Functional ceramic materials

Functional ceramics are indispensable in many areas of technology. They ensure functional properties (e.g. electrical, magnetic, optical functions) of individual components that are necessary for the operation of components and entire systems, often unnoticed by the user of devices. Functional ceramic materials are therefore indispensable in many areas of technology, such as information and communication technology, sensor technology, automotive and Industry 4.0.

functional ceramics
Photo: work group Töpfer

At the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences, we deal with various functional ceramic material systems, starting with the chemical synthesis of ultra-fine and nanoscale oxide powders, through the optimisation of ceramic processing technology, to materials science issues relating to the relationships between composition, crystal structure, defect structure, microstructure and functional properties. The spectrum of topics ranges from fundamental questions of the solid-state chemistry of oxide systems to technological problems of electronic components.

The research and optimisation of materials and their application properties is carried out on compact bulk ceramics, multilayer components or ceramic layers.

The following functional materials are processed in our working group:

  • Soft ferrite materials for inductors and power transmitters
  • Microwave ferrites
  • Hard ferrite as materials for permanent magnets
  • Thermoelectric oxides and components
  • Piezoelectric materials
  • Dielectric and relaxor materials for capacitor applications
  • Materials for thermistors
  • Integration of functional materials in LTCC modules

Experimental possibilities

  • Chemical and ceramic preparation laboratories
  • Characterisation of powder properties (particle size, specific surface area)
  • Sintering under defined gas atmospheres
  • Thermal analyses under defined gas atmospheres
  • X-ray diffraction
  • Electron microscopy
  • Magnetic measurement technology
  • Measurement of electrical and thermoelectric properties