Engineering of Biomaterials for a High-Performance Optical Processor

Not Available The purpose of this program is to develop electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) beaker chemistry processes for the integration of multifunctional thin film materials and devices directly on structural components. The ESA method consists of alternately absorbing cationic and anionic molecules from water-based solutions onto substrates at room temperature and pressure to form multi-layer coatings. Electrical, optical, mechanical, and active functional properties of the coatings are varied through incorporation of selected crystal nanoclusters, polymers, and other molecules, by processing conditions, and by controlling the order of the multi-layer geometry. NanoSonic has demonstrated the ability to achieve high electrical conductivity, piezoelectric and photovoltaic behavior, ultra hardness and abrasion resistance, and nonlinear optical behavior in films; different functionalities may be incorporated into separate layers within a composite coating. During Phase I, NanoSonic will study how coatings with different functional properties may be formed by ESA, and focus on a technology demonstrator consisting of an interconnected, directionally-steerable optoelectronic array on a flexible polymer composite substrate. During Phase II, NanoSonic would develop methods for materials synthesis, and work with B.F. Goodrich to transition the ESA process to manufacturing. Cost sharing is provided by the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology