NANOHMICS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N182-105

NANOHMICS INC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.

Amount
$130,000
Agency
Department of Defense · Navy
Program / Phase
SBIR · Phase I
Topic
N182-105
Solicitation
18.2
NAICS
Place of performance
TX
Period
2018-10-17 → 2019-04-20

Description

Next-generation infrared (IR) seekers will have an aerodynamically-engineered nose cone geometry with a significantly higher degree of curvature compared to conventional hemispherical domes. To prevent unwanted specular + diffuse reflections that obscure the IR focal plane array, the interior of the dome should ideally be treated with an anti-reflective (AR) layer that suppresses stray light reflection in the entire MWIR spectrum. Nanohmics Inc. is developing a lithography-free method of applying random anti-reflective surface structure (rARSS) treatments to curved surface optics. The team will demonstrate that its ‘thermodot’-based rARSS technology is a simple and cost-effective method to manufacture broadband (3 – 5 micron) AR treatments with superior thermal damage thresholds compared to typical AR thin films.