Science seminar/webinar - Structural and Compositional Disorder as Design Tools for Next Generation Inorganic Materials

We are pleased to invite you to a special science seminar by Prof. Emanuel Ionescu from Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Austria.

About the Lecture

This lecture explores how structural disorder in amorphous networks and configurational disorder in multi-principal element systems can be deliberately engineered and systematically exploited to design advanced inorganic materials. The first part focuses on amorphous polymer-derived ceramics, particularly silicon oxycarbide (SiOC), which exhibit exceptional thermo-mechanical stability. Their peculiar network architecture enables ultrasensitive piezoresistive responses via tunable percolation pathways, allowing reliable strain and pressure sensing under harsh conditions. At the same time, the adaptable glass network architecture permits tailored bioactivity, controlled porosity, and mechanical compliance for bone tissue engineering. The second part addresses configurational entropy in compositionally complex ceramics as a design concept to enhance thermal stability, mechanical robustness, and functional tunability. Their tolerance to chemical variability further supports circular materials design by enabling of secondary raw materials and the closing materials loops.

About the Speaker

Emanuel Ionescu is Full Professor of Chemical Materials Technology at TU Wien, where he leads research at the Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics. His work focuses on the synthesis and processing of advanced ceramic and functional materials, particularly polymer-derived ceramics, compositionally complex materials, materials for high-temperature and extreme environments, and functional materials for energy, sensing and catalytic applications. Before joining TU Wien in January 2026, he held academic and leadership positions at TU Darmstadt, Univ. Cologne, and Fraunhofer IWKS, including Associate Professor, Deputy Director of Fraunhofer IWKS, Head of the Department “Digitalization of Resources,” and Heisenberg Fellow of the German Research Foundation. He is also a SPARC Adjunct Professorat IIT Madras. Prof. Ionescu has published more than 180 peer-reviewed papers, contributed over ten book chapters and is a co-inventor on four patents. He has supervised 23 doctoral theses as well as more than 85 master’s theses. He serves in several editorial roles for international journals in ceramic and materials science. His distinctions include the Global Star Award of the American Ceramic Society (2022) and election as Fellow of the American Ceramic Society (2024).

Event Details

Date: 14 August 2026 (Friday)
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CET
Venue: Conference Room B 4.03, FunGlass, TnUAD, Trenčín
Online participation: Microsoft Teams link, Meeting ID: 345 713 096 920 067, Passcode: ZK9bx6g9

We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring discussion on the future of advanced inorganic materials.