Kategorie: ‘Mikro- und Nanoeletronik’
The next generation of computer chips is ‘Made in Aachen’
Black Simiconduktor, f.l.t.r.: Sebastian Schall, Dr.Daniel Schall
The 2026 Aachen Engineering Prize has been awarded to Black Semiconductor founders Dr Daniel Schall and Sebastian Schall – a milestone for the region’s microelectronics sector.
The next generation of computer chips is being shaped to a significant extent in Aachen. We are delighted that this year’s Aachen Engineering Prize is being awarded to two visionaries whose careers are closely linked to the excellent research carried out at our Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology: Dr Daniel Schall and Sebastian Schall, founders of the start-up Black Semiconductor.
The technological foundation for this success is a groundbreaking innovation in graphene photonics. Whilst conventional semiconductor architectures are increasingly reaching their limits due to heat generation and limited bandwidths in data transmission, the Schalls are pursuing a new approach: instead of sending data exclusively via electrical conductors, they enable direct conversion into optical signals on the chip. By integrating graphene, a material with outstanding physical properties, they have succeeded in combining electrical and optical functions directly on a single wafer.
“This innovative approach addresses key performance and efficiency limitations of existing semiconductor architectures and makes a decisive contribution to the next generation of high-performance and AI systems,” emphasises the Advisory Board of the Aachen Engineering Prize in its statement.
For our faculty, this development is an outstanding example of how fundamental scientific research is translated into industrial leadership. Dr Daniel Schall, himself a micro-systems engineer with a PhD and strong links to Aachen’s research community, laid the foundations for this technology during his time at the AMO GmbH research institute. The successful transfer from research to a company that now employs over 130 people impressively demonstrates the added value of the close integration between RWTH teaching and applied research.
Black Semiconductor is now building a 15,000-square-metre production facility, ‘FabONE’, in the Rothe Erde district of Aachen to manufacture graphene chips on an industrially relevant scale. This project not only strengthens the European semiconductor industry in competition with global players, but also underlines Aachen’s role as an innovation hub for future technologies. In doing so, the founders are consistently focusing on CMOS compatibility, enabling their innovation to be seamlessly integrated into existing industrial manufacturing processes.
“Black Semiconductor is making a lasting contribution to strengthening Europe’s position as a centre for the semiconductor industry through its close collaboration with the research sector and its industrial focus. The company thus embodies innovation-driven engineering excellence in a unique way,” explains Rector Professor Ulrich Rüdiger. The City of Aachen, represented by Lord Mayor Dr Michael Ziemons, also emphasises the strategic importance of this development: “We are proud that this forward-looking company has chosen to base itself in Aachen.”
The award ceremony for the Aachen Engineering Prize will take place on 5 September 2026 at 7 pm in the Coronation Hall of the Town Hall. The prize, established by the Association of German Engineers (VDI), is awarded annually to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering.
Modular cleanroom facility inside the new FabONE production hall.
Building an Emerging Research Field: Synthetic Biological Intelligence
Dr Frank Sommerhage demonstrates a bioelectronic system for research in synthetic biological intelligence. © Frank Sommerhage
At the Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering 1 (IWE1), the pioneering field of synthetic biological intelligence is being further developed, made possible by funding under the DAAD’s “Academic Horizons – Attracting Global Minds” programme. Specifically, the “GROW-SBI” project, led by Dr Frank Sommerhage, aims to attract international academic talent and provide new impetus at the interface of electrical engineering, biotechnology and AI.
Research in this field opens up prospects for adaptive, energy-efficient and learning systems that differ fundamentally from today’s digital architectures. The central question is how biological and technical processes can be integrated to enable novel forms of information processing.
“Unlike in classical artificial intelligence, synthetic biological intelligence does not focus solely on software. Rather, it is about the interaction between modern technology and living nerve cells,” explains Frank Sommerhage.
However, this research also raises new scientific and ethical questions regarding control, stability, and responsibility when dealing with biohybrid systems. This topic therefore brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines. At RWTH Aachen University, synthetic biological intelligence is currently being actively established, and it has not yet been institutionalised in Germany either.
