SBIR-STTR Award

Future NASA missions that include Earth Science and Planetary Science missions will benefit from the development of nanostructured antireflection coatings. Broadband antireflection optical coatings covering the ultraviolet to infrared spectral bands have many potential applications for various NASA systems. Tunable nanoengineered optical layers enable realization of optimal nanostructured coatings with high laser damage thresholds, and high reliability in extreme low temperature environments and under launch conditions. The antireflection coatings offer omnidirectional suppression of light reflection/scattering with increased optical transmission to enhance detector and system performance for various NASA applications. As part of the proposed NASA Phase I SBIR program, Magnolia will model, design and develop high performance nanoengineered antireflection optical coating technology that can be implemented in future NASA missions. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) AR coating technologies for spectral bands from the UV to IR can particularly benefit NASA Earth Science and Planetary Science applications, enhancing detector performance and scientific return of missions. Nanostructured AR coatings offer exciting possibilities for enhanced UV/IR sensor SNRs and fast response times, making them especially useful for NASA missions. One area of great interest for the nanostructured AR coatings is minimizing signal scattering/reflections from the various surfaces of optical and imaging instruments in space. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Commercial applications for the nanostructured AR coatings include optical components such as lenses and windows; optoelectronic devices such as sensors and photovoltaic panels; and electronic displays, e.g., in smartphone and tablet devices. The AR coatings provide improvements in sensitivity and system performance for various commercial sensing and imaging applications.

Future NASA missions that include Earth Science and Planetary Science missions will benefit from the development of nanostructured antireflection (AR) coatings. Broadband AR optical coatings covering the infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectral bands have many potential applications for various NASA systems. Tunable nanoengineered optical layers enable realization of optimal nanostructured AR coatings with high laser damage thresholds and high reliability in low temperature environments. The AR coatings offer omnidirectional suppression of light reflection/scattering allowing increased optical transmission to enhance detector and system performance for various NASA applications.Phase I AR coating designs and prototype demonstrations promise to nearly eliminate reflection losses across critical IR and UV bands. Key technical accomplishments of the Phase I effort include:Designed high-performance MWIR and extended MWIR / SWIR AR coatings for GaSb,Designed high-performance LWIR AR coatings for GaSb,Designed high-performance UV AR coatings for GaN, andDemonstrated high-performance MWIR AR coatings on GaSb.The proposed Phase II Program technical objectives are to design, develop, demonstrate, and implement high-performance nanostructured AR coatings. Phase II technical objectives include:Demonstrate high-performance SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR AR coatings on GaSb and Si substrates,Demonstrate nanostructured UV AR coatings on III-V nitride substrates,Characterize the durability of nanostructured AR coatings,Design and demonstrate nanostructured AR coatings on SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR lens materials, andDesign and develop nanostructured AR coatings for NASA sensor system technologies.Magnolia#39;s AR coatings will enhance the performance of detectors and sensors by significantly reducing reflection/scattering losses. This will benefit a wide variety of detectors and sensors for future NASA missions.