10 Apr 2026

COLOSSE Soft Skills Training

At the end of March, colleagues from the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and CEPLANT attended a soft-skills training within the COLOSSE consortium at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The program focused on presentations, visual communication, open science, and research data management. Informal discussions also helped strengthen collaboration across the COLOSSE network.

2 Apr 2026

Driving Sustainable Energy: CEPLANT and Masaryk University Engaged Global Investors

Assoc. Prof. Pavel Souček presented CEPLANT and Masaryk University’s expertise in advanced battery technologies to international investors within the framework of the Czech Battery Cluster at CzechInvest, highlighting the Czech Republic’s growing role in sustainable energy innovation. Their work in plasma technologies, thin-film deposition, and materials design supports the development of next-generation energy storage and strengthens collaboration across academia and industry.

20 Mar 2026

Heart of Europe workshop 2026

Researchers from the PVDLab are participating in the annual Heart of Europe Workshop, which brings together three closely connected teams working in thin films and plasma‑based deposition technologies: the group of Prof. Petr Vašina (Masaryk University), the teams of Prof. Paul Mayrhofer and Assoc. Prof. Helmut Riedl (TU Wien), and the group of Assoc. Prof. Marián Mikula (Comenius University Bratislava). The workshop highlights the strong scientific potential of regional collaboration between research groups located only a few hours apart.

17 Mar 2026

Invited Talk by Dr. Bonaventura at the 2026 DPG Spring Meeting

Dr. Zdeněk Bonaventura has been invited to speak at the DPG Spring Meeting 2026, part of the 89th Annual Conference of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft held on 15–20 March at FAU Erlangen‑Nürnberg. His lecture, “A multi-ratio method for determination of the electric field from 2p states in transient argon discharges at atmospheric pressure,” will be featured within a program bringing together experts from across physics for interdisciplinary scientific exchange.

12 Mar 2026

HiPIMS Today 2026: Our Researchers Contribute to the Future of PVD Technologies

Our researchers are actively participating in HiPIMS Today 2026, the international online workshop focused on the latest advances in High‑Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering. From an invited lecture by Dr. Matej Fekete, to a breakout‑session talk by PhD student Martin Ondryáš, and broad engagement from the PVDLab thin‑film research team, we’re proud to contribute to this global discussion on the future of HiPIMS and advanced thin‑film technologies.

10 Mar 2026

CEPLANT & DPPT hosted CLUTEX

CEPLANT and DPPT welcomed members of the CLUTEX technical textiles cluster on March 4th, presenting research capabilities in thin‑film technologies and atmospheric plasma while learning about partners’ innovations in advanced materials. The meeting, enriched by a detailed lab tour and lively expert discussions, opened new pathways for future national and international collaborations.

5 Mar 2026

Scientific Stay of Dr. Matej Fekete at Empa

Dr. Matej Fekete has returned to our department after completing a scientific stay at Empa – Mechanics of Materials & Nanostructures in Switzerland, where he conducted advanced micromechanical testing to evaluate the fracture toughness of oxynitrides. His work strengthened our expertise in thin films and reinforced our collaboration with one of Europe’s leading materials research institutes.

4 Mar 2026

Lenka Vítková Joins the PNB Research Group

The Plasma Nanotechnology and Bioapplications Research Group at DPPT and CEPLANT welcomes its new colleague, Ing. Lenka Vítková, Ph.D. She will join the team in composite materials research and also bring her expertise in the field of natural polymers.

3 Mar 2026

Dr. Jiří Vohánka Research Internship at Fraunhofer IOF in Jena

Dr. Jiří Vohánka from the Optics for Thin Films and Solid Surfaces research group spent February 2026 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Jena. Working with the Functional Surfaces and Coatings team, he focused on light‑scattering phenomena and their use in advanced thin‑film characterization. The stay was supported by the COLOSSE consortium, strengthening international collaboration and bringing new expertise back to the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and CEPLANT.