© Martin Braun
Dr Frank Sommerhage, project leader, has been advancing this field of research in the USA for many years. In October 2025, he returned to RWTH, his alma mater, where he obtained his PhD in 2011 with a thesis entitled ‘Chloride versus Protons – Ion Currents in the Cell-Transistor Junction’. He now wishes to nurture young talent himself.
The first international group will arrive at RWTH for a three-week onboarding programme as early as this summer. This will include laboratory visits and workshops, as well as insights into cell culture, sensor technology, computer-aided analysis, philosophy, and applied ethics. Support services will also be provided to help participants settle into research and life in Aachen.
“With our approach, we are strengthening RWTH’s profile in the field of medical science and technology,” says Dr Sommerhage.
RWTH Aachen will receive funding totalling €750,000 until the end of 2029 under the DAAD programme “Academic Horizons – Attracting Global Minds”. These funds are provided by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the “Global Minds Initiative Germany”. The initiative aims to support German universities in attracting outstanding talent from around the world to undertake master’s and doctoral programmes in key technologies and strategically relevant fields of research.
Funding will be awarded to interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects that contribute to raising the profile of, and promoting the internationalisation of, the respective university. A total of 20 German universities are receiving funding under the programme.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a non-profit organisation funded by German universities and student unions. It is the world’s largest funding organisation for international student and researcher exchange programmes. Since its foundation in 1925, the DAAD has supported over 2.9 million young academics in Germany and overseas.
Dr.-Ing. Sabine Paarmann receives significant funding for battery research
Dr.-Ing Sabine Paarmann has been awarded a highly endowed research grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR). As part of the “BattFutur – Junior Research Group for Battery Research” competition, her project will receive €2.7 million in funding over the next five years. This initiative is a central component of the German government’s high-tech strategy and aims to create optimal conditions for outstanding scientists in German battery research.
ISEA
In her project “CooLIB – Thermal design and cooling strategies to boost the performance and lifetime of lithium-ion batteries,” Dr. Paarmann and her team are developing innovative cell concepts. The focus is on investigating thermal and electrochemical inhomogeneities within the cells. Systematic cycle tests are used to measure these inhomogeneities and quantify their interactions in order to specifically reduce their influence. The research results will be directly incorporated into the development of new battery cells and thermal management in order to make future batteries more efficient and durable.
The new research group “Thermal-Electrical Design of Energy Storage Systems” headed by Dr. Paarmann is based at the Center for Ageing, Reliability, and Lifetime Prediction of Electrochemical and Power Electronic Systems (CARL) at RWTH Aachen University. Dr. Paarmann has excellent scientific expertise: she received her doctorate in 2021 from KIT in Karlsruhe in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering and, before moving to RWTH Aachen University, conducted research as a DFG-funded postdoc at Imperial College London.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology is delighted to welcome Dr. Paarmann as the new group leader at ISEA and looks forward to the coming years of research and a successful collaboration.
The future of hearing: Public lecture series at the “NeuroSensEar” workshop
What will the hearing aid of the future look like? And how can the human brain help us build more efficient computers? From March 3 to 5, 2026, as part of the workshop “NeuroSensEar – Neuromorphic Acoustic Sensors for Tomorrow’s High-Performance Hearing Aids”, the Institute of Communications Engineering at RWTH Aachen University invites you to three high-profile public lectures in Lecture Hall FT (Melatener Str. 23, 52074 Aachen).
The “NeuroSensEar” project is dedicated to one of the most exciting challenges in current technology: the development of neuromorphic acoustic sensor technology. The goal is to create powerful hearing aids that not only amplify sound better, but also act intelligently and energy-efficiently, just like our brains.
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Accompanying the workshop, three renowned professors from our faculty will provide exclusive insights into their research.
