In the university cleanroom, theory meets practice
They design samples, deposit thin films, test results, adjust parameters – and test again. This iterative, problem-based approach brings university projects closer to real-world prototype development and reflects how innovation actually happens.
At Aalborg University, students work directly with Polyteknik PVD equipment in the cleanroom, including the Flextura 200 system. For nanophysics students Jeppe Johannes Klinge and Tatsuhide Gade Nakabayashi, this means their bachelor thesis goes far beyond calculations and simulations and into hands-on experimentation.
As Jeppe explains, “It gives us new opportunities for how we can work with projects. The freedom and practical focus of the work allow us to explore, fail, improve – and understand materials on a deeper level, from crystal structure and surface roughness to chemical composition and purity.”
Using the PVD system, they produce and test multiple thin films, learning not just what works, but why. By adjusting parameters and repeating experiments, they investigate what defines a high-quality thin film, including purity, crystal quality, surface roughness and chemical composition – and how precisely it can be controlled
Tatsuhide highlights the value of this practical freedom: “We have a lot of freedom with the projects. We make changes throughout a project until it works, and then reverse engineer to understand what changed.”
This problem-based, experimental approach is typical for projects at Aalborg University and reflects real industrial development, where iteration and testing are essential. The cooperation with Polyteknik helps bring university projects closer to real-world prototypes and industrial processes.
References throughout Europe
Aalborg University is not alone. Universities and research institutes throughout Europe use Polyteknik PVD systems for education and thin-film research, giving students and researchers access to the same type of advanced vacuum and deposition technology used in the semiconductor and thin-film industries.
Nanophysics students Tatsuhide Gade Nakabayashi and @Jeppe Johannes Klinge