Optics, sensors and electronics

The Fraunhofer FEP offers advanced technological solutions for the growth sectors of optics, sensor technology and electronics. Our coating technologies are becoming increasingly important as they both optimize existing products and enable new product innovations. With our many years of experience and state-of-the-art system technology, we are able to apply electrical, optical, acoustic and magnetic coatings precisely and homogeneously to large surfaces.

 

Our vacuum processes ensure high coating rates, accuracy and reliability, which guarantees the productive and cost-effective manufacture of sophisticated products. The use of electron beam technology also enables us to weld sensitive material combinations with extreme precision, particularly in the field of sensor technology, and to create solutions that would not be possible with other processes.

Optics

  • Optical filters for biomedical technology (e.g. lab-on-chip), spectroscopy (e.g. Rugate filters)
  • Optical components for high-power laser systems
  • Optical filters and special coating systems for multifunctional and 3D displays
  • Tilt color elements for counterfeit protection
  • Position measuring systems (including lithography and precision processing machines)
  • Anti-reflective coatings and scratch protection
  • Solar beam splitters in combined concentrator systems for solar thermal energy and photovoltaics
  • Thermochromic coatings
  • Nonlinear layers for electro-optical converters
  • Examples for layers:  SiO2, Al2O3, AlF3, HfO2, Ta2O5, TiO2, AlScN, CrO, MgF2, VO2

Sensors and electronics

  • Insulation layers for high-temperature pressure sensors and for component-integrated sensors
  • Piezoelectric coatings for ultrasound microscopy and micro-energy harvesting
  • Acoustically effective layers for SAW and BAW components
  • Non-linear layers for memristors
  • High-barrier films for electronics
  • Contacts (e.g. transparent conductive electrodes), conductor track structures and resistor layers, seed layers
  • Thin-film corrosion sensors for monitoring sensitive objects
  • Examples of layers:  SiO2, Al2O3, Si3N4, AlN, AlScN, Al, Cu, ITO, GZO, Ti, Pt, W, Ag, Au, TaN, Cr, ZnO, bleifreie Perovskite

Coatings for power electronics

Research focus on the future topic of sputter epitaxy:

  • Development of innovative coating processes based on sputter epitaxy
  • Application of high-quality crystalline coatings for power electronics components, in particular GaN on Si
  • Electrically insulating, thermally conductive layers for the thermal management of power components
  • Optimization of material properties for higher efficiency and service life
  • Use in demanding applications, e.g. electromobility and energy conversion
  • Adaptation of layer properties for specific requirements
  • Examples of coatings: AlN, GaN, AlON

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