Trenčín, Trenciansky, Slovakia
I am a dedicated Research and Development Scientist (Ph.D.) and Materials expert with over 13 years of progressive industrial experience in Surface Engineering Technologies. My expertise lies in designing, optimizing, and deploying tailored thin-film and hard coatings using PVD (Sputtering, HiPIMS, Cathodic arc) and PECVD processes to enhance material performance. Driven by the goal to make our planet a better place to live in with my work, I focus on developing sustainable and high-performance solutions. I have a proven track record of developing functional and wear/corrosion-resistant coatings for highly demanding applications in the cutting tools, Molds & dies, textile, pharmaceutical, and Decorative industries. Currently, I am a Researcher & ERA Talent Fellow at FunGlass, contributing to international projects like CLiCAM, focusing on advanced functionalized glasses and surface processing. Core Technical Expertise: • Hard Coatings, Optical coatings (AR and Low-E), and Decorative coatings • PVD/PECVD Coating Design & Industrial Optimization • Failure Analysis (Coating & Materials) • Advanced Material Characterization (SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, Nanoindentation, Tribology, UV-Vis-NIR, Raman Spectroscopy) • Design and development of novel analytical equipment (e.g., Tribo-Simulator, Surface Energy Analyzer). I am committed to knowledge sharing, evidenced by a strong publication record (8 journals, 1 book, 60+ citations) and acting as a Journal Reviewer (e.g., Vacuum, JVST A). I am actively seeking collaborations that align with my mission to drive sustainability through materials innovation. Connect with me if you are working in the Optics, Glass, Textiles, Tooling, or Pharma sectors and exploring cutting-edge surface engineering solutions.
• Development and deployment of Low-E coatings for textiles using advanced PVD and PECVD techniques on an industrial Roll-to-Roll (R2R) coating system. • Performance analysis and validation of an abrasion- and environmental-resistant top protective layer for architectural and automotive glass, significantly enhancing the durability and lifespan of commercial Low-E coatings.
• Improve Adhesion: Optimizing plasma treatment to boost the adhesion of optical thin films on glass. • Coating Lifespan: Developing an abrasion- and environmental-resistant protective top layer for functional glass, significantly enhancing the durability of AR and Low-E coatings.
• Process Design & Optimization: Led the design and optimization of coating processes within Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems, specializing in depositing Thin Films, Nano-structures, and Multilayer coatings to meet stringent industrial application specifications. • Custom Surface Modification: Developed and implemented tailor-made Surface modifications, successfully preparing comprehensive Design of Experiments (DOE) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure high process fidelity and scalability. • Advanced Materials Characterization: Conducted deep materials analysis and Failure Analysis to correlate coating performance with structure and composition, utilizing sophisticated equipment including: o Mechanical & Tribological: Nano-indentation, Tribometer (analyzing Wear and Friction). o Structural & Elemental: SEM, TEM, EDS, and XRD. o Spectroscopic: Raman spectroscopy. • Performance Enhancement: Successfully analyzed and improved critical coating properties, focusing on maximizing Wear, Corrosion, Oxidation resistance, and optimizing Structural, Mechanical, and Optical properties. • Innovation in Lab Capabilities: Designed and developed specialized in-house laboratory equipment for precise characterization of wear, friction, and surface energy, enhancing internal R&D capabilities.