Project description
Revolutionising the nanostructured surface manufacturing process
The commercial exploitation of nanostructured surfaces is limited due to the lack of cost-effective and scalable nanopatterning methods. However, these surfaces have huge potential to enhance products such as photonic devices, solar panels, and automotive parts. Unfortunately, the current manufacturing process is a significant hurdle. The EU-funded SUN-PILOT project aims to solve this problem by developing a novel and cost-effective platform for mass fabrication of scratch- and wear-resistant nanopatterned antireflective optical surfaces. This innovation will not only boost the performance/cost ratio of photonic devices but also create opportunities for lighter, functional surfaces in the automotive industry, making Europe a leader in the field.
Objective
Nanostructured surfaces that engineer the interaction between an object and its surroundings are a subject of scientific and manufacturing importance. Nature routinely creates nanostructured surfaces with fascinating properties, such as antireflective moth eyes, self-cleaning lotus leaves, colourful butterfly wings, and water harvesting desert beetles. Well defined nanostructured surfaces have huge commercial potential due to product enhancement: reduced reflectivity in photonic devices and solar panels, antiglare plastic parts for the automotive industry, hydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces for smart packaging, antireflective and smudge-free smartphone displays, and biofouling resistant marine and water treatment systems. Unfortunately, the lack of cost-effective, scalable, nanopatterning methods is a major hurdle for the commercial exploitation of nanopatterned surfaces. SUN-PILOT will address this challenge by developing a novel and cost effective platform for up-scaling sub-wavelength nanostructures fabrication techniques that can be applied to curved surfaces such as optical lenses, and the mass production of metal moulds for injection moulding of plastic parts. The expected impact of SUN-PILOT for the Optics Industry is a disruptive technology that will boost the performance/cost ratio of photonic devices by piloting mass fabrication of scratch and wear resistant nanopatterned antireflective optical surfaces. Significant enhancement will be achieved in the efficiency of optical components and systems incorporating these devices, such as laser systems, electronic displays, security cameras and medical devices. The Automotive Industry will benefit from a novel method to produce functional surfaces at lower cost and lighter weight than existing lamination methods. This proposal brings together scientists and engineers to span innovation, business development and the product cycle from suppliers to end users and will ensure a leadership role of for Europe.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineering
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
D02 CX56 DUBLIN 2
Ireland