Coordination metal complexes and functional materials
Group leader
Prof. Dr. hab. Janusz Lewiński
Research topics
The research of the Lewinski Group is centred at the interface between design and synthesis of molecular precursors, self-assembly processes and macroscopic properties of the materials. Basing on the strong background from fundamental inorganic and organometallic chemistry, we rationally design the suitable precursors for the bottom-up synthesis of functional materials such as:
- perovskite materials for photovoltaic applications;
- semiconducting nanoparticles (primarily ZnO) for biomedical and solar cell applications;
- non-covalent porous materials (NPMs) and porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for gas storage and drug delivery.
The group also specialises in mechanochemical synthesis, which we succeeded in applying to various types of materials ranging from molecular complexes to MOFs and semiconductor nanocrystals.




Members
- MSc Eng. Krzysztof Budny-Godlewski
- Dr. Eng. Elżbieta Chwojnowska
- Dr. Eng. Anna Cieślak
- Dr. hab. Eng. Marek Cinal
- Dr. Eng. Iwona Justyniak
- MSc Eng. Arkadiusz Kornowicz
- MSc Eng. Piotr Krupiński
- Dr. Eng. Michał Leszczyński
- MSc Eng. Wojciech Marynowski
- MSc Eng. Katarzyna Sołtys-Brzostek
- MSc Eng. Dawid Kornacki
- MSc Eng. Habibollah Atigheh
- MSc Eng. Adam Trzaska
- MSc Eng. Maksymilian Solka
- Dr. Eng. Zbigniew Wróbel
- MSc Eng. Grzegorz Jędrzejczyk
- Dr. Chandra Shekhar Tiwari
- MSc Marcin Saski
Publications
2025
Szejko Vadim, Justyniak Iwona, Jędrzejewska Maria, Jędrzejczyk Grzegorz, Precht Thea-Luise, Kubas Adam, Wheatley Andrew E. H., Lewiński Janusz , Luminescent Alkylaluminium Anthranilates Reaching Unity Quantum Yield in the Condensed Phase , ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2025
Borkenhagen Aleksandra, Sokołowski Kamil, Majewski Paweł W., Justyniak Iwona, Roś Paula, Cieślak Anna M., Lewiński Janusz , Chemical weathering of molecular single crystals to monoliths of quantum dots , NATURE COMMUNICATIONS 2025
Sołtys-Brzostek Katarzyna, Sokołowski Kamil, Justyniak Iwona, Li Aurelia, Fairen-Jimenez David, Supel Alicja, Terłęcki Michał, Lewiński Janusz , Tunable Self-Assembly of Decanuclear Ni(II) Carbonato Clusters with a Hydroxyquinolinato Shell: Robust Porous Networks with Reversible Solvent-/Temperature-Driven Phase Transitions and Selective Gas Separation , JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2025
Sokołowski Kamil, Justyniak Iwona, Terlecki Michał, Fairen-Jimenez David, Bury Wojciech, Budny-Godlewski Krzysztof, Nawrocki Jan, Kościelski Marek, Lewiński Janusz , Stabilization toward air and structure determination of pyrophoric ZnR2 compounds via supramolecular encapsulation , SCIENCE ADVANCES 2025
M.K. Leszczyński M.K. Kochaniec M. Terlecki I. Justyniak S.A. Sahin B. Aydogdu R. Yuksel M. Siekierski M. Hołdyński W. Wieczorek J. Lewiński , Functional porous carbons derived from alkali metal-based coordination polymers for energy storage , Communications Materials 2025
Juhi Juhi, Saski Marcin, Kochaniec Maria K., Wieczorek Wladysław, Dominko Robert, Lewiński Janusz , Exploring metal halide perovskites as active architectures in energy storage systems , JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A 2025
Borkenhagen Aleksandra, Wolska-Pietkiewicz Małgorzata, Bińkiewicz Ilona, Richter Łukasz, Zbonikowski Rafał, Paczesny Jan, Lewiński Janusz , Unraveling the Influence of the Anchored Headgroup and Ligand Tail Group Length on the Self-Assembly of ZnO NCs at the Air-Water Interface , ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2025
Juhi Juhi, Vargas Ordaz Mariana, Drvaric Talian Sara, Tchernychova Elena, Wieczorek Wladysław, Lewiński Janusz, Dominko Robert , Cesium Lead Chloride as an Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Enhanced Anode Protection in Lithium Metal Batteries , CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS 2025
