Research Topics
In the following, only a short summary of objectives and results of our Laboratory´s
research projects are presented.
Research Training Group 1865/1 “Hydrogel-based Microsystems”
Spokesman: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Project leaders: PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Margarita Günther
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
PhD Students at IFE: Dipl.-Ing. Julia Beyer
Dipl.-Ing. Simon Binder
M.Sc. Jan Erfkamp
Dipl.-Phys. Nikolai Gulnizkij
M.Sc. Christoph Kroh
M.Sc. Alice Mieting
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Schreiber
Dipl.-Ing. Sitao Wang
Postdoc Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Franke
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 01.04.2018 – 30.09.2022
Topics at IFE:
- Zero-power sensor switch. Hydrogels are used as a material
for the switching element in self-sufficient energy systems.
Therefore, the switching hysteresis and the kinetics of
the hydrogel are important (Dipl.-Phys. Nikolai Gulnizkij).
- Force-compensated pH-sensors: A bisensitive hydrogel
combines sensor and actuator properties. The thermally
controllable actuator function compensates the swelling
pressure of the gel after a change in the measured variable.
This prevents relaxation and drift effects and shortens the
response time (Dipl.-Ing. Simon Binder,
Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Schreiber).
- Hydrogel-based piezoresistive chemo- and biosensors: By
means of a targeted synthesis and functionalization, e.g.
with enzymes, novel stimuli-sensitive hydrogels are designed
and piezoresistive hydrogel sensors are produced
and characterized (M.Sc. Jan Erfkamp).
- Plasmonic-based fluid sensor with hydrogel-transducer:
Implementation of parallel, optical measurement of temperature,
pH and ethanol content in one sensor head with corresponding
sensitive hydrogels, immobilized on the plasmonic
sensor surface. For this, fundamental principles of
the optical readout of hydrogel-based sensors for the application
in the food industry are researched (M.Sc. Christoph
Kroh, Dipl.-Ing. Julia Beyer).
- Smart hydrogels for analyte detection in gases (Dipl.-Ing.
Sitao Wang).
- Porous hydrogels with improved response time for
application in microsystems (Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Franke)
Objectives:
Stimuli-responsive hydrogels whose reversible swelling process in an aqueous
solution depends on the structure and design of the crosslinked polymer, are
characterized by a large spectrum of different physical (e.g. temperature, electrical
voltage, magnetic field) and chemical parameters (e.g. pH-value, analyte
concentration in solution), are promising both for sensor as well as for actuator
applications, especially since it has been shown that hydrogels can be integrated for
corresponding applications in microsystems. Thus, integrated hydrogel-based
sensors and actuators enable cost-effective microsystem solutions with a great
functional potential. The aim of the Research Training Group is to further investigate
the use of hydrogels for sensor and actuator functions in microsystems based on the
fundamental knowledge of the synthesis and physicochemical properties and, thus,
to lay the scientific basics for future microsystem applications. For this purpose,
within the framework of the interdisciplinary research program of the Research
Training Group, special materials and procedures based on the requirements of such
applications (relevant functionality, high sensitivity, selectivity and long-term stability,
short response times) will be developed and investigated numerically and
experimentally. On the other hand, selected microsystems comprising these
materials and methods are being investigated (e.g. long-term stable pressurecompensated
pH sensors, biochemical sensors, implantable miniaturized sensor
systems, powerless sensor switches, chemical transistors, microfluidic synthesis
processors).
Research Training Group 2430/11865/1 “I-FEV Interactive Fiber-
Rubber-Composites”
Spokesman: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Chokri Cherif
Project leader at IFE: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
PhD Students at IFE: Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Pfeil
Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Mersch
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 01.11.2018 – 31.04.2023
Topics at IFE:
- TP7: Modeling and metrological evaluation of adaptive
components in I-FRCs using electro-mechanical network
models.
- TP8: Electro-mechanical modeling and metrological evaluation
of I-FRCs with material-integrated sensors.
