Volatile Pi-Azide Precursor Synthesis for Advanced Thin-Film Applications
VolaChem provides high-purity, volatile pi-azide precursors synthesized through a safe, ambient-condition process. These chemicals are vital for advanced thin-film manufacturing, including ALD and CVD, serving industries such as semiconductors, microelectronics, and isotope separation. VolaChem offers custom synthesis, industrial-scale production, and expert consulting.
Overview
VolaChem is an innovative project emerging from the Applied Laser Technologies group at Ruhr-University Bochum. It specializes in the synthesis and supply of high-purity volatile pi-azide compounds. These chemicals are essential precursors for advanced thin-film manufacturing processes, including Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). By overcoming historical synthetic barriers, VolaChem enables access to previously difficult-to-obtain materials for applications in semiconductors, microelectronics, and isotope separation.
Technical specifications
VolaChem has developed a proprietary synthesis process that produces volatile pi-azide compounds under ambient pressure and at room temperature or with only mild cooling. This represents a significant safety and efficiency advancement compared to traditional, energy-intensive methods that required extreme heat or high pressure. The project is currently scaling production capabilities and establishing an analytical database to characterize the properties of these volatile compounds, providing a foundation for both custom synthesis services and collaborative research.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently in development (TRL 4-6). VolaChem is actively transitioning from laboratory-scale proof-of-concept to pilot-scale and large-scale manufacturing processes, while simultaneously building out its analytical characterization infrastructure to support industrial implementation.
About Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Ruhr‑Universität Bochum is a large, comprehensive public research university in Germany’s Ruhr metropolitan region. Industry engagement is embedded through co‑located applied research institutes and shared labs, a nearby research and technology park, and a startup center for spinouts and collaboration. Clinical translation is enabled by a university hospital network linking multiple teaching hospitals, providing access to patients, trials, and real‑world validation environments. Research is supported by competitive funding from the German Research Foundation, federal and state ministries, and European Union programs. A dedicated technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, and standardized collaboration agreements to accelerate partnerships.
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