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NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale

ISOS - Multi-functional icephobic, robust, lightweight and transparent coatings for windows and lenses

Alternative title: ISOS - Multifunktionelt is-avvisende, gjennomsigtigt belæg for vinduer og linser.

Awarded: NOK 5.7 mill.

Is on surfaces can be a challenge in many situations. Most of us here in Norway have tried to stand and scrape ice of the car wind screen on a cold morning. A more severe problem is the fact that windows and lenses covered in ice can cause security problems in many places during the winter. This is because windows covered with ice reduce visibility and sensors and camera lenses covered with ice means that important measurements cannot be carried out. The aim of this project was to produce transparent, icephobic coatings which can be used on windows and lenses. The coatings shall firstly ensure that it takes longer for ice to form on the windows and lenses and secondly that if ice is formed, it shall be easier to remove it. Our main result in this project is that we have managed to show that it is possible to make a very good, ice-phobic coating based on graphene. Wi have shown that the quality of the graphene is crucial for determining the properties in this area. The plan is to continue working with this results through a spinn-off company founded by UiB together with VIS (Bergen Technology Transfer Office).

The main result of the ISOS project is a new coating based on graphene. It has been evaluated according to tests advised by the industrial advisory board, in particular Airbus. The research will now be taken into the spin-off company ICE Guard Coating, formed by UiB in collaboration with VIS, the company nominally existed before the project, but is now being restructured to reflect the new technology. A new project in collaboration with MPI Stuttgart for the final product development is planned.

Ice on window/lens surfaces cause operational difficulties in optical sensors and windshields. We propose a passive, environmentally friendly method to prevent or delay ice formation without the application of energy while preserving the surface optical properties. This solution overcomes the limits of the active methods currently employed that are costly, energy consuming, environmentally harmful and dangerous for lens/window integrity. Two families of innovative materials (functionalized graphene and selflubricating liquid water layer) will be synthesised, characterised, and tested at lab level for multifunctional coatings (TRL4), with icephobic, robust, lightweight and transparent properties.

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NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale