Projects and Partnerships
SENTECH Instruments is currently involved within a number of projects, working together with universities, institutes, and companies in research and development of new innovations.
Cool Silicon, cluster for energy saving electronics
The development of new power saving "green" electronics is the base for a massive increase of energy efficiency in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Therefore, the project CoolMaskMetro, within the leading-edge cluster Cool Silicon, takes up the challenge to develop new high quality structures as well as test equipment operating on reduced areas and measuring more parameters.
To enable the transfer of newly developed energy saving components to production, SENTECH Instruments investigates analysis and manufacturing methods together with an international consortium. SENTECH brings in this project especially the long-term experiences of spectroscopic ellipsometry.
Since September 2011, the project is funded for a period of three years by:
LIST, metrology for Si thin film solar cells
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As part of the cooperative project LIST ("Großflächiger Lichteinfang in der Silicium-basierten Dünnschichtsolarzellen-Technologie"), SENTECH is developing metrology for silicon thin film solar cells within industrial environment.
The project — pursued by partners from research and industry — is focusing on fast and precise optical measurement methods for the characterization of thin films deposited on large substrates.
Together with SENTECH the following partners are involved:
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum Jülich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin
- Fraunhofer-Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, Braunschweig
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC, Würzburg
- RWTH Aachen University
- Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
- Euroglas GmbH, Haldensleben
- Schüco TF GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld
- Berliner Glas KGaA Herbert Kubatz GmbH & Co. KG, Syrgenstein
- Malibu GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Leybold Optics GmbH, Alzenau
NimNil, EU funded project
The EU Project NimNil is dealing with large area fabrication of 3D Negative Index Materials by Nano Imprint Lithography. It is focused on three key activities:
- Design of NIMs including new geometrical structures and graphene as material
- Fabrication of NIMs using Nanoimprint lithography
- Optical characterization of NIMs by ellipsometry
SENTECH is involved together with:
- Center for Surface and Nanoanalytics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz
- Institute of Applied Physics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena
- Insitute of Physics, Belgrade University, Serbia
- Insitute for Analytical Sciences, Germany
- Istituto di Metodologie Inorganiche e dei Plasmi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Greece
- Micro Resist Technology, Germany
- Profactor GmbH, Austria
- Jenoptik Polymer Systems GmbH, Germany
Photoscanning, measurement of optoelectronic properties
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Aim of the Photoscanning project is the development of a principle and a prototype for the measurement of optoelectronic properties (quantum efficiency and electronic defects) of solar cells by use of contactless photoscanning.
The designed prototype will serve as starting point for the development of corresponding diagnostic systems for inline production control as well as for
Together with SENTECH the following partners are involved in the project:
PolyBoard, polymer based technology platforms
PolyBoard deals with an optical hybrid-integration technology platform. The joint project, started in December 2011, aims to assemble different optical components on a waveguide chip (‘optical board’) that is made of polymeric materials.
Based on basic work by the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) in Berlin, the PolyBoard integration platform is made applicable for fiber-optic communication technology and optical sensor technology. SENTECH focuses on the optimization of ICP etching processes and systems for PolyBoard technology, including high rate plasma processes for highly accurate polymer etching and corresponding end point detection.
SENTECH partners in this project:
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Nachrichtentechnik, Heinrich-Hertz Institut, Berlin
- ELBAU GmbH, Berlin
- FOC Fibre Optical Components GmbH, Berlin
- opTricon GmbH, Berlin
- U2t Photonics AG, Berlin
- Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
funded by:
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WideBaSe, innovative regional growth core
Berlin WideBaSe is an innovative regional growth core focused on development, manufacturing, and distribution of opto-electronic and electronic devices based on wide bandgap semiconductors. SENTECH Instruments is involved within three WideBaSe joint projects:
UV LED
The target of this project is the development of a highly efficient and well focusable point-like radiation source emitting with a peak wavelength between
AlGaN Photodiode
Within the frame of this joint projects UV photodetectors for wavelengths
GaN Powerelectronics
Goals of this project are the development and demonstration of novel highly-efficient and flexibly controllable high-frequency and microwave power amplifiers. SENTECH is working together with:

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