Neuromorphic Computing: Energy Efficiency Through Biologically Inspired Hardware – Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Prof. (ret.) Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Rainer Waser
Information technology is facing a paradigm shift: classic, algorithmic data processing is increasingly being replaced by AI-based approaches. This is accompanied by a massive increase in energy consumption. To reduce this, institutes in Faculty 6 are researching neuromorphic systems that work much more efficiently than conventional architectures.
In the upcoming lecture, Prof. Waser will present the physical fundamentals of redox-based memristive components. The focus is on an interdisciplinary approach between materials science, electrical engineering, and computer science that uses the functioning of the human brain as a technical model.
In addition to hardware development, specific AI applications and their social opportunities and risks will be discussed. The lecture will conclude with a reflection on the question of whether future AI systems could develop consciousness.
Real hearing in the laboratory: Hearing research in interactive VR environments – Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Prof. Janina Fels
Until now, research into auditory perception and cognitive processes has often relied on controlled but unrealistically simplified laboratory scenarios. The Institute of Hearing Technology and Acoustics (IHTA) at RWTH Aachen University is now using modern audiovisual virtual reality (VR) to simulate complex everyday situations in a realistic and interactive way.
This technology allows test subjects to interact with acoustic scenes in real time. This enables the precise investigation of hearing and attention in acoustically challenging environments such as open-plan offices or busy outdoor areas. A current research focus of the IHTA is the analysis of noise pollution, attention, and listening effort in elementary school classrooms.
The presentation highlights how VR methods bridge the gap between classical hearing psychology and real-life environments. It also discusses how interdisciplinary approaches from audiology and virtual reality are shaping the future of hearing research.
Glasses for the ears: Intelligent communication systems of the future – Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Jax
Smart hearables are increasingly evolving from simple headphones to intelligent microcomputers with integrated AI. As “glasses for the ears,” these systems act as personal assistants in the areas of consumer audio, health, and professional communication.
One key potential of this technology lies in 3D telephony. Spatial audio reproduction enables intuitive differentiation between speakers, which greatly enhances immersion and the sense of presence in digital meetings. The goal is communication that achieves the naturalness of a face-to-face conversation despite physical distance.
The presentation highlights current developments in research and industry and discusses the acoustic and technical challenges that must be overcome in the design of such innovative platforms.
At the Interface of Medicine and Engineering: New Technologies for Implantation Biology
© Martin Braun
In an online seminar, Dr Madhuri Salker will discuss her current research, which centres on the study of human implantation and pregnancy loss. To this end, she employs reconstructed assemblages, multimodal single-cell sequencing, and nanosensor development.
Dr Madhuri Salker is investigating the molecular and immunological processes of early pregnancy. The Tübingen University Hospital researcher and University of British Columbia assistant professor was recently awarded a highly endowed project grant in the form of a European Research Council Consolidator Grant. In her project babyRADAR, she intends to use cutting-edge technologies to improve our understanding of the endometrium’s decision-making processes during implantation. The interaction of steroid hormones, immune cells and tissue dynamics will be a particular focus, as these processes can now be quantified in real time using nanoscale sensor systems for the first time.
In her presentation, she will focus on reconstructed endometrial tissue models, multimodal single-cell sequencing, and the development of highly sensitive nanosensors. These approaches enable the precise analysis of communication between maternal tissue and the embryo, and the identification of molecular dysregulations that can lead to implantation failure or miscarriage.
‘Understanding why implantation fails could allow us to develop new diagnostic procedures, improve fertility treatments, and offer hope to affected families,’ explains Madhuri Salker.
Integrated micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices play a special role in this context. These miniature, sensor-integrated microsystems enable precise control of microfluidic environments and real-time monitoring of biochemical and mechanical processes at the cellular level. This enables cellular forces, dynamic signals and metabolic processes to be recorded continuously and in high resolution.
There are clear links here to research at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, specifically the Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering 1 (IWE1). Headed by Professor Sven Ingebrandt, the institute places a special focus on developing micro- and nanosystems for biotechnology and biomedical diagnostics. The institute’s core competencies include coupling biological systems, such as living cells, membranes, and proteins, with technical systems to create novel sensors, microfluidic systems, and intelligent implants.
