LTFN general

LTFN's excellent services available in areas of advanced materials, high-tech products and metrology is also being assured through a continuous collaboration with experienced researchers/faculty members of AUTh and other domestic and foreign Universities and Industrial Institutes.
LTFN has developed rapidly, since 1989, increasing its activities with industry and a number of research institutes. Execution of research projects with industrial partners though programs such as ICT & NMP (STREP, IP, NoE), GROWTH, IST, BRITE, ESPRIT, CRAFT, STRIDE, EKBAN, PAVET, PAVE, etc.
LTFN has developed collaborations with a large number of educational and research institutes in Greece, Europe and USA.

Greece

• Physics Department AUTh, Laboratory of Materials Spectroscopy and Electronic Microscopy
• Polytechnic School AUTh, Department of Mechanics
• Research Group of Particle Technology and combustion aerosols FORTH/CPERI
• Chemical Engineering Department AUTh, Physics-Chemistry Laboratory
• National Technical University of Athens, Main Division
• Institute of Electronic Structure & Lasers, Heraclion, Crete
• University of Ioannina, Physics Department
• Institutes of Materials & Microelectronics, Demokritos
• University of Patras, Chemistry Department

Europe

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft POLO Alliance, Germany
• Technical University Graz, Austria
• University of Bath, United Kingdom
• Kauno Technologijos Universitetas, Lithuania
• Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Polymères pour les Hautes Technologies, Institut d’Electronique des Solides et des Systèmes, (InESS), CNRS /ULP, France
• Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Austria
• Max-Planck Institute, Stuttgart, Germany
• Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, BESSY, Berlin, Germany
• Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, BAM, Berlin, Germany
• Paul-Drude Institute, Berlin, Germany
• Research Centre in Surface Engineering (RCSE), The University of Hull, UK
• LPICM Ecole Polytechnique, Centre de Trav. Exp. d' Electronique, Palaiseau, France
• Kaunas University of Technology, Physics Department, Lithuania
• University of Nis, Faculty of Philosophy

United States of America

• University of California, Berkeley, Department of Mechanical Engineering, CA, USA
• Michigan Technological University, Center for Mechanics, Materials & Instabilities, Houghton, MI, USA
• Louisiana State University, Mechanical Engineering Department, LA, USA
• Boston University, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, Boston, MA, USA
• Ohio State University, Department of Physics, Columbus, OH, USA
• University of Cornell, USA

Nanotechnology Lab LTFN, is a center of excellence with long experience and know-how in thin-film, vacuum and printing technologies, nanomaterials, optical diagnostics and nanometrology, and can provide services to companies, industries and research institutes on various topics and fields.

Services

• Organic Electronics materials (organic semiconductors, transparent electrodes, barriers, plasmonic nanoparticles, etc.) and devices (OPVs, OLEDs, OTFTs, Sensors, Biosensors)
• Novel thin film and multifunctional layers
• Roll-to-Roll printing of Organic Electronic devices
• Gas transport and CVD processes for films and 2D materials
• Materials Patterning by ultra-fast laser processes
• Encapsulation methodologies and processes
• Design of novel optical sensing systems and non-destructive characterization techniques
• Microstructural & nanomechanical characterization
• Optical Engineering, & Computational Modelling
• Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine (Protein-Enzyme-DNA surface adsorption, surface biocompatibility, characterization of biomaterials)

Applications

• Organic Electronics: OLEDs for displays and lighting, OPVs, OTFTs, sensors RFID
• Energy: OPVs for electricity generation, OLED lighting for energy efficiency
• Wearables: smart textiles with energy and lighting functionalities
• Buildings: energy efficient buildings, lighting, tents, roofs
• Automotive: energy generation and autonomy, solar roofs
• Agriculture: energy efficient Mediterranean Green-houses by OPVs & OLEDs
• Smart Packaging: food, consumer products, pharmaceutical products
• Nanomedicine: stents, orthopaedic implants, contact lenses, biosensors etc.
• Information Technology: Organic Electronics, Micro- electronics, Optoelectronics and Optics, Storage and Displays, Micro - fabrication

The Nanotechnology Lab LTFN, established in 1991, is located at the Physics Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and in COPE-H's facilities near Thermi and Thessaloniki's airport. It has an experience of more than 25 years in Thin films Technology, fabrication of advanced nanomaterials and nanoparticles, developing/deploying in-situ and real-time optical metrology techniques, computational modeling and nanometrology tools. The mission of LTFN is to promote world-class research and best-practices in Nanotechnology, Organic Electronics, Nanomedicine and Nanometrology in order to address global challenges in Manufacturing, Energy, Lighting, Electronics, Photonics, IoT, Transportation, Health and Quality of Life, Agriculture, etc.

Research Fields

• Organic Electronics & Photonics: Materials & Processes for Flexible Electronic Devices, OPVs, OTFTs, OLEDs, Biosensors, Printed Transparent electrodes and Barrier layers
• Thin Films & Nanobiomaterials Technology
• Nanoengineering & Surface Engineering
• Nanomedicine & Nanobiotechnology: Biocompatible nanomaterials, Development of drug delivery nanosystems, Nanoparticles synthesis and characterization, Scaffolds & nanoporous materials for implants, Bio-Functionalization, Haemocompatibility & Cytocompatibility tests
• Optical Technology & Nanometrology: In-line optical monitoring of Printing & Vacuum Processes, Nanometrology applications and Non-destructive characterization, Ellipsometry & Raman
• Digital Nanomanufacturing
• Computational & Modeling at Nanoscale: First Principles Calculations, Modeling of Devices and Processes, Study of the electronic, optical & mechanical properties of materials

Main Objectives

Research

Nanotechnology Lab LTFN is a world-class excellence entity in various research fields, with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, 10 Pilot Lines and TestBeds, combined with strong activity in R&D projects and dynamic collaborations with SMEs, industry and academia.

Emerging Technologies

Nanotechnology Lab LTFN is actively engaged with the following radically novel technologies:

• Organic Electronics & Photonics
• Thin Films & Nanobiomaterials Technology
• Nanoengineering & Surface Engineering
• Nanomedicine & Nanobiotechnology
• Optical Technology & Nanometrology
• Digital Nanomanufacturing
• Computational & Modeling at the Nanoscale
• Sensors & Biosensors
• 3D Printing & 3D Bioprinting
• Wearables
• RFIDs, NFCs
• IoT

Applications

Through its excellent research activities and innovation, Nanotechnology Lab LTFN provides added value and groundbreaking applications in a wide range of fields, i.e. Energy, Lighting, Electronics, the Automotive Industry and Transports, Buildings, Agriculture, Intelligent Packaging, Smart Textiles, Healthcare, Wearables, ICT and IoT.

Collaborations

LTFN has developed strong collaborations with numerous education and research institutes in Europe, USA and Asia, while continues networking and partnership with key players from academia and industry worldwide.

Training Activities

LTFN creates highly skilled scientists with strong track-record and capacities by teaching and training of students, young researchers and new scientists of 2 Post Graduate Programs, using its world-class infrastructure and know-how.

LTFN in numbers

• 35 Researchers
• 7 Technicians & Support
• 2000m² of Lab Space
• >100 affiliated labs and clusters
• >50 completed research projects
• 5 active research projects
• 26 Chapters & Books
• >300 high impact publications
• 5 patents
• 2 spin-out companies
• >30 workshops and conferences organized