Nanostructured Variable Transmittance Helmet Mounted Visors

The purpose of the proposed SBIR Air Force Phase II project is to develop a variable transmittance device utilizing a drop on demand "direct write" process. The end result of this proposed program would be the design and fabrication of a multifunctional electrochromic coating with antireflective and abrasion resistant properties. Electrochromic materials exhibit a reversible visible change in transmittance or reflectance between a transparent bleached state to a colored neutral density state by an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction. Utilizing our direct write process we can grade polymer electrochromic materials and nanocrystalline photosensitizer particles through the thickness of a nanometer scale coating to achieve light sensitive multicolored electrochromic devices with excellent contrast typically exhibited only by more costly and complex fabrication techniques on flat surfaces. This project includes the integration and development of electrochromic materials, conductive coatings, hard coatings, as well as antireflective optical filters. This device would be designed to be manufactured using a drop on demand process, which allows specific materials to be placed onto a substrate of choice with sub-micron precision and high reproducibility. This type of approach would also allow visors to be customized and trimmed to meet the demand of each pilot without affecting the coatings performance and long-term durability.