Picosun Oy, Finland-based global manufacturer of state-of-the-art Atomic
Layer Deposition (ALD) equipment, expands its already comprehensive
participation in both nationally and internationally funded, top-level
scientific research programs by entering four new projects, topics of which
range from advanced nanotech materials to novel, innovative ways to produce
pollution-free renewable energy.
Graphene, with its physical, chemical and mechanical properties such as
strength, conductivity, current density, lack of band gap, elasticity,
transparency, and impermeability unparalleled compared to those of practically
all other existing materials, is truly a "wonder child" of e.g. tomorrow's
electronics and sensor industries, enabling such things as IT components
unlimited by silicon's restrictions and photovoltaic solar cells of
revolutionary working principles and efficiencies. In the project "GraNBis", the
impressive properties of graphene are combined with polymers and tailored
proteins to realize novel, responsive thin film structures such as
graphene-polymer nanolaminates and graphene-protein biosensors. As the ALD
method provides several unequaled benefits already in the basic processing of
graphene and ALD depositable materials typically have high adhesion to and
excellent physico-chemical compatibility with graphene this brings forth a huge
variety of future applications in which these two technologies can be combined
to create novel, innovative high added value products.
More Application Areas For Atomic Layer Deposition From Picosun
Nordic project "HEISEC" also deals with revolutionary new ideas in the field
of renewable energy production. High efficiency solar energy converters are
designed based on so-called photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) - a novel
phenomenon published not earlier than 2010. This effect combines photovoltaic
and thermionic effects in such a way that also the excess photon energy that
small wavelength photons carry (and which is typically lost in conventional
solar energy converters) can be utilized in current generation. In fact, as high
as 50 % energy conversion efficiencies have been suggested by so-called "tandem
effect", i.e. introducing also a thermal engine to the system to convert the
leftover heat into electricity. As the components of the "PETE" devices require
strict structural and compositional control, ALD enables designing the best
optimized structures for these promising tomorrow's solar energy utilizing
systems.
"MECHALD" and "HIUDAKE" projects concentrate on analyzing ALD thin film
properties. In the former, mechanical properties of ALD films are systematically
analyzed and in the latter, particle detector and data collection systems are
developed for materials research, which provides much needed and valuable
analytical tools for ALD layers' structural and compositional tailoring and
optimization and thus further enhances the technique's competitiveness and
superiority to the most of the other thin film coating methods.
"Picosun's active participation in this large number of projects from this
wide variety of fields of spearheading new technologies clearly proves yet again
how ALD can find potential applications from almost all areas of industry and
research. Our novel ALD tool designs suitable for high volume manufacturing also
enable ALD's new breakthroughs into industrial scale mass production of large
volumes and fast throughput rates. We are extremely satisfied that we can
utilize the diversity of high-level scientific backgrounds represented in our
personnel in our versatile and dedicated participation also in other projects
from the frontline of today's science and engineering," summarizes Juhana
Kostamo, Picosun's Managing Director.
Picosun Oy is a Finland-based global manufacturer of state-of-the-art ALD
systems for micro- and nanotechnology applications, representing continuity to
over three decades of dedicated, exclusive ALD reactor design and manufacturing.
Picosun is based in Espoo, Finland, its production facilities are located in
Kirkkonummi, Finland, and its US headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. Picosun's
SUNALE ALD process tools are in daily use in various top level universities,
research institutes and high profile companies across four continents. Picosun
Oy is a part of Stephen Industries Inc. Oy.
For more information http://www.picosun.com/