SBIR-STTR Award

Environmentally-Friendly Anti-Fouling Coverglass For Bio-Optical Sensors and Solar Panels
Award last edited on: 9/16/2014

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOC : NOAA
Total Award Amount
$374,619
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
-----

Principal Investigator
Donald E Patterson

Company Information

Nanohmics Inc (AKA: Nanohmics LLC)

6201 East Oltorf Street Suite 400
Austin, TX 78741
   (512) 389-9990
   info@nanohmics.com
   www.nanohmics.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 35
County: Travis

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2005
Phase I Amount
$74,684
Solar panels and bio-optical sensors play a significant role in a number of applications that are of importance to NOAA. Many of these instruments require a high transmission of radiation into the device for it to work properly. Typically, these devices have a coverglass affixed over the active part of the device to protect the sensor or panel from harsh conditions. A problem that presently exists with this technology is biological fouling of the coverglasses on these instruments. In an effort to mitigate this problem, Nanohmics, Inc. is developing a new class of instrument coverglass that incorporates natural product antifoulants (NPAs) into optical quality, hard polymers. NPAs are incorporated into thin polymer coverglass materials using standard processes and are being tested in a laboratory marine environment in order to determine their effectiveness. Subsequent phases of the project will include optimizing and scaling-up the production of the antifoulant-impregnated polymeric sheets.

Potential Commercial Applications:
The availability of inexpensive, long-life protective windows for marine environment optical sensors and solar panels will greatly enhance their value and usefulness to NOAA, other government agencies (in particular, the US Navy), and the private sector. Other potential application areas include: greenhouse glass, marine windows, and instrument viewports subject to harsh biological environments

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2006
Phase II Amount
$299,935
During a successful Phase I feasibility study, Nanohmics’ scientists were able to incorporate environmentally-friendly algaecides into hard, optical quality polymers for use as coverglass materials. These transparent coverglass materials stopped all marine algae growth on the glass for well over a month. The Phase II development will further this research by incorporating natural product and/or environmentally-friendly algaecides and pesticides into a novel optical quality polymer. This newly developed polymer has the optical qualities of polycarbonate and yet exhibits nearly a 40% increase over polycarbonate’s impact resistance and enhanced resistance to UV aging. The advanced coverglass material will be fully developed for commercial production and tested in laboratory and actual marine environments for optical, physical, and anti-biofoulding properties as well as for their impact on the environment.

Potential Commercial Applications:
Protective coverglass materials are essential to the long-lived performance of both freshwater and marine bio-optical sensors and solar panels. Coverglass materials that inhibit the growth of aquatic life on the glass greatly enhance and prolong the performance of the underlying active device. Other potential users for anti-fouling, impact resistant, inexpensive, transparent polymers include: greenhouse windows, underwater shipboard windows, aquariums, instrument viewports that are subject to biological fouling, and terrestrial solar panels