Division of Surface Science was established in 2021 as a result of its separation from the Department of Physics. Its research initially focused on the design and fabrication of metallic and dielectric thin films with tailored properties. Particular attention was also given to the analysis of their microstructures and optical characteristics. For this purpose, various deposition techniques were used, including physical vapour deposition (PVD) and spin coating. The samples were characterised using a range of techniques, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal optical microscopy (COM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), four point probe (4PP) method, spectrophotometry, and Raman spectroscopy. In parallel, chemometric methods were developed and applied to the analysis of experimental data. In subsequent years, the scope of research was expanded to include the synthesis of hybrid nanostructures incorporating diatom biosilica matrices, as well as materials synthesised via green chemistry approaches. Experimental studies confirmed the antibacterial properties of these materials. At the same time, research on the nanostructures was directed towards advanced analytical techniques, such as nanostructure-assisted laser desorption/ionization (NALDI) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Furthermore, the scope of research conducted at the Division of Surface Science was expanded to include studies of functional proteins. The use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) enabled experiments with unattainable conditions using conventional sources. These studies focused on the structural characterisation of proteins exhibiting antibacterial and anticancer properties. The Division of Surface Science is currently a highly interdisciplinary team, bringing together diverse expertise to advance next-generation materials.

The paper presents the results of tests of flow regulators with a triangular prismatic cross-section chamber. The aim of the paper was to experimentally and numerically (CFD) assess the water flow for different design variants of the regulators. Three variants of flow regulators with a triangular prismatic cross-section chamber were analysed: without a barrier (FRWB), with a short barrier (FRSB), and with a long barrier (FRLB). Simultaneously, numerical simulations were carried out using the SST k-ω turbulence model (CFD). The obtained flow characteristics Q = f(H) showed the clear effect of the presence and length of the barrier on the efficiency of flow restriction. The regulators with a long barrier (FRLB) provided the highest flow damping and the highest stability of the system’s operation, which was confirmed by the experimental tests and CFD analyses. The regulators without a barrier (FRWB) were characterized by the highest liquid flow rate and the lowest damping efficiency. The use of a long barrier allowed for an increased control efficiency and improved predictability of the device’s operation. The triangular cross-section of the chamber favours the formation of a stable vortex flow and increases the efficiency of the regulator’s operation.