SVConnections May 2016
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May 2016
In This Issue
  

Nanomaterials Demo Lab

From ULVAC Technologies, April 29, 2016: 
 
"ULVAC Technologies offers paid sampling experiments for nanomaterials deposition using an Arc Plasma Deposition System. This new deposition technology uses pulsed vacuum arc plasma discharge, which is a unique form of physical vapor deposition that deposits uniformly sized nanoparticles. The ULVAC APD system can be used to produce corrosion-resistant catalysts with high specific activity at minimal precious metal wt% loading. Sequential or co-deposition of virtually any conductive metal, alloy or semiconducting target material makes the system very useful for fuel cell, battery and research. Their feasibility study coating services are available close to Boston, MA."
 
 
Image: Ulvac Technologies
 

 

The Future of Float Glass Points to Advancing Technologies

From Glass Magazine, March 29, 2016 by Katy Devlin: 
 
"Technological advances are changing the float glass industry. Market demands for higher performance glasses along with pressures to reduce the environmental impact of production have led to notable advancements in technology for both float products and processes.

The biggest change is the growing demand for high performance coated glass products. To meet this growing need Guardian is adding a magnetron sputter vacuum deposition coater in Saudi Arabia, projected to be operational in 2016.

Looking at improvements in manufacturing processes, leading glassmakers have also instituted efficiency improvements at float plants, as they seek to reduce emissions and environmental impacts of energy- and cost-intensive glass manufacturing. One such improvement is the use of oxygen-fuel furnaces at PPG Industries."

 
 
Source: Glass Magazine, glassmagazine.com/
Image: Kevin G. Smith Photography
 

World's Thinnest Lens to Revolutionize Cameras

From Australian National University, March 11, 2016: 
 
"Scientists have created the world's thinnest lens, one two-thousandth the thickness of a human hair, opening the door to flexible computer displays and a revolution in miniature cameras. The discovery at Australian National University (ANU) hinged on the remarkable potential of the molybdenum disulphide crystal.

The 6.3-nanometre lens outshines previous ultra-thin flat lenses, made from 50-nanometre thick gold nano-bar arrays, known as a metamaterial. The team created their lens from a crystal 6.3-nanometers thick - 9 atomic layers - which they had peeled off a larger piece of molybdenum disulphide with sticky tape. They then created a 10-micron radius lens, using a focused ion beam to shave off the layers atom by atom, until they had the dome shape of the lens. The team discovered that single layers of molybdenum disulphide, 0.7 nanometers thick, had remarkable optical properties, appearing to a light beam to be 50 times thicker, at 38 nanometers."

 
 
Source: Australian National University, www.anu.edu.au/news/
Image: Australian National University / Stuart Hay
 

NIST Invents Fleet and Fast Test for Nanomanu-facturing Quality Control

From NIST, March 4, 2016
 
"Manufacturers may soon have a speedy and nondestructive way to test a wide array of materials under real-world conditions, thanks to an advance that researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have made in roll-to-roll measurements.

In order for new materials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene to play an increasingly important role in electronic devices, high-tech composites and other applications, manufacturers will need quality-control tests to ensure that products have desired characteristics, and lack flaws. Current test procedures often require cutting, scratching or otherwise touching a product, which slows the manufacturing process and can damage or even destroy the sample being tested.

NIST physicists measured properties of films by passing them through a specially designed metal box known as a microwave cavity. Electromagnetic waves build up inside the cavity at a specific "resonance" frequency determined by the box's size and shape. When an object is placed inside the cavity, the resonance frequency changes in a way that depends on the object's size, electrical resistance and dielectric constant, a measure of an object's ability to store energy in an electric field. These are real-time, non-destructive measurements."

 
 
Source: NIST, www.nist.gov/
Image: NIST
 

Thin Film Inspection Methods Aim to Match Human Eye Perception

From Photonics Spectra, February 2016 by Trevor Vogt (Gamma Scientific): 
 
"Thin-film coatings have long been ubiquitous in precision optical systems, and are now finding increasing use in eyeglasses, architectural glass and displays. In consumer applications manufacturers are often concerned with the visual appearance and consistency of the coating. While instruments for quantifying coating appearance have been available for decades, legacy technologies suffer from two important limitations: as lab instruments, they are not suitable for production settings, and they often can't accurately measure very thin glass sheets that are now finding greater use in displays.

Gamma Scientific has developed products that are the first to address these shortcomings simultaneously, making them suitable for a variety of industrial inspection applications. Specifically, these spectrophotometers all incorporate spatial filtering to suppress second surface reflectance to deliver highly accurate measurements. And, their measurement speed has been reduced from seconds down to milliseconds, which offers increased sensitivity and shorter exposure times, and by the use of a highly efficient optical design."

