Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology
Participation in state projects
MIKROOZON
Water disinfection with diamond-coated Si electrodes
This project is supported by the European Union - European Regional Development Fund.
Cooperation partner
Condias GmbH and GO Systemelektronik GmbH
Why ozone?
Ozone is a highly effective and environmentally friendly disinfectant against which even multi-resistant pathogens cannot stand. Dissolved in water, it acts in the medium itself and at the same time can be used to sanitize surfaces. Ozone can be generated by electrolysis with boron-doped diamonds directly from water and dissolved in water exactly where it is needed. This current-based process is safe and fast and allows dosing as needed, adapted to the respective conditions.
The aim of the project
In the MIKROOZON project, the partners Condias GmbH, GO Systemelektronik GmbH and Fraunhofer ISIT are developing a miniaturized ozone generator that ensures hygienic cleanliness in household appliances such as beverage makers or shower toilets, for example.
Central component of the project
Miniaturized, diamond-coated electrodes, for which Fraunhofer ISIT is developing the silicon substrates, are the central component of the project. Diamond enables electrochemical reactions that break down organic pollutants and destroy resistant germs without the use of aggressive chemicals.
Diamonds are Forever
With its diamond technology Condias (a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, IST, Braunschweig) is already present as a technology and quality market leader in industrial applications. In order to establish the environmentally friendly and effective water treatment also in household appliances, a cost-effective process control is required. To ensure that the dose and residence time of the ozone in the water are correct, a sensor chip from Fraunhofer ISIT is to transmit the parameters mass flow, temperature and conductivity to a novel electrolysis controller being developed by GO Systemelektronik GmbH.
