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团队能够适当地测试使用高功率激光处理来创建用于防冰和抗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纹理圆锥体，是由美国国家科学基金会I/UCRC中心支持的研究创造出来的。金属和半导体表面的微/纳米表面织构也被复制到低成本的聚合物表面上，这些织构还表现出超疏水特性和抗反射性能，由于增强了光捕获，这将对太阳能产业具有重要价值。根据这一计划，该团队将开发一种复制至少5厘米x 5厘米的样品的过程，供行业成员评估，并在这样做的过程中建立大规模生产THX Cone的价格点。此外，还将生成现实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。I-Corps研讨会将根据科学数据和市场分析，制定一项专门针对激光蚀刻和微纹理复制涂层的业务计划，其中确定了销售渠道、测试和投资合作伙伴以及确定资源需求的预算。该技术的商业潜力巨大，因为防冰技术将为商用和军用飞机、风力发电叶片、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。据估计，仅在美国航空业，每年就有超过2500万加仑的防冰化学品被使用，购买成本为8-12美元，这还不包括对环境的影响。在防冰应用方面的成功将鼓励对激光纹理材料及其复制微结构(如纹理锥体)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。这项技术还将促进太阳能竞争力的显著增强。可能还有许多其他工业领域将受益于对复杂激光蚀刻的正式审查和调查。美国国家科学基金会i-Corps研讨会将为团队提供一种结构化的方法，以调查微观纺织锥体的巨大潜力。

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.