Opała Karolina, Saski Marcin, Marynowski Wojciech, Borkenhagen Aleksandra, Lewiński Janusz , Exploring Polytype Formation in Double-Cation DMA x FA1-x PbI3 Perovskites: Compositional Engineering and Phase Transitions , CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS 2025
Ziemkowska Wanda, Szejko Vadim, Prus Bernadeta, Socha Paweł, Cyrański Michał K., Jastrzębska Agnieszka, Justyniak Iwona , Stepwise Synthesis of Carboxyalumoxanes through Well-Defined Organoaluminum and Organogallium Carboxylatohydroxides Obtained by Controlled Hydrolysis , INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2025
Wojewódzka Anna, Wolska-Pietkiewicz Małgorzata, Szczepanowski Roman H., Jędrzejewska Maria, Zelga Karolina, Lewiński Janusz , A new insight into the fabrication of colloidal isotropic ZnO nanocrystals by an organometallic approach , NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2025
Jabloński Dominik, Jacyna Maciej, Terlecki Michał, Kornowicz Arkadiusz, Justyniak Iwona, Lewiński Janusz , Discrete μ4-Oxido Mn(II) Clusters with Controlled Nuclearity: On-Demand Synthesis, Molecular and Self-Assembled Structures , ACS OMEGA 2025
Marynowski Wojciech, Saski Marcin, Niciński Krzysztof, Pisarek Marcin, Wałecki Witold, Lewiński Janusz , Mechanochemical Synthesis of Pristine and Li-Doped Zinc Orthostannate from Separate and Blended Binary Oxide Precursors , CHEMISTRY-METHODS 2025
Leszczyński Michał K., Justyniak Iwona, Lewiński Janusz , Mechanochemistry unlocking stoichiometric control in alkali metal carboxylate coordination polymers , DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2025
2024
Badoni Saumya; Terlecki Michał; Carret Sebastien; Poisson Jean-Francois; Charpentier Thibault; Okuno Hanako; Wolska-Pietkiewicz Małgorzata; Lee Daniel; Lewiński Janusz; De Paepe Gael , Atomic-Level Structure of the Organic-Inorganic Interface of Colloidal ZnO Nanoplatelets from Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced NMR , JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY , 2024, 146, 40, 27655- 27667
Saski Marcin; Sobczak Szymon; Ratajczyk Paulina; Terlecki Michał; Marynowski Wojciech; Borkenhagen Aleksandra; Justyniak Iwona; Katrusiak Andrzej; Lewiński Janusz , Unprecedented Richness of Temperature- and Pressure-Induced Polymorphism in 1D Lead Iodide Perovskite , SMALL , 2024, 20, 38
Olejnik-Feher Natalia; Jędrzejewska Maria; Wolska-Pietkiewicz Małgorzata; Lee Daniel; De Paepe Gael; Lewiński Janusz , On the Fate of Lithium Ions in Sol-Gel Derived Zinc Oxide Nanocrystals , SMALL , 2024, 20, 28
Runjhun Rashmi; Alharbi Essa A.; Druzyński Zygmunt; Krishna Anurag; Wolska-Pietkiewicz Małgorzata; Skorjanc Viktor; Baumeler Thomas P.; Kakavelakis George; Eickemeyer Felix; Mensi Mounir; Zakeeruddin Shaik M.; Graetzel Michael; Lewiński Janusz , High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells with Zwitterion-Capped-ZnO Quantum Dots as Electron Transport Layer and NH4X (X = F, Cl, Br) Assisted Interfacial Engineering , ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS , 2024, 7, 5, e12720
Leszczyński Michał K.; Niepiekło Katarzyna; Terlecki Michał; Justyniak Iwona; Lewiński Janusz , Chromium(II)-isophthalate 2D MOF with Redox-Tailorable Gas Adsorption Selectivity , ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES , 2024, 16, 34, 45100- 45106
Obrebowski Szymon; Ćwik Kamila; Srivatsa Shreyas; Uhl Tadeusz; Jagielski Jacek; Wolska Anna; Klepka Marcin; Khosravizadeh Zeinab; Jakiela Rafał; Trzyna-Sowa Małgorzata; Wojciechowski Tomasz; Szwacki Nevill Gonzalez; Marynowski Wojciech; Lewiński Janusz; Zybala Rafał; Borysiewicz Michał A. , Ion implanted MXene electrodes for selective VOC sensors , APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY , 2024, 39, 102343
Pietrzykowski Antoni; Justyniak Iwona; Szejko Vadim; Skrok Tomasz; Radzymiński Tomasz; Suwińska Kinga; Lewiński Janusz , A New Structural Motif in Aggregation of Methylalumoxanes: Non-Hydrolytic Route by the Alkylation of Dicarboxylic Acids , CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL , 2024, 30, 52, e202402021
