Moorfield Nanotechnology

PVD, CVD and Etch Systems

Moorfield Nanotechnology

PVD, CVD and Etch Systems

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Benchtop Metal Electrode Deposition – nanoPVD

Application Note
Benchtop Metal Electrode Deposition – nanoPVD

Benchtop Metal Electrode Deposition

As electronic devices become more compact, powerful, and application-specific, the quality of their electrodes directly influences overall performance. From battery cells and memory devices to solar panels and sensors, thin-film deposition has emerged as a critical method for engineering electrodes with precise properties. By controlling thickness, composition, and structure at the nanoscale, thin-film technologies unlock enhanced electrical conductivity, superior durability, and tailored functionality across a range of high-tech applications. Our nanoPVD systems provide the precision, versatility, and scalability needed to meet these evolving demands.

Benchtop PVD thin film deposition system for thermal evaporation front view.

The nanoPVD product family delivers precise, high-quality electrode deposition across a broad range of applications —from advanced battery technology to memory devices, solar cells, and sensitive detection platforms. Below are highlights of how nanoPVD systems enhance electrode performance in various applications.

Battery Technology
  • Enhanced Conductivity: nanoPVD systems reliably deposit conductive metals (e.g., copper, nickel) or carbon-based materials onto electrode surfaces, significantly boosting electrical conductivity.
  • Extended Lifespan: A protective PVD layer guards against corrosion and wear, extending battery electrode life cycles.
  • Customised Multi-Layers: With the ability to deposit multiple layers in a single run, the benchtop nanoPVD enables researchers and manufacturers to engineer electrodes with tailored electronic properties for specific battery chemistries.
  • Improved Electrical Contacts: Consistent deposition ensures stable interlayer and external connections, critical for high-performance energy storage.
Memory Devices
  • Precision Layer Deposition: Modern memory devices like ReRAM, MRAM, and PCM demand uniform, high-quality electrodes. nanoPVD systems deliver these precise films to optimise switching, reading, and writing performance.
  • Consistent Device Reliability: By depositing electrodes with excellent adhesion and uniformity, nanoPVD helps maintain consistent performance across large device arrays.
Solar Technology
  • High-Performance Coatings: nanoPVD systems support transparent conductive films (ITO, FTO) for front electrodes and metal layers (silver, aluminium) for back contacts, maximising charge collection in solar cells.
  • Durability & Corrosion Resistance: PVD-deposited layers withstand harsh environmental conditions, extending solar panel lifespans and maintaining long-term efficiency.
  • Layered Electrode Designs: Multi-layer coatings help optimise both charge collection and light absorption, driving up energy conversion efficiencies.
Sensing Applications
  • Enhanced Sensitivity: Uniform, reproducible electrode coatings (gold, platinum, silver, metal oxides, carbon-based films) increase sensor accuracy for gas, chemical, and biosensing applications.
  • High Conductivity & Responsiveness: Ultra-fine PVD layers enable the detection of minute environmental changes, essential for precision measurement.
  • Reliable Results: Consistent, reproducible coating processes ensure sensor outputs remain stable across repeated measurements, crucial in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industrial diagnostics.
Example publications referencing the nanoPVD for electrode deposition:
  • Pandey, A. et al. (2024) ‘Synapse-Mimicking Memristors Based on 3,6-Di(tpy)-9-Phenylcarbazole Unimer and Its Copolymer with Cobalt(II) Ions’, Polymers, 16(4), p. 542. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16040542.
  • Qu, Z. et al. (2024) ‘A Photolithographable Electrolyte for Deeply Rechargeable Zn Microbatteries in On-Chip Devices’, Advanced Materials, 36(15), p. 2310667. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202310667.
  • Pula, P. et al. (2023) ‘Block Copolymer-Templated, Single-Step Synthesis of Transition Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Sensing Applications’, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15(50), pp. 57970–57980. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c10439.
  • Huang, J. et al. (2024) ‘Enhanced Photocurrent and Electrically Pumped Quantum Dot Emission from Single Plasmonic Nanoantennas’, ACS Nano, 18(4), pp. 3323–3330. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.3c10092 

 

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