Objectives:
This Research Training Group (RTG) focusses mainly on interactive fiber-rubber
composites (I-FRC), including structurally integrated smart actuator and sensor
networks
- to specifically adjust component stiffness, and
- to achieve steplessly adjustable, complex deformation patterns with almost
unlimited freedom of deformation, long deformation paths, and high actuating
power with sensor feedback,
- as well as on in-depth scientific analyses of structural and material behavior on
multiple scales.
Due to their high intrinsic deformation capacity, I-FRCs have becoming a promising
approach to generate controllably deformable components with specifically
adjustable properties. As actutors they can respond to changes in their environment
(e.g. temperature and magnetic fields) and ensure precise as well as long-term
stable functionalities by means of control circuits that are based on and linked to
sensor condition monitoring. However, these functionalities require innovative
component designs and cross-scale modelling, simulation, integration into system
conceptions, experimental research, and material developments. These I-FRC are a
new class of materials offering new properties. For example, the development of IFRC
allows for the reversible and contactless adjustment of geometric degrees of
deformation for mechanical components; thus, various environmental requirements
can be met in a quick and precise manner. This advantage makes them suitable for
numerous fields of application, such as mechanical engineering, vehicle construction,
robotics, architecture, orthotics, and prosthetics. Potential applications include their
use in systems for precise gripping and transportation processes, such as hand
prostheses, automated lids, seals, shapeable membranes, and adaptive flaps for
rotor blades of wind turbines as well as trim tabs for ground- and watercraft to
effectively reduce flow separation.
The objective of the Research Training Group is the simulation-based development
of smart material combinations and gradations for self-sufficient I-FRCs with
structurally integrated actuator and sensor networks to actively and locally adjust
component stiffness. I-FRCs are also suitable to achieve controlled complex
deformation patterns. Of particular interest will be characteristics in terms of large
deformation capabilities, high frequencies, and large actuating powers due to sensor
feedback in consideration of thermal and mechanical stress, while simultaneously
reducing weight and enhancing compactness.
DFG Priority Program SPP 1599: Caloric effects in ferroic materials:
New concepts for cooling
Project: Electrocaloric multilayer and radial cooling device concepts
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach,
Dr. rer. nat. Gunnar Suchaneck
Co-workers at IFE: M.Sc. Rocco Liebschner
Collaboration: TU Darmstadt, Institute of Materials Science;
University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Materials
Science; Fraunhofer-Institute for Ceramic
Technologies and Systems (IKTS), Dresden;
Leibnitz University Hannover, Institute of Assembly
Technology
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 11/2012 – 09/2019
Objectives/results:
- Development of a technology for the fabrication of multilayer electrocaloric
elements comprising Ni electrodes by means of reactive sputtering of highresistive,
electrocaloric (Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O3 thin films at room temperature.
- Evaluation of the expected electrocaloric properties based on determination of the
temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant above the Curie temperature.
- Investigation of the electrical breakdown behaviour and degradation in large
electric fields.
- Pyroelectric calorimetry of the enthalphy time-dependence during electrical
biasing.
- Fabrication and evaluation of the performance of cooling device demonstrators.
DFG-Project: Development of advanced imaging techniques and
novel segmented high-frequency ultrasound transducers
for scanning acoustic microscopes
Project leader: apl. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. et Ing. habil. Elfgard Kühnicke
Dr.-Ing. Sylvia Gebhardt, Fraunhofer-IKTS
Co-workers at IFE: Dipl.-Ing. André Juhrig, Dipl.-Ing. Mario Wolf
Dr. rer. medic. Anke Burkhardt
Collaboration: Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and
Systems (IKTS)
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 03/2016 – 01/2020
Objectives/results:
- Improvement of ultrasound imaging in layered structures with variable and
unknown sound velocity.
- Expansion of test scenarios (examination under inclined planes and curved
structures).
- Simultaneous inspection in multiple depths (determination of inclination angle of
surfaces and interfaces).
- Development of a novel multichannel scanning acoustic microscopy system.
- Development of segmented annular array transducers with a frequency of 40 MHz
and a better resolution compared to conventional transducers.
- Providing novel measurement methods and techniques as well as special
structured ultrasound transducers for focussing the sound field and steering the
ultrasound beam.
