9 Sep

PhD student Lukáš Vrána received an honorable mention for his research on new protective materials

PhD student Lukáš Vrána from the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology received an honorable mention in the prestigious competition for the Milan Odehnal Prize 2026. He received the award for his experimental and theoretical study of high-entropy nitride coatings. The unique materials he is researching could have a wide range of applications in the future. “They could serve as a protective thin film and potentially even be used in space,” says the young physicist. He believes it is important not to be afraid to present one’s research to the scientific community and views the award as valuable feedback.

12 Aug

How does methane influence the properties of Cu-doped carbon coatings?

Dr. Štěpánka Kelarová presented research on PECVD-deposited Cu-doped carbon coatings at the NN2026 conference in Thessaloniki, Greece. The study demonstrated how methane admixture and precursor temperature influence the surface chemistry, morphology, and mechanical properties of the coatings, highlighting their potential for future antibacterial and biomedical applications.

10 Aug

Matej Fekete Investigated Oxidation and Thermal Stability of TiAlON Coatings at RWTH Aachen University

Dr. Matej Fekete completed a research secondment at RWTH Aachen University, where he focused on the characterization of oxidized TiAlON coatings and their comparison with other advanced coating systems. The work also evaluated the thermal stability of coatings with varying aluminium content, providing insights relevant to high-temperature applications.

10 Aug

Expedition to Observe a Solar Eclipse

Students from Masaryk University’s University of the Third Age astronomy course are traveling to Spain to observe the total solar eclipse on 12 August, accompanied by staff from the Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics. The trip will also include visits to major cultural and natural landmarks across Spain.​

6 Aug

New Opportunities for Biomedicine Through Plasma Modification of Nanofibers

Dr. Richard Krumpolec's research stay at Kiel University advanced collaboration in plasma diagnostics and surface modification technologies. Using a novel DCSBD linear jet, researchers successfully enhanced the hydrophilicity of heat-sensitive polymer nanofibers without thermal damage, paving the way for future biomedical applications.​

3 Aug

3D-Printed Ceramics Open New Opportunities for Plasma Research at DPPT

Researchers from the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and the CEPLANT research infrastructure are collaborating on the development and testing of custom 3D-printed ceramic components for dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) research. The new components enable the investigation of novel reactor geometries and expand the experimental possibilities of plasma-based technologies.

30 Jul

Dihya Sadi Joins the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology

Dr. Dihya Sadi, who earned her PhD at the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, École Polytechnique, France, has joined the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology at Masaryk University as a postdoctoral researcher. In the research group of Prof. Tomáš Hoder, she focuses on laser diagnostics of switching arcs while contributing to collaborative plasma physics research supported by CEPLANT facilities.

29 Jul

CEPLANT přivítal hostujícího vědce z Univerzity v Cagliari

CEPLANT and the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology at Masaryk University welcomed Dr. Mauro Carta from the University of Cagliari through the EDUC-WIDE initiative, which promotes access to research infrastructures and expertise across partner institutions. During his visit, he used CEPLANT’s advanced analytical facilities to characterize thin-film materials and strengthen international research collaboration.

28 Jul

Tomáš Homola and František Zažímal on Plasma Research for Wastewater Treatment

Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Homola and recent PhD graduate František Zažímal discuss their research on the use of plasma technologies and nanomaterials for wastewater treatment. The interview by MU Faculty of Science also highlights the PhD journey, the importance of the supervisor–student relationship, and the challenges of conducting research aimed at addressing current environmental issues.

27 Jul

Research Stay of Peter Klein at Tokyo Metropolitan University

Dr. Peter Klein is undertaking a one-month research stay at Tokyo Metropolitan University as part of the COLOSSE project. In collaboration with the team of Prof. Tetsuhide Shimizu, he is conducting research in Japan focused on plasma diagnostics during HiPIMS sputtering of W–B–C coatings. The aim of the research is to gain a better understanding of the processes occurring during thin-film deposition and of the relationship between deposition conditions, coating structure, and material properties.​

24 Jul

Pavel Souček Presented Thin-Film Research at THINFILMS 2026 in Singapore

Prof. Pavel Souček represented DPPT and the CEPLANT research infrastructure at THINFILMS 2026 in Singapore. During the conference, he presented research results in the field of thin films and advanced materials and engaged in discussions with researchers and industry professionals from around the world. 

