of the particle size of the precursor (waste foundry forms), the ratio of the precursor to the alkaline activator, the influence of curing at different temperatures and different drying methods were monitored.
April 2021
A mixture of waste rock wool and different slag was analyzed as a precursor in alkali activation. Results were not trivial and showed unique time-dependence of mechanical strengths.
LECTURES
Where I am a lecturer
PRESENTATION AT EUROMAT 2009 CONFERENCE IN GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM: PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF TIO2 NANOPARTICLES, PREPARED BY HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
September 2009
At the conference, I presented nanomaterial TiO2 obtained by hydrothermal synthesis with changing pH and additives such as NaOH, KOH, TMAH, NH3, AgNO3, EtOH, H2O2, NaCl, HCl, HNO3, Fe and Al ions. I monitored morphology, size, chemical composition, and crystal growth. The aim of the research was to make larger self-assembled structures from nanoparticles that would be highly photocatalytic but at the same time large enough to be removed from water by filtration, sedimentation, and other methods.
PRESENTATION AT THE IMT CONFERENCE, PORTOROŽ: HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF DIFFERENT SHAPES OF NANOANATASE TIO2
November 2011
At the conference, I presented the different forms of TIO2 in the crystal modification of anatase formed by hydrothermal synthesis: elongated, bipyramidal and twins.
PRESENTATION AT THE IMT CONFERENCE, PORTOROŽ: HYDROTHERMAL AND SOL-GEL SYNTHESIS OF NANOANATASE TIO2 ADDITIVES
November 2010
At the conference, I presented the dependence of the degree of crystallinity and photocatalyticity with respect to the synthesis of TiO2 (solvethermal or hydrothermal), additives, solvent concentration and reactant.
PRESENTATION AT THE IMT CONFERENCE, PORTOROŽ: ALL THREE NATURALLY EXISTING TIO2 CRYSTALS SYNTHESIZED SOLVOTHERMALLY
October 2010
I presented the dependence of crystal modification, morphology and size of naturally occurring TiO2 crystals prepared by solvothermal synthesis, i.e. everything from micron rutile in the form of hedgehogs to nano-large anatase with brucite.
PRESENTATION AT THE SYMPOSIUM ON DEVELOPMENTAL ORIENTATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS IN THE FIELD OF MINERAL BINDERS IN LJUBLJANA, ZAG: GEOPOLYMERS FROM TERMIT WASTE
March 2018
At the symposium, I presented the results of analyzes of more than 20 different secondary materials in terms of potential for use for alkaline activation and light porous materials. The emphasis was on bottom ash, mineral wool, raw green ceramic, refractory materials, a combination of bottom ash and refractory materials, bottom ash and cast moulds/cores used according to the altered final properties of alkali-activated precursors.
December 2020
At the conference, I presented the impact of homogenization of alkali-activated materials and foams in the slurry phase on mechanical strengths and microstructure.
April 2021
An article and a poster with a video presentation were presented at the conference. I discussed the influence of different parameters on the alkaline activation of waste cores for the foundry industry.
April 2021
As a "keynote" lecture, the results of alkaline activation of 5 different slags in combination with rock wool were presented.
REVIEWS
Unknown authors
November 2019
An open-access article dealing with the dependence of thickening and foaming of fillers made of different materials in a steel casting with respect to the rolling temperature.
ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN MATERIALS : GREENER NANOCOMPOSITE POLYURETHANE FOAM BASED ON SUSTAINABLE POLYOL AND NATURAL FILLERS: INVESTIGATION OF CHEMICO-PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
January 2020
An open-access article dealing with the influence of filler material (walnut shell, cellulose, diatomine) on the thermal, mechanical, chemical-physical properties of polyurethane foams.
May 2020
The open-ended article discusses the influence of chromium deposition with PVD and subsequent temperature treatment on steel rusting.
July 2020
The open-access article treats charcoal (other materials used are reference) as a replacement for currently used materials in arc furnaces to reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining good mechanical stability and electrical properties.
September 2020
The open-access article represents an improvement in the EAF furnace, reducing energy consumption and increasing productivity.
November 2020
The paper presents a study of different porous materials through the effect of trapping TiO2 particles compared to Hedera Helix L sheets.
April 2021
The article discusses improvements to DC-EAF furnaces to reduce heat loss and improve slag and metal separation.
May 2021
In the article, they presented the impact of additional processing of “dust” from sintering gases for recycling.
ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN "MATERIALS": CRACK GROWTH SIMULATION OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIALS BASED ON IMPROVED BOND-BASED PERIDYNAMIC MODEL
June 2021
In the article, they presented an improved theoretical model of spreading the cracks in materials in comparison with the experimental work of other authors.
May 2022
Depending on the filling, height etc. formation of fractures is followed experimentally and theoretically.