Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Ophthalmic lenses are the most well-known application of optical devices and of optical coatings. Despite very long history of the development in this field, this remains a very active area due to numerous challenges related to the use of plastic lens materials and the ever increasing requirements for the performance of the coatings; they include a controlled combination of optical, mechanical, tribological and electrical properties, and long term environmental stability. The proposed research will focus on the development of new AR thin film architectures using specifically nanostructured coatings on plastic substrates, possessing enhanced thermo-mechanical, tribological and other functional properties, fabricated by a novel deposition approach using a combination of plasma excitation and ion beam. This technique will allow one to explore new opportunities to control the film microstructure in order to enhance the performance and offer tailored multifunctional properties, while being fully compatible with the current industrial practice.