Research institute for technology advancement and material sciences, Empa has opened a new laser center at Thun. The center will aid scientists to develop new type of surfaces with micro to nanometer accuracy.
The Thun laser center can be used for microstructuring very large surfaces. A pulsed ultraviolet laser beam is used to cut nanometer-level thin layers accurately from huge surfaces of up to 3 m2. The facility uses a 19-ton granite table that functions as the base. Empa runs the facility in partnership with Crealas.
Empa’s new laser centre
Surface microstructuring offers new types of physico-mechanical attributes such as inhibition to fungal growth, reduction in friction and reduced quantity of drag. It develops optical surfaces with light-controlling characteristics such as 3D screens that can be viewed without glasses.
The Head of Advanced Materials Processing lab of Empa, Patrik Hoffman wants to create new types of windowpanes that can function as solar cells in daytime and light up interior areas during nighttime. He has plans to develop new materials for electrochemical methods to create electrical connections on solar cells or flexible screens.
Empa’s industrial partners can benefit from the Thun laser center, which facilitates laser machining of huge surfaces and thus molding tools can be developed in a single piece with high accuracy. Earlier, the molding tools have to be developed from numerous parts. Commercial organizations require the new facility to manufacture structured films cost-effectively and in large volumes.
The laser center can also be used for producing films with optical security properties. Many countries have started using microstructured films with optical 3D properties as an alternative to holograms.