Since about 20 years nanostructured thin films have attracted much attention of international research community. Indeed, multilayered nanolaminates, nanocomposites, nanometer-thick films possess unique properties due to both size and interface effects. Due to these properties, they promise many applications in different areas such as electronics, catalysis, wear and corrosion protection, optics and sensors. The talk will be focused on some examples of nanostructured films developed to fit the needs of Swiss industry.

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Bio

Oksana Banakh accomplished her PhD in the field of inorganic chemistry (structural and physical properties of some intermetallic compounds) in 1998. She joined Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) in 1999 as a postdoctoral fellow and since then, she reoriented her scientific carrier towards thin film technology (mainly PVD) and surface analysis.

In 2002 she joined The School of Engineering of Canton de Neuchâtel (nowadays Haute Ecole Arc Ingénierie, Neuchâtel), where she is currently working as a professor and a head of the institute of applied microtechnology.

Her scientific interests concern the development of sputtered hard, decorative and corrosion and wear protective coatings for industrial applications. Most of these developments were done in close collaboration with Swiss industry.