Fraunhofer Institute for Thin Film and Surface Technology IST

Introducing our member:

The Fraunhofer Institute for Thin Film and Surface Technology IST in Braunschweig is an innovative partner for research and development in surface technology, with expertise in the related product and production systems.

Approximately 120 employees work together with clients from industry and research to develop customized and sustainable solutions—ranging from prototypes and cost-effective production scenarios to scaling up to industrial levels—all while ensuring closed-loop material and substance cycles. In addition to application-oriented research and development, the scientific foundations for these solutions are also being explored through various collaborations with universities and research institutions.

Coating and surface engineering is key to developing innovative products and systems: By modifying, structuring, and coating surfaces, a wide variety of functions and capabilities can be achieved. One of the institute’s particular strengths lies in its ability to design the optimal process chain for each specific task, drawing on a broad spectrum of processes and coating materials. To this end, Fraunhofer IST not only has a very well-equipped analytical facility but also extensive experience in modeling and simulating both product properties and the associated processes and production systems.

The Fraunhofer IST's work in the field of optics focuses on the following areas.

• Development and Manufacture of Coatings for Optical Components
• Equipment technology for depositing high-quality optical coatings on flat and curved optical elements
• Development of novel materials for smart coatings, such as electrically switchable filters
• Highly durable broadband anti-reflective coatings on sapphire and glass
• Microstructured Optical Filter Layers for Imaging Applications
• Optical Coatings on Plastic Surfaces
• Development of Novel Transparent Conductive Layers for Lighting Technology and Oxide Electronics