Surface mechanical property improvement for antireflective nanopatterned glass

Edgehog Technologies是一家位于蒙特利尔的初创公司，专门生产用于各种应用的抗反射仿生纳米纹理表面，包括光学、屏幕、太阳能电池、窗户等。当前的挑战之一是纳米纹理表面的寿命，因为它们对外力非常脆弱。纹理表面的易碎性可能会限制其广泛使用。本项目的主要目标是研究纳米纹理表面的机械性能。为了解决这个问题，我们建议研究使用单晶金刚石原子力显微镜（AFM）探针进行划痕测试，以确定破坏纹理表面的临界力。这需要对表面特性进行彻底的研究，并对力进行建模。此外，该团队将研究不同的涂层材料，以延长纳米纹理表面的寿命。Edgehog Technologies和卡尔加里大学已经建立了合作关系，研究纳米结构的机械性能。该项目的成果将使Edgehog能够为各种应用提供独特的抗反射表面，从而可能降低智能手机、显示器等设备的能耗，并提高太阳能电池的光伏效率。这项研究的结果将使HQP的培训成为可能，并为Edgehog在下一代纳米结构和工艺方面提供竞争优势。

Edgehog Technologies is a startup company in Montreal where they specializes in manufacturing of biomimetic nanotextured surfaces for antireflections for a variety of applications including optics, screens, solar cells, windows, etc. One of the current challenges is the longevity of nanotextured surfaces since they are quite fragile to external forces. The fragility of textured surfaces may limit a wide usage. The main goal of this project is the investigation of mechanical properties of nanotextured surfaces. To tackle this, we propose to investigate using a single crystal diamond atomic force microscope (AFM) probe to perform scribing tests to determine the critical forces to damage the textured surfaces. This requires thorough investigation of surface characteristics as well as modeling of forces. Moreover, the team will investigate different coating materials to prolong the life of nanotextured surfaces. Edgehog Technologies and the University of Calgary have formed a collaborative relationship to investigate the mechanical properties of nanostructures. The outcomes of the project will enable Edgehog to provide unique antireflective surfaces for a variety of applications to possibly reduce energy consumptions in smartphones, monitors, etc. as well as improve photovoltaic efficiencies in solar cells. The outcomes of the research will enable training of HQP and provide a competitive edge for Edgehog for next generation of nanostructures and processes.