 
 
Source: Photonics Spectra, photonics.com/
Image: Gamma Scientific
 

Straining Catalyst Films Boosts Water-Splitting

From Chemical and Engineering News, April 4, 2016, by Mitch Jacoby:
 
"Splitting water could provide a nearly limitless supply of hydrogen to run clean-burning fuel cells if a suitable catalyst can be found. Platinum works well, but it's expensive. In looking elsewhere, researchers have found that low-cost MoS2 films with microscopic defects catalyze H2 production. But complete details of the process have remained unknown, impeding further development.

To sort out the kinetics, a team from Stanford University and University of Texas, Austin, exposed a MoS2 film to plasma to induce sulfur vacancies. They draped the defective film over an electrode patterned with an array of gold nanopillars, causing strain in the portions of the film resting on the pillars. By using scanning electrochemical microscopy, the team showed that the strain boosted H2 evolution by a factor of four."

 
 
Source: Chemical and Engineering News, cen.acs.org/articles/
Image: Chemical and Engineering News
 

High Performance Anti-Corrosion Coatings Market to Account for $18.22 Billion in Revenue by 2023

From Coatings World, March 14, 2016: 
 
"Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled "High Performance Anti-corrosion Coatings Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023." According to the report, the global high performance anti-corrosion coatings market was valued at US$11.95 billion in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$18.22 billion by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2015 and 2023.

The oil & gas industry is anticipated to be the major growth driver of the high performance anti-corrosion coatings market by the end of 2023. In terms of demand, Asia Pacific dominated the global high performance anti-corrosion coatings market in 2014. This trend is expected to continue in the region in the near future. Growth of key end-users such as oil & gas, construction, marine, and power generation is expected to boost demand for high performance anti-corrosion coatings in the next few years. Demand for high performance anti-corrosion coatings is estimated to be stabilized in Europe and North America due to heavy governmental regulations coupled with saturated end-user markets in these regions."

 
 
Source: Coatings World, coatingsworld.com/
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Achin Hering
 

Down the Rabbit Hole: How Electrons Travel Through Exotic New Material

From ECN, March 11, 2016 by Princeton University: 
 
"Researchers at Princeton University have observed a bizarre behavior in a strange new crystal that could hold the key for future electronic technologies. Unlike most materials in which electrons travel on the surface, in these new materials the electrons sink into the depths of the crystal through special conductive channels.

"It is like these electrons go down a rabbit hole and show up on the opposite surface," said Ali Yazdani, the Class of 1909 Professor of Physics. "You don't find anything else like this in other materials."

Researchers discovered the odd behavior while studying electrons in a crystal made of layers of tantalum and arsenic. The material, called a Weyl semi-metal, behaves both like a metal, which conducts electrons, and an insulator, which blocks them. A better understanding of these and other "topological" materials someday could lead to new, faster electronic devices."

 
 
Source: ECN, ecnmag.com/news/2016/
Image: Princeton University / Yazdani et al
 

Two-dimensional CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite: A New Promising Optoelectronic Material

From Nanowerk, March 16, 2016:
 
"Recently, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites ABX3 (A=organic molecules; B=Pb2+ or Sn2+; and X=Cl-, I-, and/or Br-)) have received increasing research attention owing to their impressive optoelectronic properties and high performance in photovoltaic devices with the power conversion efficiency over 20%. These materials exhibit many interesting properties such as intrinsic ambipolar transport, high optical absorption coefficient, tunable bandgap, high quantum efficiency and long carrier diffusion length, showing promising potential for optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, as well as light-emitting diodes.

Perovskites CH3NH3PbX3 (X=Cl, Br, or I) can be considered as two-dimensional (2D) layered structures and they exhibit strong quantum confinements in reduced dimensions (numbers of layers). A research team at Soochow University (China) demonstrated the world's thinnest CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite nanosheets by a two-step synthesis method through the combination of solution process to produce 2D PbI2 nanosheets and vapour-phase conversion of the PbI2 to CH3NH3PbI3 nanosheets. The prepared high quality nanosheets show tunable photoluminescence while the thickness or composition is changed."

 
 
Source:Nanowerk, nanowerk.com/
Image: Nanowerk
 

NSF Accelerating Discovery in Materials Science

From National Science Foundation (NSF), March 4, 2016:
 
"The NSF's new Materials Innovation Platforms (MIPs) program that aims to significantly accelerate materials research and development has made its first awards, to Penn State University and Cornell University.

