Main studies carried out during March:

- Microhardness measurements of the melt spun ribbons. As a result large scatter of data was obtained due to inhomogeneous microstructure of the ribbons.
- SEM imaging of the melt spun ribbons cross-section confirmed change in microstructure during changing casting condition (wheel speed). With faster cooling rates more areas with homogenous microstructure occurs in the ribbon. Also chemical analysis of phases present in the ingot was performed. Three different phases were found.
- Icosahedral phase indentification– based on electron diffraction patterns.
- Investigations of icosahedral phase decomposition during thermal treatment (TEM, XRD) – based on the obtained results probably two step decomposition trough the intermediate phase take place.
- Casting of two new alloys with zirconium and silicon addition.

Awards:
1st prize for the best Ph.D student’s abstract: TEM study of quasicrystals in Al-Mn-Fe melt - spun ribbon for the upcoming XIVth International Conference on Electron Microscopy (sponsored by Polish Society for Microscopy).

Participation in seminars:
- M. Sc. Eng. Piotr Bobrowski: ‘Investigations on the catalytic Au/TiO2 modelsystem’
- M. Sc. Eng Rafal Abram: ‘Atomistic simulations of the process of phase separation in the Fe-Cr system’;
- M. Sc. Eng Artur Kudyba: ‘Influence of technological factors on the wettability of soldering’;

In March 2011 I begun the study of hydrogen release on different surfaces from citrate solutions. Surface-limited kinetics of hydrogen release are derived for arbitrary surface coverage (Fe, Zn,Sn).

For this purpose, first, it was necessary to prepare the surface of the samples for further investigation . Therefore on 1-3.03.2011 and 7-11.03.2011 I ran the process of potentiostatic deposition of tin and zinc from citrate bath on samples of steel (previously etched in a solution of oxalic acid with hydrogen peroxide and defatted in acetone). Then I prepare a series of citrate baths. Electrolytes were prepared with analytical grade reagents and deionized water. A range of solutions with varying citrate concentration and pH were prepared by dissolving appropriate amounts of C6H5Na3O7.2H2O and C6H8O7.H2O, adjusting the pH using H2SO4 and NaOH and mixing of solutions. The citrate concentration was varied between 0,1 M and 0,7 M and the pH between 1.0 and 9.0.

Subsequently, on from 14 to 31 march 2011 I conducted research of hydrogen release from selected baths on surfaces of steel, tin and zinc . the experiment were carried out and controlled by means of PARSTAT 2273 potentiostat. Voltammetric curves were determined under various hydrodynamic conditions by the rotating disc electrode technique.

The results of all carried out tests, and plans for further research were discussed in detail with the tutor Prof. Associate. dr hab. Piotr Ozga.

In March 2011 I also attended in the following seminars:
- M. Sc. Eng. Piotr Bobrowski: ‘Investigations on the catalytic Au/TiO2 modelsystem’ (4.03.2011)
- M. Sc. Eng Rafal Abram: ‘Atomistic simulations of the process of phase separation in the Fe-Cr system’ (11.03.2011)
- Professor Pawel Zieba: ‘Mass and charge transport in polycrystalline materials’(11.03.2011)
- Associate Professor Marek Faryna: ‘Correlation between ceramics microstructure and functional properties’;(18.03.2011)
- Professor Henryk Paul: ‘Instability of plastic flow and their role in texture transformations in fcc metals’(18.03.2011)
- M. Sc. Eng Artur Kudyba: ‘Influence of technological factors on the wettability of soldering’(25.03.2011)
- Associate Professor Lidia Litynska-Dobrzynska: ‘Development of aluminium alloys’ (25.03.2011).

Participation in seminars IMMS PAS:
-Lecture M. Sc. Eng. Piotr Bobrowski: ‘Investigations on the catalytic Au/TiO2 modelsystem’ (03/04/2011)
-Lecture M. Sc. Eng Rafal Abram: ‘Atomistic simulations of the process of phase separation in the Fe-Cr system’ (11/03/2011)

Participation in conferences and symposiums:
‘Second Symposium on Photovoltaics and Transparent Electronics – Development Prospects’
24-27.03.2011 in Swieradow-Zdroj
Presentation entitled: ‘Chemical preparation of the active-surface in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and modules’.
Research was done in the interdisciplinary doctoral program in the field of materials science in English-speaking, the project implemented POKL.04.01.01-00-004/10 IMMS PAS.

Awards:
1st place in the competition for the best speech for the work of ‘Chemical preparation of the active-surface in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and modules’ (Swieradow-Zdroj 24-27.03.2011)

Researches already performed:
-Implementation of the texture on monocrystalline silicon (Cz-Si) in KOH solution using diacetone alcohol (DAA) with a high boiling point.
-Choosing the composition of the mixture on the basis of commonly used mixtures containing isopropyl alcohol. Examination of the composition.
-Examine the effects of reaction time on the so-prepared solutions. Observation of alkaline-made textures under microscope and the analysis of surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy techniques.

In march 2011 I was preparing for a seminar during which I was supposed to present results of my masters thesis and tell something about my plans for preparing PhD thesis. In my MSc work I was investigating photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide with gold nanoparticles deposited on its surface. Three commercially available powders were used in the investigations. Gold nanoparticles were deposited using thermally induced deposition-precipitation method with AuCl3 as a precursor. A series of samples with different nominal Au load and pH of the slurry was prepared. Obtained materials were characterized by means of reflectance spectroscopy and Kelvin probe work function measurements. Photocatalytic activity was investigated by photoelectrochemical measurements. Additionally, a series of samples was calcined and investigated again. The measurements showed that powder with the smallest grain size and highest amount of rutile phase was the most active under visible light irradiation. In my PhD work I am going to apply the EBSD technique combined with FIB to analyze structure of highly deformed aluminum alloys, electrodeposited Nickel protective coatings and try to investigate PLZT ceramic materials.
Apart from presenting my own seminar I attended two other seminars presented by:
- M. Sc. Eng Rafal Abram: ‘Atomistic simulations of the process of phase separation in the Fe-Cr system’
- M. Sc. Eng Artur Kudyba: ‘Influence of technological factors on the wettability of soldering’
I have also tried to run a measurement of an Aluminum 6013 sample deformed using KOBO method but the electron source (FEG) intensity was to low (because of lifetime coming to an end) and I could not obtain indexable diffractions.

The influence of zirconium and scandium on microstructural and textural changes of severely deformed aluminum alloys