This technological expertise is directly relevant to Madhuri Salker’s research. She uses integrated MEMS components in her studies of implant biology. Combining basic research in reproductive medicine with the development of micro- and nanosystem technologies thus opens up new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between medicine and engineering. Against this backdrop, the lecture will explore potential technological collaborations between Professor Sven Ingebrandt and Dr Madhuri Salker. It will focus on how micro- and nanosystem technology developments can support biomedical research.
Participation: On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the event will take place online via Zoom, starting at 5 p.m. and lasting until 6:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 644 5259 3117
Access code: 985261
Prof. Max Lemme as co-author in Nature Photonics
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology congratulates Prof. Max Lemme on a special scientific achievement: as co-author, he contributed to a consensus statement publication in the renowned journal Nature Photonics. The publication is entitled ‘Guidelines for accurate evaluation of photodetectors based on emerging semiconductor technologies’ and provides important impetus for the international research community.
A consensus statement publication summarises the current state of knowledge in a specialist field and formulates recommendations, standards or procedures that promote reliable and uniform scientific practice. In this article, leading experts from research and industry have developed for the first time a comprehensive framework for the precise characterisation, documentation and comparability of photodetectors based on novel semiconductor materials.
There is a great need for such guidelines: photodetectors made from innovative material classes such as organic semiconductors, perovskites, quantum dots, two-dimensional materials, metal oxides and carbon nanotubes have made enormous progress in recent years. At the same time, inconsistent measurement methods and reporting standards have so far made it difficult to compare different studies and thus hindered scientific development in this field.
The recommendations that have now been published create a common foundation for the community and support transparent, reproducible and comparable research practices. This benefits not only academic working groups, but also industrial development processes and the emergence of future photonic technologies.
Prof. Max Lemme is not only the holder of the Chair of Electronic Components at our faculty, but also the managing director of AMO GmbH, whose research focuses are closely linked to the topics covered in the publication. The development and integration of novel materials for optoelectronic components is one of the company’s core activities. Participation in this international consensus paper underscores the great scientific and technological relevance of this work.
AMO GmbH has also highlighted the publication in its own article. Further information can be found on the website and on LinkedIn.
Four RWTH researchers admitted to the German Academy of Engineering Sciences
The German Academy of Science and Engineering, acatech for short, has accepted four scientists from RWTH Aachen University as new members: Fabian Kießling, Max Lemme, Constantin Häfner and Walter Leitner.
acatech is the central voice of technical sciences in Germany and is funded by the federal and state governments as a national academy. It advises politicians and society independently, factually and in the public interest on issues relating to shaping the future of technology. Its members come from the fields of engineering and natural sciences, medicine, and the humanities and social sciences. The patron of the academy is the Federal President.
With the admission of the four new members, a total of 35 scientists from RWTH Aachen University are now part of acatech. In addition to Professor Max Lemme, Professor Rainer Waser, Professor Dirk Uwe Sauer, Professor Jürgen Roßmann, Professor Rik W. de Doncker and Professor Steffen Leonhardt from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology are also members of the academy.
Max Lemme: Research into the electronics of the future
© Martin Braun
Professor Max Lemme holds the Chair of Electronic Components at RWTH Aachen University and is managing director of AMO GmbH. His research focuses on novel electronic and optoelectronic components based on two-dimensional materials such as graphene. The aim is to integrate these materials into future micro- and nanoelectronics, sensor technology and neuromorphic computing systems. Lemme is also spokesperson for the NeuroSys future cluster.
In addition to him, three other outstanding researchers from RWTH Aachen University were accepted into acatech: Professor Fabian Kießling, Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering and pioneer of molecular imaging, Professor Constantin Häfner, Director of Research and Transfer at the Fraunhofer Society and expert in high-power lasers, and Professor Walter Leitner, Chair of Technical Chemistry and Petrochemistry and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion.
Their admission recognises their scientific achievements and their contribution to the further development of technical sciences in Germany.