The institutions will serve as "platforms" to develop new bulk and thin film crystalline hard materials through state-of-the-art instrumentation. They will foster an environment that combines multidisciplinary expertise with the best tools available, providing access to the instrumentation, data and new materials created. The NSF will provide up to $25 million over the next five years to support the platforms, with each eligible for a one-time, five-year renewal.

The platforms program was inspired by the paradigm the administration set forth in its Materials Genome Initiative. Launched in 2011, the initiative seeks to 'discover, manufacture and deploy advanced materials in half the time and at a fraction of the cost'"

Source: Photonics SpectraNSF, nsf.gov/news/
Image: NSF
 

Using Graphene to Fight Bacteria

From Biophysical Society, March 2, 2016: 
 
"Scientists at the Universit� Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome are studying graphene oxide in the hopes of one day creating bacteria-killing catheters and medical devices. Coating surgical tools with this carbon-based compound could kill bacteria, reducing the need for antibiotics, decreasing the rates of post-operative infections and speeding recovery times.

Graphene oxide protects against infection by destroying bacteria before it gets inside the body. Researchers decided to use graphene oxide because it is very stable in a water solution, making it safe to interact with human cells. Graphene specifically attacks bacterial cells, while sparing human cells and the mechanism behind this specificity is still unclear. The compound is most effective when paired with salt."

 
 
Source: Biophysical Society, biophysics.org/
Image: Wikipedia
 

Breakthrough for Cheaper Lighting and Flexible Solar Cells

From Empa, March 4, 2016 by Rainer Klose: 
 
"After more than three years of work European scientists have developed flexible lighting foils that can be produced roll-to-roll. These devices pave the path towards cheaper solar cells and LED lighting panels. The project named TREASORES was led by Empa and combined knowhow from nine companies and six research institutes in five European countries.

In November 2012, the TREASORES project (Transparent Electrodes for Large Area Large Scale Production of Organic Optoelectronic Devices) started with the aim of developing technologies to dramatically reduce the production costs of organic electronic devices such as solar cells and LED lighting panels. Funded with 9 million Euro from the European Commission and an additional 6 million Euros from the project partners.

Most importantly, the project has developed and scaled up production processes for several new transparent electrode and barrier materials for use in the next generation of flexible optoelectronics. Three of these electrodes-on-flexible substrates that use either carbon nanotubes, metal fibers or thin silver are either already being produced commercially, or expected to be so as of this year. The new electrodes have been tested with several types of optoelectronic devices using rolls of over 100 meters in length, and found to be especially suitable for next-generation light sources and solar cells."

 
 
Source: Empa, www.empa.ch/web/
Image: Fraunhofer FEP
 

Nanostructures used as Biosensors Allow Diseases or Allergens to be Detected

From Nanowerk, March 2, 2016 by Elhuyar Fundazioa: 
 
"Industrial engineer PhD candidate I�aki Cornago-Santos at NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre (Spain) has developed structures on a nanometric scale that can be used as biosensors for medical, food or environmental sectors to detect diseases, allergens or contaminants; or can be used to reduce the reflection of solar cells in order to increase their efficiency.

He used laser interference lithography, which consists of applying laser radiation to a photo-sensitive material to create structures on a nanometric scale. In this case, he used glass, gold and silicon, among other materials, to which he gave shapes such as lines, holes, pillars or cones. The applications of these nanostructures can be classified in two groups: anti-reflective surfaces and biosensors."

 
 
Image: Nanowerk
 

Nanotechnology in Textiles - The New Black

From Nanowerk Spotlight, February 29, 2016 by Michael Berger: 
 
"Nanoengineered functional textiles are going to revolutionize the clothing that you'll wear. A review paper in the online edition of ACS Nano ("Nanotechnology in Textiles") discusses electronic and photonic nanotechnologies that are integrated with textiles and shows their applications in displays, sensing, and drug release within the context of performance, durability, and connectivity.

The authors discuss the electrical conductivity of conducting polymers and graphene, both of which are attractive for creating textiles that enable the incorporation of sensors and actuators. Another section of the review is dedicated to power sources suitable for e-textiles. This covers lightweight fabric carbon nanotube supercapacitor electrodes; stretchable graphene and PPy-based supercapacitors; triboelectric nanogenerators; flexible fiber and stripe batteries; and stretchable PPy-based supercapacitors for energy transfer. The authors also discuss lab-on-fiber technology which will allow the implementation of sophisticated, autonomous multifunction sensing and actuating systems - all integrated in individual optical fibers."

