I-Corps: Replication of Laser-Generated Surface Textures for Anti-Icing and Sun-Light-Trapping Applications.

提出了一项建议，使I-Corps团队能够正确测试使用高功率激光加工来创建用于防结冰和防反射涂层的超疏水表面的价值主张。这种超疏水材料最初被命名为“TexCone”，是由NSF I/UCRC中心支持的研究创建的。金属和半导体表面上的微/纳米表面纹理也已被复制在低成本聚合物表面上，并且这些还显示出超疏水特性以及抗反射特性，由于增强的光捕获，这对太阳能产业具有重要价值。根据该计划，该团队将开发一种工艺，以复制至少5 cm x 5 cm的样品，供工业成员进行评估，并在此过程中确定TexCone大规模生产的价格点。此外，还将生成实际环境条件下的初始耐久性数据，以便对商业潜力进行适当评估。将在I-Corps研讨会上根据科学数据和市场分析制定一项针对激光蚀刻和微纹理复制涂层的商业计划，该计划将确定销售渠道、测试和投资合作伙伴以及确定资源需求的预算。该技术的商业潜力是巨大的，因为防冰技术将为商用和军用飞机、风能发电叶片、用于生物医学应用的大型制冷系统和许多其他行业创造价值。仅在美国航空业，据估计每年使用超过2500万加仑的防冰化学品，购买成本为8 - 12美元，其中不包括环境影响。防冰应用的成功将鼓励对激光纹理材料及其复制微观结构（如TexCone）的投资和创新。该项目还将使团队能够向许多工业公司介绍TexCone的潜在好处。该技术还将大大提高太阳能发电的竞争力。还有许多潜在的其他工业领域将受益于复杂激光蚀刻的正式审查和调查。NSF I-Corps研讨会将为团队提供一种结构化的方法来研究微观TexCones的巨大潜力。

A proposal is made to enable the I-Corps team to properly test the value proposition of using high power laser processing to create superhydrophobic surfaces for anti-icing and also for anti-reflection coatings. This superhydrophobic material, initially named "TexCone" for textured cones, has been created through NSF I/UCRC Center supported research. The micro/nano surface textures on metals and semiconductor surfaces have also been replicated on low cost polymeric surfaces and these also show superhydrophobic characteristics as well as anti-reflection properties which would be of significant value to the solar power industry due to enhanced light trapping. Under this program, the team will develop a process to replicate samples of at least 5 cm x 5 cm for evaluation by industrial members and in doing so will establish the price point for mass -production of TexCone. Also, initial durability data under realistic environmental conditions will be generated, allowing the proper evaluation of commercial potential. A business plan specific to laser etching and micro-textured replicated coatings based on scientific data and market analysis will be developed under the I-Corps workshop which defines sales channels, partners for testing and investment as well as a budget for defining resource requirements. The commercial potential of the technology is significant as anti-icing technology would create value for commercial and military airplanes, blades for wind energy generation, large refrigeration systems used in biomedical applications and many other industries. In the US aviation industry alone, it has been estimated that over 25 mn gallons of anti-icing chemicals are used annually at a purchase cost of $8 - $12 which does not include environmental impact. Success with anti-icing applications would encourage investment and innovation in laser textured materials and its replicated microstructures such as TexCone. The project will also enable the team to introduce the potential benefits of TexCone to many industrial companies. The technology will also promote significant enhancements in the competitiveness of solar power. There are potentially many other industrial areas that will benefit from a formalized review and investigation of complex laser etchings. The NSF I-Corps workshop will provide a structured approach for the team to investigate the vast potential of microscopic TexCones.