Self-Assembled Variable Transmittance Helmet Mounted Display Visors

This Air Force Phase I SBIR program will develop and transition to application molecular self-assembly processing techniques for the manufacturing of photo-initiated electrochromic variable transmittance coatings for helmet mounted display visors. Theroom temperature and pressure molecular self-assembly process consists of alternate absorption of either noble metal, metal oxide nanoparticles, ligands, polymers, or biomolecules. Molecular self-assembled films can be dipped or sprayed under ambientconditions to conformally coat surfaces of virtually any size or shape, without the need of vacuum chamber confinement. NanoSonic proposes to utilize a layer-by-layer molecular self-assembly manufacturing approach to conformally deposit transparentelectrodes, electrochromic materials, and anti-reflective coatings on optical grade polycarbonate visors. This project includes the integration and development of electrochromic materials, conductive coatings, hard coatings, photovoltaic, as well asantireflective optical filters. NanoSonic's self-assembly cost effective technology offers graded multifunctional polymer conformal coatings. These conformal light sensitive multicolored electrochromic coatings exhibit excellent contrast reserved formore costly conventional fabrication techniques, which are only suitable for flat surfaces. Coatings fabricated using self-assembly would also allow visors to be customized and trimmed to meet the demand of each pilot without affecting the performance andlong-term durability. Primary commercial applications for variable transmittance coatings to be developed through this program include helmet mounted visors for the Air Force and Navy. On a larger scale, these coatings could be transitioned toward use onwindows for light control for industrial, office, home and automobile use.