The Faculty of Science at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (FS UPJŠ) is strengthening its research infrastructure in the field of advanced materials physics. The new MASS-PRAM laboratory will enable a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between the structure and properties of materials, which can find applications particularly in modern energy technologies, energy storage, batteries, and hydrogen technologies.
On June 12, 2026, the new physics laboratory MASS-PRAM was officially opened at the Faculty of Science, UPJŠ in Košice. This facility is unique within Europe, particularly due to the synergistic connection of two top-of-the-line analytical instruments – the Anton Paar XRDynamic 500 and the Anton Paar SAXSpoint 700. Together, they enable X-ray structural analysis of materials by combining X-ray diffraction and X-ray scattering methods. Thanks to this, researchers can study materials comprehensively – from crystalline structure and phase composition to their nanostructured arrangement, as well as the relationship between internal atomic structure and their physical properties.
The laboratory was established as part of the MASS-PRAM project (Multimodal Approach to Study Structure-Property Realtionships in Advanced Materials, 09I03-03-V03-00034), which is funded by the European Union and the Slovak Republic through the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project focuses on research into advanced materials for modern energy technologies, and its budget amounts to approximately three million euros.
New Opportunities for Advanced Research
The new facility creates a space for the detailed characterization of materials that are vital for developing new technological solutions. It will allow researchers to better understand how a material’s structure affects its properties, stability, and functionality. Such knowledge is key to developing materials for the energy sector, efficient energy storage, battery systems, hydrogen technologies, and other areas of materials research.
According to Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jozef Bednarčík, PhD., from the Institute of Physics at FS UPJŠ, the new laboratory will significantly boost the faculty’s research capabilities in the physics of advanced materials. The combination of instruments will allow for the comprehensive study of materials – from microstructure to connections with their physical properties. Such knowledge is essential for developing the materials of the future, especially for energy applications, energy storage, and novel technological solutions.
Strategic Infrastructure Development
The grand opening of the laboratory also served as an opportunity to present the broader significance of investing in cutting-edge research infrastructure. Modern equipment provides not only a technical foundation for scientific teams but is also a prerequisite for:
- Participating in international cooperation,
- Preparing high-quality projects,
- Developing doctoral studies,
- Bridging fundamental research with application potential.
“The opening of the MASS-PRAM laboratory is an important step in the development of our faculty’s research environment. It shows that top-tier science requires not only high-quality people but also modern tools that allow them to ask new questions and find more precise answers. We believe that this laboratory will contribute to the advancement of materials research, strengthen cooperation with domestic and foreign partners, and at the same time create attractive conditions for young researchers and PhD students,” it was noted during the laboratory’s opening ceremony.
The opening program included an introduction to the MASS-PRAM project, presentations of the Anton Paar XRDynamic 500 and Anton Paar SAXSpoint 700 instruments, as well as an expert discussion on the possibilities of their utilization in research.
The establishment of the MASS-PRAM laboratory confirms the ambition of the Faculty of Science at UPJŠ to develop excellent research in the natural sciences and to systematically build an infrastructure that enables addressing current scientific and technological challenges. At the same time, the new facility strengthens the faculty’s profile as a research-oriented institution with significant potential in physics, materials research, and modern energy technologies.
Photo: Faculty of Science
