CEPLANT
CEPLANT

Overview

The centre CEPLANT at Masaryk University was established in 2010 in order to develop highly innovative plasma-based technologies for surface modifications according to the market demand, especially the demand of SME. It was enabled due to the more than 50 years lasting tradition of the high-quality applied research of plasma technologies and plasma sources at the Masaryk University.

The long-term vision is to establish a reputable centre that will be the leading Central European R&D institution in the field of in-line plasma surface treatments and will be sought after as an R&D partner by global international companies too.

The main R&D areas are:
1. Plasma treatment to gain required surface properties and plasma diagnostics and modelling (various plasma sources developed by CEPLANT - based on the unique patented technology DCSBD, and several commercial plasma sources);
2. Thin film deposition (preparation of wide range of thin films - metals, oxides, nitrides, ceramics; using different techniques -… Thanks to the funding by the European Regional Development Fund the centre CEPLANT was equipped with the following top devices for comprehensive surface analysis and plasma diagnostics and also laboratory and commercial plasma generators:

Plasma sources

DCSBD plasma reactor with robotic arm for small rigid samples
DCSBD plasma reactor for A4-size rigid samples
DCSBD plasma reactor for flexible samples
Large area Roll-to-Roll machine for surface treatments
Industrial Corona System for treating roll material Ahlbrandt
Atmospheric plasma beam and glide arc for surface treatment of planar and 3D objects (Diener Electronic GmbH Co.)
Plasma multijet system (patent EP 2009029)
Plasma pencil (patent: EP 1077021 and patent: US 6, 525, 481)

Optical characterization and plasma diagnostics

Optical Spectrometers FHR 1000 (Horiba, France), Shamrock (Andor, England)
Portable Spectrometers AvaSpec-ULS-TEC (Avantes, NL)
Laser Induced Fluorescence – LIF (pulsed (8 ns) tunable (200 nm -…. The centre CEPLANT offers the services and products relating to the following activities:

1. Plasma treatment

The researchers from the CEPLANT centre are especially dealing with a surface treatment of plane and flexible materials by the nonisothermal atmospheric pressure plasma generated mostly by the so called Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) that is also protected by the patent. The surface treatments can be carried out in an ambient air or to gain the required surface properties also in other gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide etc.

• plasma surface treatment of plane and flexible materials (textiles, foils, polymers, glass, rubber, metals, etc.)
• construction of “turnkey” plasma sources
• comparative studies of a various plasmas influence on the surface properties

2. Thin film deposition

The CEPLANT research team is also focused on the investigation and development of plasma assisted thin film deposition techniques. This research includes understanding of…. Yes. service.