Self-Assembled Nanoporous Anti-Reflective Coatings for Image Intensifier Tubes

The proposed Air Force SBIR program would develop antireflective coatings for image intensifier tube faceplates. Such coatings would improve the performance of military night vision devices by allowing more light to enter the image intensifier tube and simultaneously reducing the "veiling luminance" caused by light scattering. NanoSonic Inc. has extensive experience in the manufacturing of thin film coatings using electrostatic self-assembly (ESA). The ESA process, licensed by NanoSonic, is a low cost and environmentally benign process allowing deliberate control of film properties at the molecular level. Recently, NanoSonic researchers have successfully applied ESA to prepare nanoporous films having effective refractive indices in the range of 1.2 to 1.5. Due to their low and controllable refractive indices, such materials are ideal for use in antireflective coatings. Moreover, ESA is an ideal process for fabricating low index AR coatings directly on the faceplates of fully assembled image intensifier tubes. During Phase I NanoSonic would; apply various methods to fabricate nanoporous films and evaluate their optical and mechanical properties; develop and apply theoretical analysis capabilities to evaluate coating effects on image intensifier tube performance; and demonstrate design feasibility, including fabrication of prototype coatings, and estimation of life cycle cost.