Observing 2D Memristors with Operando TEM: Another Step Toward Neuromorphic Computing
Understanding of conductive filament dynamics in memristive devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials has been substantially advanced by a research team from AMO GmbH, RWTH Aachen University (Chair of Electronic Components), and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
The researchers used a transmission electron microscope (TEM), which instead of light uses a beam of electrons to make images, thus achieving imaging down to the scale of atoms through the short wavelengths of electrons. The operando state for TEM was used to observe the 2D components as they are operating, and not in before or after states. Which allows the nanoscale phenomena to be observed in real time.
Memristors are a key part of neuromorphic computing, which allows computation and memory in the same physical location so that the use of energy is radically minimized.
For this research, 2D sheets of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) were used. It is a compelling candidate for memristive devices owing to its atomically thin, layered two-dimensional structure, which features interlayer van der Waals gaps, which are nanoscale spacings maintained by weak van der Waals interactions that provide efficient transport pathways for ions and metal atoms. These pathways facilitate the controlled formation and dissolution of conductive filaments, thereby enabling the resistive switching behavior required for device operation.
Image 1 – Sheets of 2D Memristor and Pd-Ag Poles to create potential difference – nature.com
Silver ions were directly observed by the researchers as they moved through the MoS₂ medium along surface routes, within interlayer van der Waals gaps, and between bundles under applied voltage. There, they gather into metallic conductive filaments that bridge the electrodes and change the device into a low-resistance state; reversing the polarity dissolves these filaments and returns the device to a high-resistance state. In order to directly evaluate switching reliability as well as the causes of anomalous events and cycle-to-cycle variability, the operando TEM imaging is synced with current-voltage measurements. This allows them to track the nucleation, growth, motion, and rupture of individual filaments in real time and correlate these physical events to electrical signatures. They deduced the factors that influence switching performance from these observations, offering specific recommendations for the construction and functioning of devices.
Image 2 – Silver filament formation and deformation under TEM
Image 3 – Silver contrast under TEM
These results give us specific ways to make memristive synapses more reliable for neuromorphic computing. By figuring out where silver filaments form (on MoS₂ surfaces, in interlayer van der Waals gaps, and between bundles) and measuring their sizes, the study makes it possible to better control how filaments grow and nucleate. By customizing the MoS₂ morphology and device geometry, engineers can adjust the SET/RESET voltages, limit the filament thickness, and thus improve the switching current and energy use. All of these physics-based ideas support device design and operation plans that are based on mechanisms and make memristive hardware for neuromorphic systems more stable, efficient, and scalable.
Looking ahead, as filament dynamics become programmatically controllable and device variability is tamed, neuromorphic systems could progress from lab prototypes to wafer-scale accelerators that learn on-device, operate at microwatt power levels, and approach brain-like energy efficiency. Hybrid 2D-material crossbars integrated atop CMOS may enable dense, 3D-stacked synaptic fabrics for lifelong on-chip learning, powering adaptive robotics and privacy-preserving cognition in everyday devices. With native plasticity at the device level, future machines could continuously adapt to their environments, compress and interpret sensory streams in real time, and deliver robust intelligence in battery-powered wearables and autonomous agents, bringing us measurably closer to brain-inspired computing platforms that transcend the limits of conventional digital architectures.
Source: nature.com
The illustrations were taken from the above-mentioned source. They are not in their original sizes and have been adjusted to aid in the explanation.
Cheerfully building bridges from neuroscience to computer technology to AI
On 18 June 2025, as part of the RIA lectures, Senior Professor Rainer Waser will present research on interfaces in the fields of neuroscience, computer technology and AI.
In his online lecture, which will be followed by a panel discussion, Professor Rainer Waser from the Institute of Materials of Electrical Engineering 2 at RWTH Aachen University and the Electronic Materials division of the Peter Grünberg Institute 7 at Forschungszentrum Jülich, will discuss the current concepts, solutions, consequences and perspectives of research collaboration between different faculties. This free, one-and-a-half-hour event can be attended via Zoom and starts at 5 pm.
