The National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) has received funding under the prestigious OPUS 28 competition organized by the National Science Centre (NCN). The only project from our institute awarded in this edition was granted to Prof. Katarzyna Joanna Nowakowska-Langier, DSc, Eng., for the research project entitled: "The role of pulsed plasma in magnetron sputtering for shaping the structure of advanced high-entropy material coatings."

The project will be carried out in the newly established Department of Research Infrastructure at NCBJ, in collaboration with the Silesian University of Technology. The aim is to conduct fundamental research on coatings made from high-entropy alloys (HEAs) — a class of advanced materials that, due to their high mixing entropy and complex chemical composition, exhibit potentially unique mechanical and durability properties.

The research team will focus on understanding the influence of pulsed plasma parameters — including high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) — on the structure, phase composition, and functional properties of the deposited coatings. The knowledge gained may, in the future, contribute to the development of protective coating technologies for use in harsh operating environments.

„This project is an important step toward advanced materials technologies, where precise control over coating structure at the nanometer scale enables the emergence of entirely new functional properties. It’s application-oriented science, grounded in solid physical and engineering fundamentals. ” — describes Prof. Katarzyna Joanna Nowakowska-Langier, Principal Investigator.

„With this project and the investment in new HiPIMS sources, we will make a qualitative leap in our research infrastructure capabilities. It’s not only a step forward for NCBJ, but a real opportunity to translate scientific knowledge into future industrial applications. ” — comments Dr Svitlana Romaniuk, key project researcher from NCBJ.

Although the project is focused on basic research, the results may eventually find applications in fields such as energy and biomedicine — for example, in the development of protective coatings for turbine components or medical implants.

The project received funding of over one million PLN.