Terlecki Michał; Kornowicz Arkadiusz; SacharcŻuk Kornel; Justyniak Iwona; Lewiński Janusz , Synthesis, polymorphism, and shape complementarity-induced co-crystallization of hexanuclear Co(II) clusters capped by a flexible heteroligand shell , DALTON TRANSACTIONS , 2024, 53, 16, 7012- 7022
Cinal M. , Intraband terms of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy in layered systems without inversion symmetry , PHYSICAL REVIEW B , 2024, 109, 2, 24424
Chwojnowska Elzbieta; Kowalska Aneta A.; Kamińska Agnieszka; Lewiński Janusz , Direct Readout of Homo- vs Heterochiral Ligand Shell of Quantum Dots , ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES , 2024, 16, 28, 37308- 37317
Kornowicz Arkadiusz; Pietrzak Tomasz; Korona Krzesimir; Terlecki Michał; Justyniak Iwona; Kubas Adam; Lewiński Janusz , Fresh Impetus in the Chemistry of Calcium Peroxides , JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY , 2024, 146, 28, 18938- 18947
Budny-Godlewski Krzysztof; Piekarski Dariusz G.; Justyniak Iwona; Leszczyński Michał K.; Nawrocki Jan; Kubas Adam; Lewiński Janusz , Uncovering Factors Controlling Reactivity of Metal-TEMPO Reaction Systems in the Solid State and Solution , CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL , 2024, 30, 54
Korona Krzesimir; Justyniak Iwona; Pogrebetsky James; Lemieszka Marta; Bernatowicz Piotr; Pietrzykowski Antoni; Kubas Adam; Lewiński Janusz , Controlled hydrolysis of AlMe3 to tetramethylalumoxane and a new look at incipient adducts with water , CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS , 2024, 60, 70, 9392- 9395
2023
Kumar, Sandeep; Mohan, Brij; Fu, Chuya; Gupta, Vijay; Ren, Peng
Decoration and utilization of a special class of metal-organic frameworks containing the fluorine moiety
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2023 476, 214876
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Wolska-Pietkiewicz, Malgorzata; Jedrzejewska, Maria; Tokarska, Katarzyna; Wielgorska, Julia; Chudy, Michal; Grzonka, Justyna; Lewinski, Janusz
Towards bio-safe and easily redispersible bare ZnO quantum dots engineered via organometallic wet-chemical processing
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL 2023 455, 140497
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Jedrzejewska, Maria; Wolska-Pietkiewicz, Malgorzata; Druzynski, Zygmunt; Lewinski, Janusz
Organometallic one-pot synthesis of ZnO quantum dots coated by sulfoxides as L-type ligands
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C 2023 11, 43, 15016
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Chwojnowska, Elzbieta; Grzonka, Justyna; Justyniak, Iwona; Ratajczyk, Tomasz; Lewinski, Janusz
A modular design approach to polymer-coated ZnO nanocrystals
ISCIENCE 2023 26, 1, 105759
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Chwojnowska, Elzbieta; Grzonka, Justyna; Justyniak, Iwona; Ratajczyk, Tomasz; Lewinski, Janusz
A modular design approach to polymer-coated ZnO nanocrystals
ISCIENCE 2023 26, 1, 105759
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Gupta, Vijay; Justyniak, Iwona; Chwojnowska, Elzbieta; Szejko, Vadim; Lewinski, Janusz
Multinuclear Zinc-Magnesium Hydroxide Carboxylates: A Predesigned Model System for Copolymerization of CO2 with Epoxides
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2023 62, 40, 16274-16279
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Terlecki, Michal; Justyniak, Iwona; Leszczynski, Michal K.; Bernatowicz, Piotr; Lewinski, Janusz
Factors controlling the structure of alkylzinc amidinates: on the role of N-substituents
DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2023 52, 9, 2712-2721
2022
Kornowicz, A., Terlecki, M., Justyniak, I., Prochowicz, D., Van Leusen, J., Kögerler, P., & Lewiński, J. L.
Cyclodextrin-Templated Co(II) Grids: Symmetry Control over Supramolecular Topology and Magnetic Properties.
Inorganic Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.INORGCHEM.1C03344
Stephen, D. W., Tulewicz, A., Szejko, V., Justyniak, I., Wolska-Pietkiewicz, M., & Lewiński, J.
Exploring the reactivity of homoleptic organozincs towards SO2: Synthesis and structure of a homologous series of organozinc sulfinates.