- Improvement of the soft-mold technique for the fabrication of small-scaled,
spherically curved PZT-polymer composite, with an operating frequency of 40MHz.
DFG-Project: Non-invasive, simultaneous determination of
thicknesses and sound velocities by ultrasound
Project leader: apl. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. et Ing. habil. Elfgard Kühnicke
Co-workers at IFE: Dr. rer. medic. Anke Burkhardt, Dipl.-Ing. André
Juhrig, Dipl.-Ing. Ulrike Schmidt, Dipl.-Ing. Mario Wolf
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 07/2017 – 07/2020
Objectives/results:
- Goal: Providing a robust measuring technique to determine simultaneously
sound velocities and thicknesses of layered structures (based on the results of
a previous project).
- Simultaneous evaluation of material quality and geometry of the specimen.
- Use of single arrays without additional reflectors for examining specimen
accessible only on one side.
- Significant improvement of the accuracy especially for structures with three or
more layers.
- Development and qualification of a fast simulation algorithm.
DFG-Project: Nanostructured absorber and emitter layers for
thermal infrared sensors and radiators (ABSISIS)
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dr.-Ing. Marco Schossig
Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Ott, Dipl.-Ing. Steffen Junker,
Christian Norkus
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 08/2015 – 09/2019
Objectives/results:
- Deposition of nanostructured absorber and emitter thin films.
- Investigation of the physical (optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal) properties of
thin films and particularly the determination of the layer porosity in dependence of
the layer thickness.
- Modelling and simulation of the layer and device properties.
- Fabrication and characterisation of infrared sensors and emitters with
nanostructured absorber layer.
DFG-Project: Mesoporous hydrogels from microemulsions and
related structures for hydrogel-based piezoresistive sensors (MESOPOR)
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Franke
Funded by: DFG (German Research Foundation)
Funding period: 01/2018 – 12/2020
Objectives/results:
- Fabrication of porous hydrogel layers to improve the response behavior of
hydrogel-based sensors.
- Synthesis of porous, pH-sensitive hydrogels.
- Deposition of pH-sensitive polymer surfactant structures.
- Characterization of the porosity by means of different imaging methods.
- Characterization of the swelling behavior during free swelling.
- Fabrication of hydrogel-based piezoresistive sensors and their characterization.
EU Project: Physical principles of the creation of novel SPINtronic materials on the base of MULTIlayered metal-oxide FILMs for magnetic sensors and MRAM (SPINMULTIFILM)
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dr. rer. nat. Gunnar Suchaneck
Collaboration: University Aveiro, Department of Physics (Portugal); Vrije
Universiteit Brussel, Department MACH "Materials in
Chemistry" (Belgium); Kaunas University of Technology;
Institute of Materials Science (Lithuania); SSPA Scientific
and Practical Materials Research Center of NAS of
Belarus, Division of Cryogenic Research (Belarus);
Institute of Magnetism of the National Academy of Science
of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of
Ukraine, Laboratory of Nanocrystalline Structures
(Ukraine); WMT Wire Machine Technology (Israel)
Funded by: EU (Horizon 2020) - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research
and Innovation Staff Exchange (MSCA-RISE)
Funding period: 01/2018 – 12/2021
Objectives/results:
- Synthesis of metal-oxide compounds on the base of Sr2FeMoO6.
- Creation of nanoheterostructures with dielectric interlayers.
- Characterization and simulation of nanoheterostructures.
- Prototyping of spintronic devices.
- Knowledge exchange and outreach activities.
Cooperation project: Submersible refractive index sensor as technology platform for process and environmental monitoring (TauSenT)
Project part: Transducer development of pH- and ethanol-sensitive
hydrogels as sensitive coating for optical transducers
Project leader: Hon.-Prof. Dr. habil. Thomas Härtling
Collaboration: Fraunhofer-Institute for Ceramic Technologies and
Systems (IKTS)
Funded by: BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
Funding period: 01/2017 – 12/2019
Objectives/results:
- Development of a multi-sensor platform for detection of parameters in liquids,
especially refractive index, pH and ethanol concentration.
- Adaption of the platform to the needs of the brewing industry.
