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The Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP expands its campus with the RESource-Efficient Energy Technologies (RESET) research center in Dresden. With state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for sputter epitaxy, biomedical applications and electron beam technologies, the institute aims to set new standards in research. The strategic research focus for activities in the building are the development of innovative process technologies, for example for the generation, storage and processing of hydrogen (power-to-X) and for the deposition of high-precision gallium nitride (GaN) layers on silicon wafers. The opening was attended by high-ranking guests from industry and politics.

With effect from April 17, 2024, the Fraunhofer FEP bears the long name Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP.

The Microdisplays and Sensors business unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP will be integrated into the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS with retroactive effect from January 1, 2024. Both institutes are closely connected, particularly within this business unit, and share infrastructure at the Dresden site. By pooling expertise and streamlining structures, we anticipate the creation of synergies that will strengthen the research field, expedite development and thus benefit customers and partners.

High-resolution light modulators determine the graphical experience in virtual reality (VR) glasses or the performance in optical communication. A new backplane architecture for light modulation has been developed at Fraunhofer FEP, thanks to which extremely high refresh rates now lead to improved image quality and optical modulation. The new backplane architecture and the high-resolution displays developed for it will be presented from 30 January to 1 February 2024 in San Francisco, USA, at Photonics West 2024, booth no. 4136 and at SPIE AR/VR/MR, booth no. 6200.

Conservation of resources and reliable yields are just as essential in plant cultivation as in other branches of agriculture. In order to optimize fertilization processes in ornamental plant cultivation in the future and thus protect the environment, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP together with the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) have been researching a technology for the early detection of nutrient deficiencies or surpluses in ornamental plants in the ZierSens project (financed by funds from the Free State of Saxony). The use of bidirectional OLED microdisplays in combination with neural networks should make it possible to optimize fertilization processes in the future. Initial results will be presented at the W3+ Fair in Jena from November 29 - 30, 2023, at booth no. C12.

Optical sensors for determining oxygen concentration can be used in the biomedical, pharmaceutical or even food industries and for monitoring conditions in water or bioreactors. Depending on the application, parameters such as the size of the overall system of control and readout unit and price play a decisive role in the selection of the sensor solution. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, the processing of miniaturized phosphorescence sensors based on OLED-on-silicon technology and with the smallest chip area was developed further. The resulting universal gas sensor platform with improved thin-film encapsulation will be presented at IEEE Sensors 2023 in Vienna, Austria, from October 29 to November 1, 2023.

The exponential increase in the volume of global data presents an enormous challenge. Traditional data storage solutions are reaching their limits, which is why alternative approaches are being explored. One promising possibility is the use of DNA as a data storage medium. However, current methods for microbiological synthesis of the data are still inefficient and resource intensive. To overcome these hurdles, the Fraunhofer-funded project "BIOSYNTH" is working on the development of a high-throughput microchip platform for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and peptides.

Hydrogen technology plays a crucial role in the energy transition and offers climate-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. For the successful ramp-up of the hydrogen economy, highly productive technologies are needed for the cost-effective production of the required assemblies for generation and use. To this end, the in-line vacuum coating plant for sheets and metal strips for plasma-activated electron beam evaporation was qualified at Fraunhofer FEP for the highly productive and efficient coating of bipolar plates for electrolyzes and fuel cells. The results will be presented at the Clean Hydrogen Convention, October 25 – 26, 2023, at the Fraunhofer joint booth No. B-11 in hall 3, at the Dresden Trade Fair Center, Germany.

The coating of flexible substrates such as ultra-thin glass or web with functional layers is highly efficient thanks to the use of roll-to-roll (R2R) technologies. Crucial for plant operators and ultimately for the price is the coating thickness homogeneity and thus also the electrical properties of the applied coatings for a high and above all constant yield without rejects. Until now, the electrical properties of the coating could only be determined and analyzed at defined measuring points. Within the joint project KODOS - Fabricated Thin Glass Composite for Optoelectronic Systems (funding reference 13N14607), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, an integrable solution for in-line process monitoring and mapping of process parameters was developed with the project partner SURAGUS GmbH at Fraunhofer FEP in Dresden. This unique solution enables in-situ 2D monitoring for the first time using traversable eddy current measuring heads and thus more detailed process optimization during coating.