 
 
Image: Reproduced with permission by American Chemical Society
 

New Form of Electron-Beam Imaging Can See Elements That are 'Invisible' to Common Methods



From Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, February 29, 2016, by Glenn Roberts Jr.: 
 
"Electrons can extend our view of microscopic objects well beyond what's possible with visible light-all the way to the atomic scale. A popular method in electron microscopy for looking at tough, resilient materials in atomic detail is called STEM, or scanning transmission electron microscopy, but the highly focused beam of electrons used in STEM can also easily destroy delicate samples.

Scientists at DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed and demonstrated the technique, dubbed MIDI-STEM, for matched illumination and detector interferometry STEM. It combines STEM with an optical device called a phase plate that modifies the alternating phase of the electron beam. This phase plate modifies the electron beam in a way that allows subtle changes in a material to be measured, even revealing materials that would be invisible in traditional STEM imaging. They produced images of samples of crystalline gold nanoparticles, which measured several nanometers across, and the superthin film of amorphous carbon that the particles sat on."

 
 
Source: Berkeley Lab, newscenter.lbl.gov/
Image: Colin Ophus/Berkeley Lab, Nature Communications: 10.1038/ncomms10719
 

First Solar Achieves Yet Another Cell Conversion Efficiency World Record

From First Solar, February 23, 2016: 
 
"First Solar, Inc. announced it has established yet another world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) research cell conversion efficiency, achieving 22.1 percent efficiency certified at the Newport Corporation's Technology and Applications Center (TAC) PV Lab. In addition to the Newport TAC Lab certification, the record has been documented in the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) "Best Research Cell Efficiencies" reference chart."
 
 
Image: First Solar
 

Graphene Leans of Glass to Advance Electronics

From Brookhaven National Laboratory, February, 12, 2016, by Justin Eure: 
 
"Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University (SBU), the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (USPVMC), and SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) have developed a simple and powerful method for creating resilient, customized, and high-performing graphene: layering it on top of common glass. This scalable and inexpensive process helps pave the way for a new class of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices-everything from efficient solar cells to touch screens.

The scientists built the proof-of-concept graphene devices on substrates made of soda-lime glass-the most common glass found in windows, bottles, and many other products. In an unexpected twist. The sodium inside the soda-lime glass creates high electron density in the graphene. The effect remained strong even when the devices were exposed to air for several weeks." 

 
 
Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory, 
Image: Brookhaven National Laboratory

 
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Partner2016 SVC TechCon
Promotional Partners

The following publications and organizations are playing an important role promoting the 2016 SVC TechCon within and outside the Vacuum Coating Community.

 


Personal Message

Founded in 1953, AVS is a nonprofit, professional membership organization with 5,000 members worldwide. AVS fosters networking among many scientific communities at various local, national, or international meetings and exhibits throughout the year. In addition, AVS annually published four journal, honors and recognizes members through its prestigious awards program, provides training via the short course program, and offers several career services. Learn more about AVS at www.avs.org

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Paper, Film & Foil Converter (PFFC) reaches converters of flexible/semi-rigid materials that print, coat, laminate, metallize, extrude, slit, die-cut, and make bags/pouches, labels, tapes, tags, cartons, boxes, fiber tubes, magnetic media, sanitary, and disposable products. Features: Technical/testimonial articles, expert columns, news/events, videos, webinars, and new products. Online Buyer's Guide complements weekly E-Clips e-newsletter. 

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AIMCAL Logo AIMCAL Web Coating and Handling Conference
May 30 - June 2, 2016
Dresden, Germany

The AIMCAL Web Coating and Handling Conference brings together the converting community to advance the technologies of web processing, handling and finishing. Organized and hosted by the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) the conference convenes leading industry professionals to improve efficiencies, reduce waste and introduce new technologies designed to improve competitiveness. The conference brings the state of the art to the plant floor, addressing the problems and opportunities that are part of every manufacturing process. AIMCAL is partnering with the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV (Fraunhofer IVV), Freising, Germany, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP (Fraunhofer FEP), Dresden, Germany, to present the event.




ICCG11 2016

The International Conference on Coatings on Glass and Plastics ICCG11 
June 12-16, 2016 
Conference Center, Braunschweig, Germany




With an excellent scientific program, several social events, plenty of exhibitors, and a historically remarkable venue, the ICCG11 offers a unique platform to discuss the latest trends and the implementation of new technologies or products into the field of coatings on glass and plastics. The focus of the conference is to bring together science and industry to discuss the latest trends in the field of coatings on glass and plastics. Besides universities and research institutes, the conference addresses coating manufacturers, material and equipment suppliers, and user industries.

The application of coatings is an area which has become extremely important for large-area or high-volume
products. The topics will cover all of the required steps and techniques to control the coating process, to characterize, and to finish the coated product. Finally, the 11th ICCG provides information on the different technologies at a general level for new product designers, as well as technical aspects, safety measures, and environmental and economic factors.