Dalton Transactions, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT00577H
Leszczyński, M. K., Kornacki, D., Terlecki, M., Justyniak, I., Miletić, G. I., Halasz, I., Bernatowicz, P., Szejko, V., & Lewiński, J.
Mechanochemical vs Wet Approach for Directing CO2 Capture toward Various Carbonate and Bicarbonate Networks.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSSUSCHEMENG.1C08402
Korona, K., Terlecki, M., Justyniak, I., Magott, M., Żukrowski, J., Kornowicz, A., Pinkowicz, D., Kubas, A., & Lewinski, J.
A new look at molecular and electronic structure of homoleptic diiron(II,II) complexes with N,N-bidentate ligands: Combined experimental and theoretical study.
Chemistry – A European Journal, https://doi.org/10.1002/CHEM.202200620
Marynowski, W., Saski, M., Pałuba, B., Pisarek, M., & Lewiński, J. L.
An Innovative Solid-State Approach to Zinc Orthostannate: Remarkable Sintering Temperature Reduction via Lithium Doping and Mechanochemical Activation of Low-Melting Precursors.
ACS Applied Electronic Materials, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSAELM.2C00078
Krupiński, P. K., Terlecki, M., Kornowicz, A., Justyniak, I., Prochowicz, D., Van Leusen, J., Kögerler, P., & Lewiński, J. L.
Tetrahedral M4(μ4-O) Motifs Beyond Zn: Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Oxido–Amidate Clusters via a Transmetalation/Hydrolysis Approach.
Inorganic Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.INORGCHEM.2C00456
Chavan, R. D., Wolska-Pietkiewicz, M., Prochowicz, D., Jędrzejewska, M., Mahdi Tavakoli, M., Yadav, P., Kook Hong, C., Lewiński, J.
Organic Ligand-Free ZnO Quantum Dots for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.
Advanced Functional Materials, https://doi.org/10.1002/ADFM.202205909
The team led by J. Lewiński developed a novel approach to organic ligand-free ZnO QDs and low-temperature processed pure ZnO electron transport layers (ETLs) for highly stable perovskite sollar cells (PCSs). The champion sollar cells achieved a power conversion efficiency over 20% which is the state-of-the-art performance among reported non-passivated pure-ZnO ETL-based PSCs (!)
Korona, K., Kornowicz, A., Justyniak, I., Terlecki, M., Błachowski, A., & Lewiński, J.
Non-redox reactivity of V(II) and Fe(II) formamidinates towards CO2 resulting in the formation of novel M(II) carbamates.
Dalton Transactions, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT02274E
2021
Sahm, C., Mates-Torres, E., Eliasson, N., Sokolowski, K., Wagner, A., Dalle, K., Huang, Z., Scherman, O. A., Hammarström, L., Garcia-Melchor, M., Reisner, E.
Imidazolium-modification enables enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction on ZnSe quantum dots.
Chemical Science, https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sc01310f
Budny-Godlewski, K., Michał, L. K., Tulewicz, A., Justyniak, I., Pinkowicz, D., Sieklucka, B., Kruczała, K., Sojka, Z., Lewinski, J.
A Case Study on the Desired Selectivity in the Solid-state Mechano- and Slow-chemistry, Melt, and Solution Methodologies.
ChemSusChem, https://doi.org/10.1002/CSSC.202101269
Zelga, K., Pietrzak, T., Han, T., Justyniak, I., Chwojnowska, E., Sobota, P., Lewinski, J.
Effectiveness of the Oxygenation over Classical Protonolysis Reactions: A Case of Alkylzinc Complexes Incorporating an Aminoalcoholate Ligand.
Chemistry – A European Journal, https://doi.org/10.1002/CHEM.202102172
Pietrzak, T., Justyniak, I., Zelga, K., Nowak, K., Ochal, Z., Lewiński, J.
Towards deeper understanding of multifaceted chemistry of magnesium alkylperoxides.
Communications Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-021-00560-9
Sokołowski, K., Huang, J., Földes, T., McCune, J. A., Xu, D. D., de Nijs, B., Chikkaraddy, R., Collins, S. M., Rosta, E., Baumberg, J. J., & Scherman, O. A.
Nanoparticle surfactants for kinetically arrested photoactive assemblies to track light-induced electron transfer.
Nature Nanotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-021-00949-6
Terlecki, M., Justyniak, I., Leszczyński, M. K., & Lewiński, J.
Effect of the proximal secondary sphere on the self-assembly of tetrahedral zinc-oxo clusters.
Communications Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-021-00574-3
