AutoNex Technologies

AutoNex Technologies develops practical engineering tools that help R&D and QC teams make better decisions earlier in their workflow. Our focus is on reducing wasted effort, cost, and uncertainty in thin-film research and device fabrication.

What Problem are we solving?

In many research labs, thin films that appear acceptable are taken forward to advanced characterisation (SEM, XRD, TRMC, profilometry, etc.) and device fabrication. Only after significant time and cost have been invested, the hidden defects become apparent — often through device failure.This frequently leads to:

  • Lost days or weeks of work

  • Expensive downstream testing on poor-quality samples

  • Subjective judgement calls instead of objective screening

  • Difficulty identifying and explaining yield loss

AutoNex tools are designed to identify issues early, before time-consuming and expensive downstream processes are applied.

OptiGate — Early-Stage Optical Gatekeeping

OptiGate is an early-stage optical screening system designed to assess thin-film quality after deposition and annealing, before further processing.It provides rapid, objective insight into film quality while remaining fully non-destructive and process-agnostic.

Prototype Images and Animation

What does OptiGate Detect?

OptiGate screens thin films for early-stage defect risks, including:

  • Non-uniform thickness and coating consistency

  • Surface and through-thickness cracks

  • Pinholes and hidden shunt pathways

  • Mechanical damage and continuity issues

Where OptiGate Fits in the Thin-Film Workflow

Synthesis → Deposition → Annealing → OptiGate Screening → Device Fabrication → Electrical Testing

At the bare film stage:

  • Meaningful electrical measurements are not yet possible

  • Device-level failures are expensive and late

  • Advanced characterisation is powerful but costly

A single rejected poor-quality film can save hundreds to thousands of dollars in downstream effort and prevent days to weeks of delay associated with booking and queueing for advanced characterisation tools such as SEM, TRMC, and XRD.OptiGate does not replace these expensive top-tier tools — it ensures their effective utilization.

Example Images of thin-film captured by OptiGate

Multiple images of the same film are presented below, with each image highlighting different defect features.

Roadmap

OptiGate V2 (In Development)

Planned extensions of the current optical screening platform include:

  • Wavelength-selective illumination for enhanced contrast and defect sensitivity

  • Spatial photoluminescence (PL) mapping for early material-quality insight

  • Early electronic-quality indicators derived from optical signatures

  • Further reduction in reliance on routine film-level advanced characterisation

OptiGate V3 (Exploratory)

Longer-term directions under exploration include:

  • Automated metrics

  • Data-driven acceptance thresholds

  • Integration with laboratory workflows

Applications

OptiGate is designed for teams working on:

  • Thin-film research and development

  • Perovskite and photovoltaic materials

  • Academic and national research facilities

  • R&D teams seeking improved yield, repeatability, and resource efficiency

Contact

For collaboration, early access, and discussion, please contact:[email protected]Autonex Technologies is an Australian owned and operated company. All system design, prototyping, and fabrication are performed locally in Melbourne.