Predecessor institutes during the GDR period The Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM) emerged from the "Institute for Physical Separation of Materials" founded in 1957 under the direction of Prof
Justus Mühlenpfordt. This was later renamed the "Institute for Stable Isotopes" (ISI). Following a reform of the academy (1968 - 1972), the ISI was dissolved, but became the "Central Institute for Isotope and Radiation Research" (ZfI) and was headed by Prof Klaus Wetzel until 1989 (formally 1990). Both institutes belonged to the
Academy of Sciences of the GDR. As part of the university reform, it was decided that the academies and universities should focus their "research on solving important problems for the development of socialist society, the national economy, the health system, education and culture in the GDR" (§ 2 of the research ordinance). Accordingly, research at the institute was subject to state influences and wishes. For more information on this, see. The main topics of work at the ZfI were: Accelerator technology,
electron beam hardening of
thin films, applied
radiation chemistry, applied
radiation biology, ion beam technology and
pulse radiolysis.
Founding of the IOM The Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM) was officially founded on 1 January 1992 as a Blue List Institute of the
Leibniz Association. The founding director was Prof Frieder Bigl. This was preceded by the dissolution of the ZfI on 31 December 1991 as part of the reorganisation of research institutes following the
German reunification. A founding committee chaired by Prof Klaus Bethge was already planning the new foundation in 1991. In this context, it was also decided that the new institute should be called "Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung e.V." (Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering) and be a
registered association. The status of the institute as a Blue List institute was also decided. The IOM was divided into two departments: "Ion Beam Technology" headed by Prof Frieder Bigl and "Electron Beam Technology" headed by Prof Reiner Mehnert. Both departments were also divided into working groups and focussed on device development or application-oriented topics. Interdisciplinary cooperation was a clearly formulated goal of both departments from the start.
Research between 2000 and 2009 In mid-2000, Prof Bernd Rauschenbach took over the management of the Institute from Prof Frieder Bigl. The "Ion Beam Technology" department was taken over by Prof Rauschenbach. Under his leadership, research was conducted in various working groups on the topics of fundamentals and new applications, surface precision processing, device technology fundamentals and
laser structuring and
laser ablation. The "Electron Beam Technology" department was headed by Prof Mehnert until January 2005, after which Prof Michael Buchmeiser took over this role from January 2006. The individual working groups in this department dealt with the following topics: electron beam technology,
accelerator technology, (
plasma) polymer modification and
process engineering. In autumn 2001, an additional building was constructed, including a technology hall to house pilot plants, a
cleanroom, physical and chemical laboratories and numerous offices for employees. In 2003-04, a laboratory and office extension and a new technology transfer building were started and completed.
Research between 2010 and 2021 In 2010, the institute had around 150 employees. The scientists continued to conduct research in the fields of ion, plasma, electron and photon interaction with surfaces and
thin films. The "Ion Beam Technology" department was renamed the "Physics Department" and headed by Prof Rauschenbach, who remained Director of the Institute. In 2010, there were working groups on the following topics: · Surface precision processing · Plasmajet process development · Device technology basics · Laser structuring and
laser ablation · Layer deposition and structuring · Inorganic / organic interfaces and coatings The "Electron Beam Technology" department was renamed the "Chemistry Department", but remained without a head following the departure of Prof Michael Buchmeiser in 2009. Prof Bernd Abel, who also became Deputy Director of the IOM, took over as head of the department in May 2012. In 2010, there were working groups on the following topics: · Basic research on polymer layers · Functional layers · Polymer modification · Biofunctional polymers In May 2012, the Leipzig nanoAnalytical Centre (LenA) was opened to mark the 20th anniversary of the institute. The central instrument of the LenA centre is a high-resolution transmission
electron microscope (TEM) model "Titan", which enables material science investigations down to the
atomic scale. File:Transmissionselektronenmikroskop (TEM) im Leipziger nanoAnalytikum (LenA).jpg|Analytical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope (TEM) in the Leipzig nanoanalytical centre (LenA). Large-scale device at the IOM. (© IOM; Photo: Yvonne Bohne) File:10-MeV-Elektronenbeschleuniger.jpg|10-MeV electron accelerator (Fa. Mevex, Canada). Large device at the IOM. (© IOM; Photo: Jan Woitas) The IOM's new application centre (APZ for short) was inaugurated in autumn 2016. The APZ is a technology platform and serves to transfer the technologies developed at the institute to industry. For this purpose, the centre has high-tech facilities such as a coating system for the production of polymer-based multilayer systems, a low-energy
electron accelerator for membrane modification,
plasma and
ion beam processing systems and ion beam-assisted
etching of
optical components. Two other important pieces of equipment were also purchased in 2016/2017: Firstly, a fine ion beam (FIB) system for sample preparation with a focussed ion beam and secondly, a
Raman spectrometer, which can be used to carry out investigations into the structure and bonding of materials. On 3 March 2025, Prof. Benjamin Dietzek-Ivanšić took over as the Scientific Director of the IOM. == Current research topics ==