Professor Rainer Waser was awarded the prestigious Leibniz Prize in 2014 in recognition of his exceptional contributions to research in the field. The researcher’s interdisciplinary approach proved to be a pivotal element in this endeavour. At the beginning of 2025, he was awarded an honorary senior professorship at RWTH Aachen University. He continues to dedicate himself to researching memristive phenomena, neuromorphic computing and the relationship between functional oxides and their defect chemistry.
‘Not just immersing myself in one discipline, but building bridges – that’s what has driven me my whole life,’ says the researcher, talking about what motivates him.
The Regional Informatics Group Aachen (RIA) is part of Gesellschaft für Informatik, the German professional organisation for computer scientists. Members of the group work together to facilitate the exchange of information, discuss relevant topics, and represent common interests in computer science and IT in the region. RIA works closely with REGINA e.V., the Regional Computer Science Industry Club of RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences.
The Gesellschaft für Informatik is a local and international organisation that opens doors to the professional and scientific worlds. It enables computer scientists to engage in continuous dialogue with the scientific community. The Gesellschaft für Informatik acts as an intermediary body, bringing together scientists, industry professionals, and administrators, and representing their interests in politics.
You can participate in the event via this Zoom link. A video of the lecture and discussion will be made available on the YouTube channel of the Chair of Software Engineering shortly after the event ends.
If you would like to receive information about future RIA lectures, please e-mail vortrag@i3.informatik.rwth-aachen.de.
New dimensions for microelectronics: RWTH and TU Dresden launch major joint project
Artistic visualization of a stacked chip resembling a skyscraper. © TU Dresden / cfaed
Professor Max Lemme is the co-spokesperson for the new DFG Collaborative Research Centre, ‘Active-3D’. The project aims to enhance the performance of microchips by utilising the previously unused space above the chip surface.
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is establishing a new Collaborative Research Centres/Transregios (CRC/TRR-404), namly Next Generation Electronics with Active Devices in Three Dimensions (Active-3D). This pioneering research project aims to take the miniaturisation of microelectronics to the next phase. With Professor Max Lemme, holder of the Chair of Electronic Devices at RWTH Aachen University, a renowned scientist from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology is involved in a central role as co-spokesperson. Together with Professor Thomas Mikolajick from TU Dresden, he is coordinating the joint project, in which several universities and non-university research institutions are involved.
The aim of the Collaborative Research Centre is to make the third dimension electronically usable. While conventional chips have mainly been optimised in terms of surface area, the volume above this – i.e. the area of the so-called metallisation level (back-end of line, BEOL) – is now also to be developed for active components that enable logic and memory functions as well as switchable connections. Based on new materials, innovative components are being developed and integrated into circuits and systems that offer enhanced performance, processing speed and surface area. As part of the technology-design-system co-development approach, materials, technology and circuits are being developed simultaneously. This makes it possible to distribute functionalities across the volume previously reserved for passive wiring, thus utilising the entire volume of the chip. The result could be completely new 3D electronic systems that are not only more powerful, but also more energy-efficient and compact.
‘The TRR Next Generation Electronics With Active Devices in Three Dimensions (Active-3D) will strengthen Germany’s and Europe’s position in basic microelectronics research,’ explains Professor Mikolajick. ‘The researchers involved at the various locations are ideally placed to investigate the use of the entire volume of a chip for active components.’
This major project has already resulted in the formation of a powerful network at the forefront of international electronics research. Partners include Forschungszentrum Jülich, AMO GmbH, NaMLab gGmbH, the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics in Halle, and Ruhr University Bochum. The Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio format enables close, cross-location cooperation. RWTH Aachen University and TU Dresden share scientific responsibility, each contributing complementary focal points. In addition, young scientists from other universities and non-university research institutions are involved. Around 15 doctoral and postdoctoral positions have already been filled, with one further position yet to be advertised. Further vacancies will follow during the course of the project.
Vacancies will be posted on the homepage of the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics.
