Bachelor’s Thesis or Master’s Thesis
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Topic of the Thesis
In this project, you will set up an experimental setup using a compact piezo plasma source and investigate it experimentally. The goal is to coat surfaces at atmospheric pressure without using a complex vacuum system. The energy required to ignite the plasma is supplied by a piezoelectric transformer.
Integration into the Research Project
This thesis is part of an industrial project with a manufacturer of PECVD coating systems. The project investigates the use of a compact piezo plasma source for localized surface coating via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
Objective
In your bachelor’s thesis, you will select suitable components—most of which are commercially available—assemble the reactor, and commission it. You will then investigate ignition stability in initial experiments. When selecting and assembling the components, you have creative freedom and make independent, technically sound decisions. In the master’s thesis, you will also conduct systematic coating experiments and analyze the deposited layers.
Your Responsibilities
| For a bachelor's thesis, you will work on the following tasks | For a master's thesis, the following tasks are added |
| Literature review on piezo-plasma sources and atmospheric-pressure coating | In-depth literature review on the chosen research focus |
| Selection of suitable components (most of which can be purchased), as well as assembly and commissioning of the reactor | Planning and conducting a series of experiments to investigate the influence of selected process parameters on ignition stability and deposition rate |
| Experimental investigation of ignition stability and evaluation of the results | Analysis of coating morphology and composition using appropriate methods, e.g., SEM, EDX, or FT-IR |
Your Profile
- A degree in engineering or the natural sciences, such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or physics
- Interest in experimental research and plant engineering, as well as a meticulous and independent work style
- Experience with experimental investigations is a plus. You will learn the fundamentals of plasma technology and coating processes as part of your work.
You can start working on this right away. If you’re interested or would like to learn more about this topic, please feel free to contact me.