- Proof-of-concept for monitoring of fermentation in large volume fermenters.
Cooperation project: High-frequency adjustable, textile-based actuator structures for complex fiber-plastic composite kinematics with high degrees of deformation (HoTexA)
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Chokri Cherif (ITM)
Dr.-Ing. Sven Wießner (IPF)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach (IFE)
Collaboration: Institute of Textile Machinery and High-Performance
Materials (ITM), TU Dresden; Leibniz-Institute of Polymer
Research Dresden e. V. (IPF);
Funded by: AiF (German Federation of Industrial Research
Associations), Forschungskuratorium Textil e.V.
(Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion
Industry)
Funding period: 10/2019 – 03/2022
Objectives/results:
- Development of functionalized, textile reinforcement structures with structureintegrated,
textile-based, high-frequency actuators for geometrically complex
fiber-plastic composite applications with fast adaptive adjustment potential.
- Targeted design, development and testing of new textile actuators based on
dielectric elastomers.
- Implementation as coaxial conductor in a hybrid construction with highly
stretchable, long-term stable, textile-based internal and external electrodes.
- Design and development of a function-specific actuator (e.g. gradient
reinforcement structures and multi-matrix systems).- Automated actuator integration in the area-forming process (e.g. through
weaving, or knitting).
Cooperation project: Component-integrated sensors for power transmission elements in wind power stations (BiSWind)
Project part: Energy harvesting by means of piezoelectric thin films
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dipl.-Phys. Annekatrin Delan
Collaboration: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach;
VTD Vakuumtechnik Dresden GmbH, Dresden; Siegert
Thinfilm Technology GmbH, Hermsdorf; Schaeffler
Engineering GmbH, Werdohl; Micro Systems
Engineering GmbH, Berg; Fraunhofer Institute for
Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma
Technology (FEP), Dresden; Fraunhofer-Institute for
Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), Dresden;
University Bremen, Bremen Institute for Metrology,
Automation and Quality Science (BIMAQ); TU Ilmenau,
Micromechanical Systems Group; TU Ilmenau,
Electronics Technology Group
Funded by: BMWi ((Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy)
Funding period: 12/2015 - 07/2019
Objectives/results:
- Goal: Development of an autonomous measurement system for condition
monitoring based on component-integrated sensors.
- Monitored values: Torque, temperature, vibration and rotation speed.
- Robustness against aging and resistance against (aggressive) media, e.g.,
cooling agents, lubricants, moisture, de-icing agents.
- Investigation of technologies and concepts to integrate the sensors directly,
without adhesive bonds, on the surfaces of the rotationally symmetric component
by thin-film technology and microstructure technology.
- Focus of this subproject: Development of highly efficient energy harvesters to
ensure the power supply of the sensor elements, development of a customized
module for energy generation with high stability based on piezoelectric layers,
reduction of the defect density of the isolation layers.
Cooperation project: Advanced free-form coating of flat and 3-dimensional substrates (3D-FF)
Project part: Model development for simulation, calculation and
layer property optimization in free-form coating
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dipl.-Phys. Annekatrin Delan
Collaboration: Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron
Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP), Dresden; AIS
Automation Dresden GmbH; LSA GmbH; Von Ardenne
GmbH; SeeReal Technologies GmbH; TU Dresden,
Institute of Numerical Mathematics (INM)
Funded by: SAB (Development Bank of Saxony)
Funding period: 08/2019 - 02/2022
Objectives/results:
- Goal: high-precision free-form coating of large substrates, i.e. realization of highly
defined layer thickness profiles on 3D surfaces.
- Functional coatings in efficient, automated coating processes.
- Combination of new concepts for coating systems and innovative substrate
motion modules, a highly productive precision coating technology and a software
platform that provides a continuous data chain from the layer thickness simulation
to the coating process and automatic system control.
- Model development for simulation, calculation and optimization of the layer
properties in the free-form coating.
