Thin Film Processing

Our range of services

Thin films are used for electronic applications, for wear and corrosion protection as well as for optical and structural applications. The functionalization of these layers by means of laser radiation enable the realization of ressource- and energy efficient production processes with minimal thermal load for the workpiece. The local selectivity as well as the inline-capabilty open new possibilities for the layout of new products and production processes.

Our service portfolio includes feasibility studies for customer-specific problems, integration of laser functionalization into the production process as well as consulting for the concept of processes and production lines.

Polymer coatings for corrosion and wear protection.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Polymer coatings for corrosion and wear protection.
Printed and laser-functionalized strain gages on polymer films.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Printed and laser-functionalized strain gages on polymer films.
Wetting on untreated and laser-pretreated surfaces.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Wetting on untreated and laser-pretreated surfaces.

Funtional Layers for Electronic Applications

  • Selective gold-contacting
  • Multi-material layers for component-connected sensors and actors
  • Electrodes for Li-Ion batteries

Wear-/Corrosion Protection and Tribology

  • Nano-ceramic layers
  • Polymer layers
  • Bonded coatings

Optical and structural Applications

  • Anti-reflection coatings
  • Carbon-fiber production

Brochures

Our brochures offer a quick view onto our service portfolio. Find more detailed information in the “project results“ tab.

 

“Laser Processes for Tribological Coatings and Corrosion Protection“

 

“Thin Film Laser Processing“

 

“Functional Layers for Electronic Applications“

 

“Laser Technology for Repair and Functionalization“

 

“Laser Processes for the Efficient Production of Energy Storage Systems“

Videos

 

Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project Go Beyond 4.0

Digital Manufacturing revolutionizes Mass Production

Branches

Laser technology can solve demanding tasks in many different industries. Whether as a tool in automotive production, as measuring equipment in the environmental sector, as a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in medical technology or as a communication medium in space technology, the laser provides multiple uses with high productivity and high efficiency.

Read up about the innovations of Fraunhofer ILT in a few selected industries and convince yourself!

 

Research with us!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about general topics! Our contact persons are happy to get in touch with you.

Publications

Opitz,M., Go,D., Lott,P., Müller,S., Stollenwerk, J., Kuehne,A., Roling, B.,
On the interplay of morphology and electronic conductivity of rotationally spun carbon fiber mats.
Journal of Applied Physics 122, 105104 (7 S.) (2017)

Buling, A., Sändker, H., Stollenwerk, J., Krupp, U., Hamann-Steinmeier, A.,
Laser Surface Pretreatment of 100Cr6 Bearing Steel - Hardening Effects and White Etching Zones
Applied Surface Science 378
564-571 (2016)

Go, D., Lott, P., Stollenwerk, J., Thomas, H., Moeller, M., Kuehne, A. J. C.,
Laser Carbonization of PAN-Nanofiber Mats with Enhanced Surface Area and Porosity.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 8
28412-28417 (2016)

Vedder, C., Hawelka, D., Wolter, M., Leiva, D., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K.:
Laser-based drying of battery electrode layers
35th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics , San Diago, Ca. , USA , ICALEO , Oct 16-20, 2016. pp. 501 (2016)

Vedder, C., Wollgarten, S., Gradmann, R., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K., Eberstein, M.:
Laser-based functionalization of electronic multi-material-layers for embedded sensors
35th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics , San Diago, Ca. , USA , ICALEO , Oct 16-20, 2016. pp. 2104 (2016)

Meixner, M., Stollenwerk, J., Weigt, W., Zschuppe, M.:
Laser statt Trockenöfen
Farbe und Lack Nr. 3, 88-92 (2015)

Sändker, H., Stollenwerk, J., Hofmann, J., Loosen, P.:
Laser beam propagation and energy deposition in particulate PEEK layers. Proceedings of World of Photonics
WLT/ LiM Lasers in Manufacturing, München, 22.06.-25.06.2015, 9 S.  (2015)

Lott, P., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K. ,
Laser-based production of carbon fibers.
Proceedings 33rd ICALEO International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro–Optics, October 19-23, 2014, San Diego, CA, USA. Paper M 602, 1-6 (2014)

Chen, X., Yagi, M., Akiyama, Y., Machida, O., Ohta, E., Meixner, M.: Stollenwerk, J., Boettger, U., Schneller, T.,
Fabrication of multilayer Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 film crystallized by laser annealing.
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 52, 1-4 (2013)

Hartmann, C., Hambach, N., Jüngst, M., Keller, S., Holtkamp, J., Gillner, A.:
High density perforation of thin Al-foils with ultra short pulse lasers
Proc. of LAMP2013 - the 6th Int. Congr. on Laser Advanced Materials Processing (4 S.) (2013)

Hawelka, D., Stollenwerk, J., Pirch, N., Wissenbach, K., Loosen, P.,
Improving surface properties by laser-based drying, gelation, and densification of printed sol-gel coatings.
Journal of Coatings Technology and Research 10, 1-8 (2013)

