Fullerene-Dendrimer Optical Limiters

General objective of this program is to develop efficient optical limiters based onfullerene-dendrimer supramolecular structures. The scientific basis of the proposedprogram is nonlinear optical behavior of fullerenes and dependence of that behavioron interaction between fullerene molecules and matrix material. Reactions betweenfullerene and dendrimer molecules, studied at MER, resulting in formation ofchemical bonds and yielding supramolecular structures that contain distinctivefullerene and dendrimer entities open the possibility of using dendrimers asconvenient matrix for fullerene molecules. The controllability of the molecularsizes and shapes through precisely defined generations and controllability ofmolecular rigidity depending on size, shape and nature of dendrimers, makedendrimers a perfect matrix to investigate the validity of the concept that opticallimiting properties of fullerenes could be tuned and optimized through interactionwith matrix having variable rigidity. It is expected that the proposed concept canlead to the development of passive optical limiter with short reaction time, of theorder of mili-second, and with sufficiently low saturation threshold in the intervalbetween 0.6 J/cm2 and 1 J/cm2. The main goal of the Phase 1 is to synthesizefullerene-dendrimer supramolecules of different kinds, and to perform a thoroughcharacterization of optical properties of obtained products in order to prove thedefined concept. Optimization and definition of production procedure, andfabricating prototype coatings will be the main goal of the first part of the Phase2, while the second part will encompass fabrication of prototypes, verification ofquality of the products and preparations for commercial production.The main commercial potential of the anticipated fullerene-dendrimer molecularstructure is in the market of optical protection at instrumentation/sensor level aswell as in the domain of professional personal protection. Another potential fieldof commercialization may be the application as efficient self-lubricating materialsand lubricant additives. Potential applications in electronic industry,electrochemistry and medical applications should not be excluded.