Cooperation project: Development of an inline sensor for permanent control and assessment of the development of biofilms in water-bearing piping systems (inline biofilm sensor)
Project part: Development of the sensor head and deposition of the sensor layers
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE: Dipl.-Phys. Annekatrin Delan
Dr.-Ing. Harry Nizard
Collaboration: Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron
Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP), Dresden; -4HJena
engineering GmbH; 3Faktur GmbH, Jena; Institute
for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement
Techniques e.V., Heiligenstadt
Funded by: BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) and AiF (German Federation of Industrial Research Associations)
Funding period: 11/2019 – 10/2021
Objectives/results:
- Goal: Development of an inline biofilm sensor for the detection of bacterial
contamination in water-bearing systems for drinking water supply and technical
water circuits by means of impedance measurement.
- Enrichment and detection of biofilms on substrate traps.
- Definition of threshold values for the indication of a prohibited bacterial
contamination at an early stage.
Cooperation project: Spectral multi-channel pyroelectric highdetectivity
sensors in an SMD housing (PYRO-SMD)
Project leader: Dr.-Ing. Volkmar Norkus
Co-workers at IFE: Dipl.-Ing. Agnes Eydam, Dipl.-Ing. Siegfried Kostka,
Dipl.-Ing. Volker Krause, Sabine Herbst, Ulrike Lehmann,
Christian Norkus
Collaboration: DIAS Infrared GmbH, Dresden
Funded by: AiF
Funding period: 10/2018 – 09/2020
Objectives/results:
- Concept, sensor layout and design of the micro-optical modul.
- Metrological characterization of interference filters.
- Design and implementation of the filter cage with a chip carrier.
- Design and implementation of micromechanical beam splitters.
Cooperation project: Pilot line for the next generation of highintegratet microelectronics (PIN3S)
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Mitarbeiter am IFE: Dr. rer. nat. Gunnar Suchaneck Dipl.-Ing. Simon Binder
Collaboration and funding: Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron
Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP); Dresden
Funding period: 10/2019 - 12/2020
Objectives/results:
- Fabrication of piezoelectric thin films on predetermined glass substrates.
ESF-Project: Orientation Platform Research & Practice (OFP)
General Project Manager M.A. Christiane Einmahl, ZiLL (Center for
Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching)
Project leader at IFE: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerald Gerlach
Co-workers at IFE/Faculty: Dr.-Ing. Julia Kuß
Dipl.-Wirt.-Inf. Daniel Knöfel
Funded by: ESF (European Social Fund)
Funding period: 05/2016 – 12/2023
Objectives/results:
- Increase the intrinsic motivation of students from the first to fourth semester from
the participating Faculties of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Electrical and
Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and
Mathematics to increase study results.
- Provide insights into subject-related research projects during the basic studies.
- Identification of areas of application of knowledge acquired in the course of
studies.
- Formats at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering: 2019:
"Company rallye" / Excursions to Preh Car Connect GmbH (13.10.2019) and
Infineon (25.11.2019) for students.
BeING Inside – Interdisciplinary engineering practice (together with the
Faculties of Chemistry and Mechanical Science and Engineering, as well as
BASF Schwarzheide for students and 11th grade pupils (25.-29.3.2019).
Workshop „Flow Masters, Cloud Testing“ (22.05.2019).
Workshop „Agile Meets Lego“ (24.01.2019).
Three workshop for study applicants: “Rookie Becomes an Engineer” with
Bertrandt Services, DAS Environmental Expert, Diehl Aviation Gilching,
Fraunhofer IPMS, FSD Fahrzeugsystemdaten, Preh Car Connect, SEMPA
Systems, SPLU Experts, Sunfire, Von Ardenne and XENON
Automatisierungstechnik (28.8.2019), „Expert Workshop“ – Discussion of
expected skills of an engineer with regard to interdisciplinary and (inter)
national working groups of different sizes (4.9.2019 with Schreibzentrum
TUD), and „How to be a Maker“ – Introduction to the organizational structure
of the Makerspace. Illustration of the creative process in engineering work
based on a practical task and its implementation by means of Arduino-Kit „Uno
1“(11.-13.9.2019).
Workshop „Arduino“ with State Chats (02.12.2019).
Further information: https://tu-dresden.de/deinstudienerfolg/ofp