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Gallium Oxide: A Promising Ultra-Wide Bandgap Material
Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) — especially in its most stable β phase — is attracting strong interest as an ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor with the potential to redefine power electronics beyond the limits of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). With a bandgap energy of about 4.7–4.9 eV, significantly wider than typical wide bandgap materials (~3.3–3.4 eV), Ga₂O₃ enables higher breakdown fields and superior power device performance that are crucial for efficient, high-voltage switching applications such as electric vehicles, renewable energy converters, and industrial power supplies. A key metric in power electronics is Baliga’s figure of merit (BFOM), which relates breakdown field to charge carrier mobility and directly reflects how…
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Zwei Weltpremieren auf der H2 & FC EXPO 2026 in Tokio
VON ARDENNE wird vom 17. bis 19. März 2026 auf der führenden Internationalen Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo in Tokio zwei bedeutende Innovationen im Bereich der metallischen Bipolarplattenbeschichtung vorstellen. Der deutsche PVD-Technologie-Pionier und Anlagenhersteller präsentiert seine revolutionäre Kohlenstoffbeschichtung X-CONDUCT sowie die neue Beschichtungsanlage VICA900 am Stand (W11/58) der German Fuel Cell Cooperation (GFC), deren Mitglied VON ARDENNE ist. X-CONDUCT Kohlenstoffbeschichtung für verbesserte Leitfähigkeit und Korrosionsbeständigkeit Metallische Bipolarplatten für PEM-Brennstoffzellen und PEM-Elektrolyseure benötigen funktionale Beschichtungen für Leitfähigkeit, Korrosionsschutz sowie als Barriere gegen Ionenaustrag und Wasserstoffversprödung. Kohlenstoffbeschichtungen haben sich als primäre Lösung etabliert, da sie all diese Funktionen zu niedrigen Kosten erfüllen. Dennoch stoßen sie bei hohen Korrosionsspannungsspitzen während des Kaltstarts von Brennstoffzellensystemen…
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Two world premieres at H2 & FC EXPO 2026 in Tokyo
VON ARDENNE will unveil two major innovations in metallic bipolar plate coating from March 17 to 19, 2026, at the leading International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo. The German PVD technology pioneer and equipment company will introduce its revolutionary carbon coating, X-CONDUCT, along with the new coating system, VICA900, at the booth (W11 / 58) of the German Fuel Cell Cooperation (GFC), of which VON ARDENNE is a proud member. X-CONDUCT carbon coating for enhanced conductivity and corrosion resistance Metallic bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells and PEM electrolyzers require functional coatings for conductivity, corrosion protection, and as a barrier against ion elution and hydrogen embrittlement. Enabling all these functions…
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Project Launch TiSPA – Innovative Materials for PEM Water Electrolysis
The TiSPA project – titanium substitution in PEMWE through alternative bipolar plates with innovative thin-film coating – has officially started. PEM water electrolysis bipolar plates currently rely on titanium and noble-metal components – materials that are a major cost driver. The goal of TiSPA is to significantly reduce material costs by using alternative materials such as stainless steel, graphite, and innovative coatings based on noble metals, carbides, or nitrides. At the same time, the efficiency and durability of the technology shall be maintained or even improved. This industry-focused project brings together leading partners across the entire value chain: Whitecell Eisenhuth develops and evaluates new materials, VON ARDENNE contributes its expertise…
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Projektstart TiSPA – Innovative Materialien für die PEM-Wasserelektrolyse
Das Projekt TiSPA – Titan-Substitution in der PEMWE durch alternative Bipolarplatten mit innovativer Dünnschicht-Beschichtung – ist erfolgreich gestartet. Die PEM-Wasserelektrolyse setzt für Bipolarplatten bislang auf Titan und edelmetallhaltige Komponenten – Materialien, die einen wesentlichen Kostenfaktor darstellen. Ziel von TiSPA ist es, durch den Einsatz alternativer Werkstoffe wie Edelstahl, Graphit sowie innovativer Beschichtungen auf Basis von Edelmetallen, Carbiden oder Nitriden die Materialkosten deutlich zu senken. Gleichzeitig sollen Effizienz und Lebensdauer der Technologie erhalten oder sogar gesteigert werden. Das industriegeführte Projekt bündelt die Kompetenzen führender Partner entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette: Whitecell Eisenhuth entwickelt und untersucht neue Materialien und -Kombinationen, VON ARDENNE bringt seine Expertise in der Vakuum- bzw. PVD-Beschichtung ein, das ISFH…
