AZO team

Imagine the precision required to coat a semiconductor wafer with layers just a few atoms thick or to apply flawless, glare-resistant films to camera lenses. Achieving such feats relies on the magnetron—a marvel of engineering at the core of many deposition processes. By generating controlled plasma within a magnetic field, magnetrons enable the precise sputtering […]

Plasma Vapor Deposition (PVD) has redefined the standards for high-performance coatings, offering unparalleled durability, precision, and adaptability. By leveraging the unique properties of plasma, this process enhances coating characteristics in ways that traditional methods cannot match. Below, we’ll dive deeper into how PVD works, its benefits, and why it’s the gold standard for advanced coating

The capabilities of thin films are what help them to be utilized in a variety of applications, including optics, energy, and electronics. All these applications are possible thanks to the thin film’s influence over the characteristics of a surface. Thin films are only thin material layers, with thicknesses between several nanometres – micrometres, but when

When thin films need to be added to a surface, sputtering techniques are there to help. They can produce a coating with a specific placement that’s only several atoms thick. We see the benefits of these properties in everyday items. The coatings from sputtering techniques provide them with extensive functionality, strength, and durability. With many

Surface engineering is an age-old custom. Yet it was only in the 1970s that we started achieving uniform microscopic coatings on substrates with any degree of efficiency. This is linked to the genesis of magnetron sputtering. We understood the basic physics of sputtering as early as the mid-19th Century, but it took almost a hundred

Surface wear and tear affects everyone. You might notice household paintwork cracking or peeling over time due to thermal cycling, and whenever you need to change your car’s brake pads, it’s likely due to friction. The same basic abrasive or corrosive mechanisms affect systems in all aspects of life; from the home to the factory.

The search for sustainable energy solutions is necessary to protect the planet from greenhouse gases and pollution. Hydrogen is one solution for consideration. It has the capability to create electricity, without forming any harmful by-products, and store energy. Estimates have been made that by 2030, the need for clean hydrogen will rise to about 30%.

Adopting sustainable energy is crucial for achieving a better future—one that optimizes resource utilization and minimizes the negative impacts of fossil fuel consumption. Green hydrogen, a clean energy source that only emits water vapor as a byproduct, is a promising alternative produced through sustainable energy. The production process involves electrolysis, which separates hydrogen (H2) and

Numerous material characteristics can be used to form a catalyst, from nickel and gold to rhodium and copper. Each has properties that can affect the catalyst’s overall activity, stability, and selectivity. One catalyst material that draws attention is platinum. Utilized in catalytic converters and for the creation of hydrogen, platinum catalysts deliver excellent catalytic activity.

Green electrolysis has emerged as a pivotal technology in pursuing sustainable energy solutions. The catalysts that drive reactions are central to this process – particularly in water splitting. Ruthenium-based catalysts are among the many that show great promise, primarily due to their high activity. But, their poor stability limits the practical applicability of ruthenium-based catalysts.