Kateryna Smyrnova, MSc., PhD.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Scientific Research Department
Bio
Currently a postdoc-researcher at the CENAM, FMPI CU. The research interests include the deposition and characterization of nanocomposite, multilayer, and high-entropy alloy nanostructured coatings, particularly hard transition metal diborides and nitrides, as well as the development of MXene-based nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering. The area of expertise includes analysis of structural, mechanical, and tribological properties. Currently working on the development of high-performance diboride coatings with high hardness (>40 GPa) and thermal stability (up to 1000°C), using advanced deposition techniques to tailor microstructure for applications in extreme environments.
Specialization research areas
Hard coatings Thin ceramic films Nanocomposites Mechanical and tribological properties Physical vapor deposition Oxidation resistance Magnetron sputtering Multilayers High power impuls magnetron sputtering Scanning electron microscopy X-ray diffraction Nitrides Transition metal diboridesEducation
2024
PhD Thesis: Microstructure and Properties of Multilayer Coatings of the WN/MeN Type Depending on the Elemental Composition of the Second Layer
Institute of Materials Science, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, Slovakia
2017
MSc Thesis: Modification of AlN-TiB2-TiSi2 coating using high-temperature annealing
Department of Nanoelectronics, Sumy, Sumy State University, Ukraine
Internships
2025
Training Mobility within Erasmus+ ICM, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia
2024-2025
EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia
Reviewer activities
Reviewer
Applied Surface Science, Surface & Coatings Technology, Thin Solid Films
Elsevier
Reviewer
ACS 0mega
USA
Reviewer
Lubricants, Coatings, Materials
MDPI
Other activities
2019-2024