Light, ECG and Plasma Technologies

Interdisciplinary approach for the energy transition of tomorrow

Through our research and development we want to relieve our environment through less CO2 production and increase our standard of living. With the use of our highly efficient and intelligent electronics, street lighting, for example, can become much more efficient and durable. We integrate digital technologies into our power supplies in order to solve complex tasks in a compact way.

Our environmentally friendly technologies also serve to convert new substances or efficient environmental processes (nitrogen to ammonia) with tailor-made plasmas. To this end, we use new materials such as SiC for high-performance control gear with high voltages and frequencies. Our aim is to convert energy with the highest efficiency levels.

The focus of our research is on this:

  • Plasma technology:
    • Low- and high-pressure plasmas
    • High Frequency and Microwave Plasma Generators and Matching Networks
  • Electronic control gear (ECG):
    • Frontends and power converters up to 500 kW
    • Substance synthesis: e.g. nanoparticle production or nitrogen synthesis for fertilizer extraction
    • Digital ECG
    • Failure investigations
  • Enviromental technologies:
    • Surface coatings for functional surfaces with nanostructures
    • Substance synthesis: e.g. nanoparticle production or nitrogen synthesis for fertilizer extraction
    • Drinking water treatment: pesticide degradation and UV disinfection
    • UV polymerization
  • VUV, UV, VIS and IR applications:
    • R&D of UV modules and reflectors
    • R&D of light sources (HAL, LED, CFL, FL, HID, LD, laser)
    • R&D of high-pressure and low-pressure radiation sources (excimer lamps, laser, LED, LD)
    • R&D technical lights, street light
  • Sensor development for UV, VIS, IR as well as film thickness and polymerization degree measurements
  • Absolute radiation measurement technology in the entire spectral range (VUV, UV, VIS, IRA, IRB and FIR)
  • Development of Visible Light Communication (VLC) system with Gbit/s transmission rates

The radiation sources are operated with DC, HF and as ICP with 13.6 MHz as well as CCP with microwaves at 2.4 GHz. For this purpose, we research and develop the necessary operating devices. Depending on the application, these are electronic high-performance ballasts or high-frequency inverters with SiC transistors, whereby outputs of up to 500 kW can be provided.

Services provided by Light, ECG and Plasma Technologies

Characterisation of light sources and modules, plasma jets (direct and indirect)

  • spectroscopy and light flux measurements (120 nm to 2000 nm, PTB certified)
  • time resolved measurements of electric and thermal lamp parameters also at pulsed excitation
  • plasma parameter (e.g. n(e), T(e)) measurement and simulation

Characterization and development of electronic control gears (ECG)

  • continuous sinewave and pulse drives, PFC frontends, DC-AC converters, resonant converters
  • LED-drivers and supervicors, auxillary AC-DC and DC-DC SMPS

Optics design and simulation

Optical analysis of polymer layers, especially UV-curable laquers

  • ATR- and PAS measurements
  • FTIR adsorption spectroscopy