Presentation of Patrick Chapon
Patrick Chapon: GD-OES Product Manager and Senior Expert at HORIBA France
Introduction
Patrick Chapon is the main instructor for training courses dedicated to glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) offered by HORIBA, in French and English:
- Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy training: Software expertise, calibration, measurements, and diagnostics.
- Formation GD-OES HORIBA : Maîtrise du logiciel, étalonnage, mesures et diagnostics.
Patrick joined Jobin Yvon in 1989, a company that is now part of the HORIBA group. He currently holds the position of GD-OES Product Manager and is also a Senior Expert at HORIBA France. During his 27 years of experience in GD-OES, he has contributed significantly to the evolution of GD technology through research and technological developments. Patrick has filed 17 patents in GD, including one on the DIP system. He is co-author of more than 80 articles, five book chapters, and three issues of Techniques de l'Ingénieur on GD. Glow discharge spectrometry (GD-OES or SDL in French) is at the crossroads of the fields of plasmas, thin films, and optical spectroscopy. Patrick Chapon also coordinated a European project on GD-MS between 2006 and 2009.
A passion for scientific education and training
Beyond his work as an expert in analytical instrumentation, Patrick Chapon is deeply committed to the transmission of scientific knowledge.
In addition to providing application training in GD, Patrick has been teaching for ten years in the Master's program in Materials Engineering at the Orsay faculty, where he covers various topics related to optics, thin films, and plasmas, and presents different analysis techniques, including glow discharge spectroscopy, which is still rarely taught in academic programs. Patrick attaches great importance to training the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“Instrumentation is the eyes and hands of science.”
GD technology lends itself well to practical training courses because the instrument is easy to use and measurements are quick. Our customers can therefore measure their own samples while benefiting from the many tips and tricks provided during the training. These courses are tailored to the participants, whether they are beginners, advanced users, or experts. The aim is to enable users to make the best use of the technology in their laboratories.
Applications in many industrial sectors
The technique is used in many fields, such as materials for energy, automotive, and semiconductors. During the courses, participants will be able to perform elemental profiling on all types of solid samples in thin or thick layers, coatings, plasma deposits, tribological layers, corroded materials, etc.
A hybrid training course combining theory and practice
The GD-OES training courses offered by HORIBA and led by Patrick Chapon are hybrid in format, combining distance learning and practical laboratory sessions. The first part consists of four 2.5-hour sessions via videoconference on Teams and covers the various theoretical and practical aspects of the technique. It includes presentations, explanatory videos, theoretical documents, exercises, and numerous practical cases. This first module is therefore accessible to a large number of participants without logistical or geographical constraints and is very affordable. In this highly interactive first module, Patrick also answers participants' questions.
The second module takes place in person at our center of excellence in Palaiseau, specifically in our laboratory: The Analytical Solution Plaza. This module is primarily practical, and the topics covered are chosen based on the requests of participants, who are strongly encouraged to bring their own samples.
“Come and try to stump our trainer with new samples that have never been studied before!”
A variety of teaching methods
A wide range of teaching methods are used. Patrick runs his first module via videoconference on Teams, providing participants with presentation materials at the end of the training session, as well as videos of the software, practical exercises, and numerous documents. In the second module, the GD-Profiler 2 instrument is at the heart of the practical work and exercises.
Scientific awards and collaborations
In 2014, Patrick received the IP Gold Award from HORIBA in recognition of his patent on UFS (Ultra Fast Sputtering), which enables unique applications and is, of course, presented during the internship.
Patrick Chapon co-authored the GD chapter in the book “Compendium of Surface and Interface Analysis” published by the Japanese Society for Surface Science with Professor Kenichi Shimizu, and he has very strong ties with Japan. He also collaborated with Australian researcher Richard (Dick) Payling, a pioneer in GD technology, before the tragic accident that claimed Payling's life.
Transmission and innovation
Always involved in scientific development, Patrick Chapon is currently working with a team of colleagues on a new development for which he has filed a patent that has just been accepted. Patrick has also relaunched the internal “Jeudis de Jobin” monthly meeting, which strengthens and broadens the corporate culture. We welcome colleagues who share their expertise, as well as researchers and scientific figures who come to talk to us about their work, thereby creating links that could lead to projects, innovations, and new developments at HORIBA France.
