2010 R&D 100 Winner
Optical films are widely used in manufacturing; but most are made using complicated, costly high temperature, high-vacuum deposition methods. A simpler, less expensive solution, Multifunctional Optical Coatings by Rapid Self-Assembly, has been developed by Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, Texas; the Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque; and Davidson College, Davidson, N.C.
The process starts with commercially available polymers, which are dispersed in common solvents to allow production of film through spin, dip, or spray coating in ambient conditions. During coating, evaporation of the solvents induces self-assembly, forming multifunctional films with a nanostructured surface, low surface energy, controllable porosity, and a refractive index ranging from n = 1.2 to 3.0.
These films possess physical properties approaching those of materials made using chemical vapor deposition or sputtering. Additionally, the chemical and physical nature of the self-assembled polymer films can be further modified through a variety of near-ambient processes that allow users to tailor unique functions and properties. The tenability of material properties is complemented by the low toxicity and the low cost: equipment expenses are in the thousands vs. millions for CVD or sputtering.
Technology
Self-assembled optical coating
Developers
Sandia National Laboratories
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Univ. of New Mexico
Davidson College
Development Team
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| Front row (l-r): Earl Stromberg, Hongyou Fan, Dan Boye. Back row: Huimeng Wu, Feng Bai, Zaicheng Sun |
Multifunctional Optical Coatings by Rapid Self-Assembly Development Team
Feng Bai, Univ. of New Mexico, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
Dan Boye, Davidson College
Hongyou Fan, Sandia National Laboratories
Earl Stromberg, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Zaicheng Sun, Univ. of New Mexico, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
Huimeng Wu, Sandia National Laboratories
