Cooperation of TU Graz, Joanneum Research and AT&S
Ink-jet printed resistors and capacitors
Basic research meets application
Printed electronics back up
Although microelectronics develops at a tremendous speed, the way of mounting electronic devices such as resistors or transistors on printed circuit boards (PCBs) by soldering has not changed within the last decades.
The Christian-Doppler Laboratory (CDL) for Advanced Functional Materials which founded at the beginning of 2002 is dedicated to explore new ways in integrating these devices into PCBs. In cooperation with an industrial partner, the Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG (AT&S) new materials and technologies will be developed, which allow direct printing of such components onto the circuit boards. This approach will lead to smaller, lighter and finally also cheaper electronic devices.
As the other 21 Christian-Doppler Labs in Austria, the CDL for Advanced Functional Materials is an important interface between basic research performed at universities and industrial application-oriented research.
Cooperation of TU Graz, JOANNEUM RESEARCH and AT&S back up
The Lab which is headed by Dr. Emil List is situated at the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Technology in Graz and the Institute of Nanostructured Materials and Photonic of JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH. in Weiz. Our industrial partner is the AT&S, Europe's largest manufacturer of printed circuit boards. In addition we cooperate with a bunch of internationally renowend research groups.
By uniting an academic (TU Graz) and a non-academic partner (JOANNEUM RESEARCH) as carrier of a CD-Laboratory for the second time a very attracive multidisciplinary environmet has been achieved. It combines skilled, experienced employees and first class experimental equipment offering great opportunities for young scientists for e.g. Phd. or diploma theses.
So called functional materials are in the focus of our interest. These materials will allow totally new fabrication technologies, integration and miniaturisation of passive (resitors, capacitors) and active (transistors) electronic components by embedding them into printed circuit boards.
Ink-jet printed resistors and capacitors back up
Recently, direct write technologies have been found capable of achieving the aim of cheap embedded components. By using such technologies e.g. ink-jet printing, the electronic devices can by applied directly on the PCB making expensive lithographic and /or assembly- processes redundant.
To print resistors, capacitors or transistors directly, it is necessary to "tailor" the used materials concerning their physical properties and their processability - to functionalize them. For this purpose we use novel conducting and electroactive polymers and inorganic as well as organic pigments and nanoparticles.
Basic research meets application back up
Working at the interface between chemistry, materials science and electronics we consider it as one of our main tasks to build up a fundamental basic knowledge in this field and harness it for industrial applications. Using a variety of physical, chemical and nanotechnological methods we are developing and characterizing advanced functional materials and test their usability in electronic devices. The ease of processing by different printing technologies, their lightness and the comparably low costs of these new materials are outstanding properties which make them suitable for mass production and a challenge for the conventional technology.
Smaller, lighter, cheaper back up
With this new project AT&S takes another step in implementing novel technologies, another step to the strategic aim of AT&S's research and development program, to strenghten the international top postiton as a renowned and competent technology leader. Demanding brilliant achievements in research AT&S develops top prudukts on a competitive basis.
In 2000 AT&S put into operation Europe's most modern PCB production site, at the moment other sites in India and China are equipped with the most sophisticated technology.
Jan. 2002
Emil J. W. List (Head of Laboratory)