22 Jul

Dr. Daniel Franta Collaborates with the University of Barcelona in Optical Materials Characterization

Dr. Daniel Franta from Optics for Thin Films and Solid Surfaces at DPPT and CEPLANT completed a one-month research stay at the University of Barcelona. The collaboration focused on advanced optical characterization of anisotropic materials, including the extension of the newAD2 software to incorporate optical anisotropy and the harmonization of polarimetric and ellipsometric data analysis approaches. The visit also laid the groundwork for a joint study of uniaxial TiO₂ crystals and further strengthened international cooperation in optical modeling and characterization of complex materials.

20 Jul

ISSP 2026 in Kyoto, Japan

Researchers from the PVDLab, Depostion of Thin Films and Nanostructure research group at DPPT and CEPLANT presented three oral contributions at ISSP 2026 in Kyoto, highlighting advances in HiPIMS deposition processes and functional thin films. The conference also provided an opportunity to strengthen long-standing collaboration with Tokyo Metropolitan University and share results from joint research in plasma technologies and thin-film deposition.

15 Jul

DPPT and CEPLANT Researchers Present Latest Plasma Research at ESCAMPIG 2026

Our scientists participated in ESCAMPIG 2026 in Madeira, Portugal, where they presented recent advances in plasma science and technology. The contributions covered atmospheric-pressure plasmas, plasma diagnostics, plasma-liquid interactions, water treatment applications, and space plasma modelling. The conference also marked a continuation of the scientific exchange initiated when the previous ESCAMPIG conference was hosted in Brno in 2024, highlighting the international impact of DPPT and CEPLANT research.

13 Jul

Dr. Slavomír Sihelník Begins Research Stay at INNOVENT

Dr. Slavomír Sihelník from the Plasma Nanotechnologies and Bioapplications group at DPPT and CEPLANT has started a three-month research stay at INNOVENT e.V. in Jena, Germany, supported by the COLOSSE consortium. His work focuses on curing sol-gel coatings using atmospheric-pressure plasma technologies and evaluating the recently developed DCSBD Linear Jet alongside other plasma jet systems.

13 Jul

Faculty of Science to host international astrophysics conference bringing together scientists from around the world

The Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, in cooperation with the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, will host a prestigious international conference on galaxy clusters this July. Leading experts from around the world will gather to exchange knowledge, foster new collaborations, and address key questions concerning the largest structures in the Universe.

10 Jul

Radek Horňák Presented CaviPlasma Water Treatment Technology at IBWAP 2026

PhD student Radek Horňák from the Applied Plasmochemistry research group at the DPPT presented his research at IBWAP 2026 in Constanța, Romania. His contribution introduced the CaviPlasma concept, which combines hydrodynamic cavitation and plasma discharge into an advanced oxidation system for the efficient degradation of contaminants in industrial wastewater. The research highlights the potential of plasma-based technologies to deliver more effective and sustainable water treatment solutions.

9 Jul

František Zelenák Showcased Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Treatment of Graphene Membranes at FILTECH 2026

8 Jul

Hanna Szebesczyk and Claus Trost Visit DPPT and CEPLANT

The PVDLab research group for Thin Film and Nanostructure Deposition welcomed two visiting researchers, Hanna Szebesczyk from Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland, and Claus Trost from the Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austria. During their stay, they carried out experiments and measurements focused on thin-film characterization and collaborated with Prof. Pavel Souček's team and PhD candidate Lukáš Vrána on research related to advanced materials.

7 Jul

Research Stay of Jaroslav Hnilica at Ghent University

Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Hnilica completed a one-month COLOSSE research stay at Ghent University in Belgium, where he collaborated with Prof. Diederik Depla, a leading expert in reactive magnetron sputtering. Their joint research focused on how target composition and deposition techniques influence the growth and resulting properties of high-entropy oxide thin films. The collaboration contributes to a deeper understanding of complex oxide film formation and supports the development of advanced materials for future energy applications.