Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

One of the current major challenges is how to produce multi-layer thin films of optical quality at low cost. The strategic nature of this project comes from the unique opportunity to enhance our polymer industry by developing a new high speed nanofabrication approach for making these multi-layer films that can control both light transmission and heat flow. These coated materials will act as optical switches, which are thermochromic, i.e. they change their absorbance properties at a defined critical temperature, which will be tuneable based on end-use application. This will entail developing novel hexamer metal alkoxide building blocks based on Vanadium and other V bimetallics, that exhibit low hysteresic thermochromic behaviour. These materials must grow in instantaneous time frames for high speed deposition, while having unique oriented morphologies including nanowires and nanotubes to enhance optical and interfacial properties. In addition, graphene and carbon/silica aerogel precursors can be attached to these metal alkoxide building blocks, to provide enhanced optical trapping and heat conduction.The proposed strategy is to integrate the advantages of both polymers and these metal alkoxide nanocrystals using a cleantech high speed roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing approach. Supercritical carbon dioxide will be integrated into a multi-nozzle electrodeposition system on the R2R process to allow very thin defect free films. In addition, these novel building blocks can be further processed through controlled nanopatterning on the R2R system for surface texturing, further enhancing the optical properties for harnessing diffuse light. This integrated approach will provide the required functionality for commercial adoption by our supporting companies, Enerworks and MW Canada, who produce solar thermal solar devices and window shades, respectively. This proposal will help facilitate their needs for an optical switch, adding higher value to existing product lines while also enabling a new generation of products. This unique approach can potentially be industry transforming, hence significantly enhancing Canada's global manufacturing competitiveness.