(28.08.1930 — 16.01.2006)

Scientist in the field of chemistry, physics and technology of surface Doctor of Sciences (Chemistry), Professor, Academician of NAS of Ukraine (1988), Laureate of State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR in Science and Technology (1972)

Aleksey Chuiko was born on August 28, 1930 in Stavropol region, Russia. When graduated the secondary school and then from Mining and Metallurgical College, he served as military driver for three years. From 1953 to 1958 he was a student at Chemical Department of Shevchenko Kiev State University. His teachers were outstanding scientists – academicians I.M. Frantsevych, Yu.K. Delimarsky, A.I. Kiprianov, A.K. Babko, A.V. Dumansky, A.T. Pilipenko, F.S. Babichev, V.M. Eremenko.

Since 1959 his research activity was related to the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: firstly in L.V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, then the created the Institute of Surface Chemistry (1986), which now named after him.

Work at the department of synthesis and investigation of sorbents headed by Prof. I.E. Neimark designated the main direction of all his future researches: creation of organosilicas for the immobilization of variety of organic and biologically active compounds, metal-complex catalysts, enzymes, drugs, and generation of highly selective sorbents and unique composites. The most impressive results obtained by A. Chuiko and his colleagues are affiliated with the research of nature of active sites and mechanisms of chemisorption onto the silica surface, development of new technologies and creation of advanced materials with specified properties. That was summarized in his doctoral thesis "Surface chemistry of SiO₂, the nature and role of silica active centers in adsorption and chemisorption processes" (1972).

A. Chuiko organized and headed the department of surface chemistry in L.V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry (1973), which later became the basis of Surface Chemistry Section of Institute of Physical Chemistry of Academy of Sciences of UkrSSR (1983). Organizational talent of A. Chuiko was clearly observed in the creation of a series of experimental subdivisions and industries where the original technologies were widely implemented. For significant contributions to the development of chemistry, physics, technology of surface and chemical material science recognized by the world scientific community, A. Chuiko was elected a corresponding member in 1979 and full member (academician) of Academy of Sciences of Ukrainian SSR in 1988. He became an academician of the Academy of Technological Sciences of Ukraine (1992) and that of the International Academy of Technological Sciences as well as the president of Mendeleev Ukrainian Chemical Society (2001). A. Chuiko was awarded State Prize of Ukrainian SSR in Science and Technology (1972), medals of "Red Banner of Labor" (1973), "Badge of Honor" (1980), "For merits" III degree (2000), and medal "For valiant Labor" (1970). He was awarded by L.V. Pisarzhevskii Prize of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 2004 and posthumously awarded by O.I. Brodskii Prize of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 2006.

A. Chuiko is a founder of the national school of chemistry, physics and technology of surface of high dispersive oxides known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. He is an author of more than 1000 scientific papers including 7 monographs and more than 500 patents. There are 30 doctors of sciences and more than 100 candidates of sciences in chemistry, physico-mathematics and engineering science among his students. On his initiation, a specialized council for doctoral theses in chemistry, physics and technology of surface was firstly organized in the USSR (1989).

In his last years, all his creative activity were devoted to the development of a new research direction, namely medical chemistry of nanodispersive systems that promoted the development of national pharmacology including the generation of drugs with controllable pharmacodynamics.