Abstract Submission Deadline: December 15, 2015
Early Bird Registration Deadline: March 4, 2016

Learn More:



HIPIMS 2016

Seventh International Conference on Fundamentals and Industrial Applications of HIPIMS 2016
June 27-30, 2016
Cutler's Hall
Sheffield, United Kingdom



HIPIMS 2016 will provide a forum for presenting the latest research by scientists and engineers from industry, engineering institutes and academia. Contributions will cover fundamental scientific aspects as well as application-oriented research and development. In addition, successful introduction to market of new products utilizing HIPIMS will be addressed:

HIPIMS 2016 will focus on the following topics:
  • Generation of HIPIMS and highly ionized plasmas
  • Plasma diagnostics and discharge physics
  • Coating characterization and performance
  • Reactive and non-reactive HIPIMS processes
  • Simulation of HIPIMS processes
  • HIPIMS systems and hardware
Featuring SVC Tutorial Courses:
Monday, June 27
C-323: High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering
Prof. Arutiun P. Ehiasarian, Sheffield Hallam University and Dr. Andre Anders, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Tuesday, June 28 - half-day morning
C-338: Application of Reactive Sputtering
Dr. Ralf Bandorf, Fraunhofer IST

Tuesday, June 28 - half-day afternoon
C-333: HIPIMS Applications
Dr. Ralf Bandorf, Fraunhofer IST and Prof. Arutiun P. Ehiasarian, Sheffield Hallam University

Conference Deadlines:
Abstract submission: Feb 26, 2016
Acceptance Notification: March 25, 2016




SEMICON West

SEMICON West 2016 - Get answers, get access, get connected! 
July 12-14, 2016, San Francisco, CA 

At SEMICON West 2016, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, July 12-14, it's definitely not business as usual. The industry is different and so is SEMICON West - bigger, wider, more in-touch with market-makers. SEMICON West is the one place the new, interconnected supply chain comes together and the reimagined industry comes into focus. Here, not business as usual means new players and demand generators, new programs, and new industry segments - all connecting in one place. Nearly 700 international exhibitors showcasing products and services span across the manufacturing ecosystem - from design to final manufacturing. More than 115 hours of technical and business programs, including in-depth technical sessions. Forums for advanced packaging, test, advanced manufacturing, extended supply chain, sustainable manufacturing, the Silicon Innovation Forum, and the Women in Technology Forum. University students should be there on July 14 for University Day: Future U. - Exploring Careers in Microelectronics. 

SEMICON West pavilions and special exhibit areas showcase companies from around the world and special technology segments that are bringing new products, solutions, and innovations to the global microelectronics industry. Visit pavilions for 3D printing/additive manufacturing, compound semiconductors, secondary equipment, regional pavilions, and the World of IoT Showcase. Explore Innovation Village, a research and start-up showcase. SEMICON West connects the extended supply chain to make sense of the new industry. We can't predict what will happen next, but one thing is certain: if you want to be in a position not just to survive, but to thrive, a trip to the completely new, completely re-engineered SEMICON West is mandatory. 

 Connect to opportunity at SEMICON West 2016 and leave "business as usual" behind. Be there.




PSE 2016



The 15th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering will be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, in September 12 - 16, 2016. The biennial PSE conference series is organized by the European Joint Committee on Plasma and Ion Surface Engineering.

PSE 2016 will feature an SVC Tutorial on September 15, 2016:
C-328 Properties and Applications of Tribological Coatings, with Allan Matthews, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

With a continuously growing interest in the preceding PSE events, with more than 750 participants from all over the world in 2014, PSE is a well-established and leading forum in the field of plasma as well as ion- and particle-beam assisted surface modification and thin film technologies, which is accompanied by a prosperous industrial exhibition.

PSE provides an opportunity to present recent progress in research and development and industrial applications. Its topics span a wide range from fundamentals such as process modelling and simulation of plasmas or thin film physics through experimental studies, which establish the relationships between process parameters and the structural and functional properties of modified surfaces and/or thin films, towards the application in industrial production.

The PSE 2016 will be dedicated to "Plasma, Surface and Mobility". The importance of plasma on the modification of materials surfaces and their impact on the diversity of areas of mobility such as transportation, low CO2 emission, improved engines efficiency or quality of life, will be enhanced in many scientific and technological contributions allocated to the conference topics. The more applied aspects with direct impact on the mobility for tomorrow will be discussed and addressed in the industrial workshop.

Visit the conference Web Page to learn more: http://www.pse-conferences.net/pse2016.html




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