The aim of my research is to improve the understanding of corrosion inhibition and self-healing mechanisms of coatings. I analyze inorganic conversion layers and organic self-assembled thin films with surface analytical and electrochemical experiments at micro to nano-scale, density functional theory simulations, and predictive machine-learning relationships.

I am one of the lead experimental scientists of VIPCOAT (Virtual Open Innovation Platform for Active Protective Coatings Guided by Modelling and Optimization) project. The VIPCOAT project aims to create an open innovation platform for developing coating materials and testing their durability, initially for the aeronautic industry but later expandable to other sectors. It aims to reduce the number of production steps, energy consumption, and resource use, and to develop green, cheap, and efficient corrosion-inhibiting coatings. The platform combines machine learning and physics-based modeling to optimize the development of protective coatings, and serves as a database, scientific infrastructure, and simulation tool. The goal is to make the development of customized, innovative corrosion protection technologies faster, cheaper, more sustainable, and more environmentally friendly.