Press releases 2023

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.

You can´t make an omelet without breaking eggs – according to the saying, almost every manufacturing or processing company and institution is aware of the relevance of cleaning and the strong influence of contamination in process chains. In the world of the Fraunhofer Institutes, too, the question of cleaning processes and associated competences arose in the 2000s. This was soon followed by the birth of the Fraunhofer Cleaning Alliance. This group is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Up to now, a wide variety of Fraunhofer institutes and facilities have been developing cleaning processes for a broad range of industrial challenges, using innovative technologies. At parts2clean 2023 in Stuttgart, Germany, at the Fraunhofer joint booth no. D28, in hall 10 and during the expert forum will be present the newest cleaning technologies and services.

Within the project "Backplane", funded by the Saxon State Ministry of Economics, Labor and Transport SMWA and the European Union (grant number: 100392259), a multicolor OLED microdisplay was realized by scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP. With the Saxon project partner digades GmbH, a finished optics module should be brought to market in the future.

The processing of ultra-thin glass requires specialized handling to avoid glass breakage during production. Until now, this has been a major obstacle for the entry of this innovative material into new applications. Therefore, a unique process chain for ultra-thin glass processing has been implemented at Fraunhofer FEP: starting with adapted cleaning processes up to the final inspection. The results have been funded within the project CUSTOM (grant no. AiF 21708 BR) by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection BMWK and the project Glass4Flex (grant no. 13N14615) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF. Particular attention was paid to the evaluation of the influence of process parameters on the strength and reliability of the coated glass. The process chain and results of the projects will be presented at the V2023 conference, September 18 – 21, 2023, in Dresden.

New technologies such as augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are rapidly opening up opportunities for entirely new business models and the future of work in industry. However, internet-based services also bring additional challenges in terms of data security and user acceptance. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding various interdisciplinary projects. At the closing conference, the joint project "secureAR" won the Technology Award with its open, cloud-based service platform and a new AR assistance system equipped with OLED microdisplays from Fraunhofer FEP.

New European Sustainable Nanotechnology solutions Association transforms innovative ideas into pioneering products!