New characterization system simplifies thin-film testing with automated software
Fraunhofer IPMS collaborates with two startups to develop sample carriers for organic electronics and gas sensors
The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has launched the publicly funded SMut project, in collaboration with its partners Credoxys and SweepMe! to develop an innovative measurement system for precise thin-film characterization. This system will enable experiments to be conducted under variable conditions, setting new standards in the characterization of organic materials.
Fraunhofer IPMS recently presented new chips and measurement adapters for characterizing thin films of materials used in organic electronics and gas sensors. Building on this, the publicly funded project SMut has been launched, in which Fraunhofer IPMS and its partners Credoxys and SweepMe! are pooling their expertise to develop a novel measurement system.
This innovative system will comprise a base station and multiple sample carriers that can be loaded with research samples in a glovebox. This will enable various electrical and photoelectric experiments to be conducted under different gases, pressures and temperatures. "The sample carrier should be easy to handle in a glovebox, removable under protective gas and capable of long-term measurements over several weeks," explains Dr Alexander Graf, project manager at Fraunhofer IPMS.
Thanks to SweepMe!'s software development, almost any measuring device and routine can now be configured intuitively. "This project's software solution will enable an intuitive, out-of-the-box characterization platform for the first time," says Dr. Axel Fischer, SweepMe! GmbH's managing director, summarizing the project goals.
Dr. Jörn Vahland, a materials developer at Credoxys GmbH, is enthusiastic about the new possibilities that the measurement system will offer. “The effort we currently put into characterizing our OLED materials is enormous. Long-term measurements under controlled atmosphere and temperature conditions are particularly challenging at present. This system will take thin-film characterization to a whole new level. The reproducibility and measurement capabilities are sensational."
The basic concept and the fundamental system design will be presented to interested visitors at the Fraunhofer IPMS booth at Analytica, which can be found in Hall A3¬#312.
Other news from the department research and development
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Something is happening in the life science industry ...
This is what true pioneering spirit looks like: Plenty of innovative start-ups are bringing fresh ideas, lifeblood and entrepreneurial spirit to change tomorrow's world for the better. Immerse yourself in the world of these young companies and take the opportunity to get in touch with the founders.