Stollenwerk, J.:
Energie- und ressourceneffiziente Funktionalisierung temperaturempfindlicher Substrate
Laser Mag. 2013, 8-9 (2013)

Hawelka, D., Stollenwerk, J., Pirch, N., Wissenbach, K.:
Improving Surface Properties by Laser-based Drying, Gelation and Densification of Printed Sol-Gel Coatings
Proc. 16th International Coating Science and Technology Symposium,
September 9-12, 2012, Midtown Atlanta, GA

Meixner, M., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K.,
Production of silver conductive paths by laser processing.
ICALEO: 31. Int. Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro- Optics, September 23-27, 2012. International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro–Optics,  Anaheim, CA, USA, 1-5 (2012)

Vedder, C., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K.,
Process monitoring and control for laser-based thin film treatment.
ICALEO: 31. Int. Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro- Optics, September 23-27, 2012. International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro–Optics,  Anaheim, CA, USA, 1-7 (2012)

Hawelka, D., Stollenwerk, J., Pirch, N., Büsing, L., Wissenbach, K.,
Laser based inline production of wear protection coating on temperature sensitive substrates.
Physics Procedia  12, 490-498 (2011)

Vedder, C., Stollenwerk, J., Pirch, N., Wissenbach, K.:
Laser-based manufacturing of metallic conducting paths.
ICALEO 30. Int. Congr. on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics, October 23-27, 2011. M804, 5 S., 2011

Vedder, C., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K., Pirch, N.:
Laser-based production of metallic conducting paths.
Phys. Proced. 12, 252-260, 2011

Ganser, D., Gottmann, J., Mackens, U., Weichmann, U.
Pulsed laser deposition of fluoride glass thin films
Appl. Surface Sci. 257, 954-959, 2010

Gasser, A., Meiners, W., Weisheit, A., Willenborg, E., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K.,
Maßgeschneiderte Oberflächen und Bauteile. Teil 1.
Laser Technik Journal 7, Nr 4, 47-53 (2010)

Gasser, A., Meiners, W., Weisheit, A., Willenborg, E., Stollenwerk, J., Wissenbach, K.,
Maßgeschneiderte Oberflächen und Bauteile. Teil 2.
Laser Technik Journal 7, Nr 6, 22-26 (2010)

Hawelka, D., Stollenwerk, J., Pirch, N., Wissenbach, K.
Laser based production of thin wear protection films
ICALEO 2010. 29th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro Optics, Anaheim/Ca., September 26-30, 2010. Paper 1709 (6 S.), 2010

D. Trusheim, M. Schulz-Ruhtenberg, J. L. Hernandez, A. Uruena, S. Krantz, C. Morilla, T. Sarnet, A. Olowinsky
Damage-less laser ablation of thin films for silicon solar cells
Proc. of the 5th Int. WLT-Conf. on Lasers in Manufacturing 2009, Munich, June 15-18, 2009. Ed. by A. Ostendorf [u.a.]
Stuttgart: AT Fachverl. 2009, 5 S.

C. Vedder, J. Stollenwerk, N. Pirch, K. Wissenbach
Production technology for transparent and conducting nano layers
Proc. of the 27th Int. Conf. on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics 2008, ICALEO, Temecula/CA. October 20th-23rd, Paper N303, 5 S., 2008

Surface metrology

Wetting on untreated and laser-pretreated surfaces.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Wetting on untreated and laser-pretreated surfaces.

In the development of laser processes, the characterization of the materials involved and the processing results is crucial. For this purpose, the Fraunhofer ILT has state-of-the-art measurement equipment at its disposal, which can be used not only for process development but also for customer-specific measurement tasks.

The surface metrology service includes the execution of customer-specific measurement tasks for sample characterization, as well as the processing and interpretation of the measurement data.

Material analysis

  • XRD (D8 Advance, Bruker)
  • SEM / EDX (Apreo 2 C LoVac, ThermoFisher Scientific)
  • Surface wetting behavior (Mobile Surface Analyzer & OCA 20)

Optical characterization

  • UV-Vis-NIR spectrometry (Lambda 1050 UV / Vis / NIR Spectrophotometer, Perkin Elmer)
  • MIR- spectrometry (Frontier MIR Spectrometer, Perkin Elmer)

Electrical characterization

  • Four-point resistivity measurements (SCS 4200, Keithley)

Mechanical characterization

  • Tribometry (TRB MZKO, Anton Paar)
  • Hardness measurement (Picoindentor HM500)

Film thickness measurement

  • Calotte grinding (KSG110, INOVAP)
  • Eddy current (MiniTest 740, Schneider Messtechnik)

Surface roughness characterization

  • White-light interferometry (NewView 7300, ZygoLOT)
  • Laser scanning microscopy (VK-9700, Keyence)
  • Profilometer (DektakXT, Bruker)