SMM-Industrialisierung

• Unité de recherche: METAS
• Numéro de projet: F-5217.30133

Mots-clé (Anglais)

scanning microwave microscope (SMM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), vector network analyzer (VNA)

Description succincte (Anglais)

The adopted strategy for the Scanning Microwave Microscope (SMM) envisages taking the first steps towards the industrialization of SMM. In recent months, the HF laboratory has established contacts with the company Nanosurf, which manufactures AFMs. This company has declared itself very interested in supplementing its existing product line with an SMM, where AFM and SMM heads should be interchangeable.

Objectifs du projet (Anglais)

The main aim of this preliminary project is to produce prototypes at relatively low cost that demonstrate the SMM measurement capability and simultaneously to show the way to more cost-effective electronics that can replace the VNA. 

The work consists of two parts:
1. development of an electromechanical adaptation for an existing Nanosurf AFM in order to transmit the high-frequency signal to the measuring tip as loss- and reflection-free as possible. In combination with a commercially available VNA, this already represents a fully-fledged SMM. However, the adapter cannot yet be commercialized in this form (tip not interchangeable, etc.).
2. development of specific electronics tailored to the needs of the SMM to replace the VNA. This should significantly reduce the acquisition costs for the SMM and appeal to a larger customer base. This step also involves a test setup.

If this preliminary project is successful, further concrete steps towards commercialization will be negotiated with Nanosurf

Mise en oeuvre et application (Anglais)

During the small-scale project, Nanosurf pushed for an expansion of the work. The aim was not just to produce prototypes but products ready for the market. For this reason, this project was extended and a converted into a major project.