Holoptic Nanotechnologies have helped improved safety and performance of devices used in laser eye protection, radiation safety equipment, photonic device production, rechargeable batteries and other critical applications for military and space exploration.
Laser Eye Protective Tech Polycarbonate Visor Incorporating Metal Oxide Nanoparticles
To protect the eyes of Air Force pilots from serious injury, Holoptic developed a new Laser Eye Protective technology polycarbonate visor incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles (LEP-POLY_NANO) consisting of modified tungsten oxide and tungsten bronze nanoparticles with ternary additives Sodium, Thallium, Rubidium, and Cesium. This nanocomposite technology is compatible with a neutral tint dye that reduces light transmittance to 15% for daytime operations and will not degrade the ballistic protection properties of polycarbonate; nor will it introduce haze, distortion, aberration, prism, or artifacts, which could impair visual performance or create distractions in the visual field.
Flexible Micro- and Nano-Patterning Tools for Photonics (NAPA-TOOL)
Holoptic developed a new patterning tool for the replication of micro- and nano-patterns (sub-100 nm to 100 micron) on both rigid and flexible substrates. This flexible net-shape tooling can be integrated into existing roll-to-roll replication web machines for mass production of photonic devices with multi-cavities and has controllable surface roughness with very good release properties and a short lead time thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. The master articles, made by patterning a photoresist layer on a rigid substrate using conventional lithographic or recently developed plasmonic lithography techniques (exposure and development), can transfer the pattern to a hard mold, which can be integrated into roll-to-roll replication web machines.
UV-Curable Hybrid Nanocomposite Coating to Protect Tether Polymer Materials
For NASA’s In-Space Propulsion Technology Program, Holoptic developed a new UV-curable hybrid nanocomposite coating material matrix based on our hybrid sol-gel technology to protect tether materials from ionizing radiation, UV rays, and atomic oxygen breakdown while maintaining good mechanical and thermal stability, and high chemical resistance.
Carbon Nanotube-based Super Capacitor
For NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Holoptic developed a Carbon Nanotube-based Supercapacitor that will support an advanced balloon system resembling a small aircraft in its mission capabilities. This system will enable 100-day missions at mid-latitudes and altitudes of 30-40 km. An electrode—the main component of CANS—will be fabricated of a nanocomposite mixture of sol-gel and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on flexible substrate, which will reduce both mass and volume with respect to ordinary rechargeable batteries.