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VON ARDENNE Launches New OPTA X300 Deposition Tool and Opens New Cleanrooms in Dresden, Germany
VON ARDENNE, a global leader in precision coating systems and co-developed materials solutions, will introduce its new OPTA X300 deposition tool and the opening of ISO 5 and ISO 7 cleanrooms in Dresden, Germany. The company will unveil its new solutions in booth #6180 during SEMICON West, taking place October 7-9 in Phoenix. Additionally, VON ARDENNE will speak about the new tool platform at the “Next-Gen Photonics: Powering Tomorrow’s Technologies,” TechTALKS, on October 8 at 11:25 a.m. Mountain Time. “As the semiconductor industry pushes the boundaries of performance and miniaturization, VON ARDENNE is stepping into the US market with next-generation tool platforms, co-developed materials solutions, and custom refurbishment and upgrade…
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Der nächste Schritt bei der Skalierung von Perowskit-Photovoltaik mit linearer thermischer Verdampfung für die Massenproduktion
Wir wurden oft gefragt, ob die thermische Vakuum-Linearverdampfungstechnologie für die Massenproduktion in der Perowskit-Photovoltaik-Beschichtungstechnologie geeignet ist. Unsere linearen Verdampfungsquellen liefern eine Antwort auf diese Frage. In diesem Artikel konzentrieren wir uns auf das fortschrittliche Design der VON ARDENNE Linearverdampfer und beschreiben deren einzigartigen Merkmale. Eine schematische Darstellung eines Linearverdampfers ist in Abbildung 2 zu sehen, um die Hauptbestandteile zu erklären. Das Targetmaterial wird als Pulver in einen Tiegel gefüllt. Das große Tiegelvolumen der linearen Verdampfer gewährleistet lange Produktionszyklen. Darüber hinaus garantiert das Design des linearen Verdampfers eine große Verdampfungsoberfläche, da das Heizsystem eine große Fläche überdeckt. Der Tiegel wird homogen beheizt, damit beginnt das Material zu verdampfen, wenn die materialspezifische Schmelztemperatur überschritten…
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The Next Step in Scaling up Perovskite PV with Linear Thermal Evaporation for High-Volume Manufacturing
We have often been asked whether linear vacuum thermal evaporation technology (VTE) is suitable for high-volume manufacturing in perovskite photovoltaics deposition technology. Our linear evaporation sources provide an answer to this question. In this article, we will focus on the advanced design of VON ARDENNE linear evaporators and describe their unique features. A schematic design of a linear evaporator is shown above to explain the main consisting parts. (Figure 2) The target material is filled as a powder in a crucible. The large crucible volume of the linear evaporators ensures long production cycles. Furthermore, the linear evaporator design guarantees a large evaporation surface as a large area is exposed to…
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The Development of the Electron Beam Into a Multitool
When J.J. Thomson first identified the electron as a particle of matter with a negative charge during his work with cathode rays at the University of Cambridge at the end of the 19th century, no one could have imagined that this term would become one of the most widely used in science. Similarly, its discoverers would certainly never have dreamed how its targeted application would change everyday life to such an extent. Entire industries, such as electronics and microelectronics, bear his name. Neither computers nor modern communication or the internet would be conceivable without the targeted use of the properties of the electron. But the electron is also very useful…
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Scaling Up Perovskite PV with Linear Thermal Evaporation for High-Volume Manufacturing
VON ARDENNE has a long history in evaporation processes. We have provided thermal and electron beam evaporation equipment for many applications. Among them were optical, electronical and wear coatings and coatings for solar thermal energy applications. More than ten years ago, VON ARDENNE took part in the transformation from point sources in batch systems to linear evaporators in continuously running inline coating systems. This happened especially in the OLED and display industry to achieve cost effective depositions on large areas. Today, perovskite-based approaches are at the forefront of next-generation photovoltaics. We have adapted and improved our linear evaporators so that they work stably and reliably in this new field of…
