June 13th, 2006
Physicist Seamus "Shay" Curran, head of the nanotechnology program at New Mexico State University along with collaborates from Wake Forest University and the University of Florida are developing nanotechnology coatings capable of bending light, changing colors, and producing electricity.
Let's not stop there, the coatings are being designed to be artificially intelligent meaning that the coatings will sense their environment and shift states. "We are working on photochromic and electrochromic cells that can switch colors like LEDs (light-emiting diodes)," Curran said. "We're going to build the cells first and then the computer system to control the cells."
"We're also developing a nonlinear coating that would bend light a certain way," he continued. "This is playing with luminescence and fluorescence. If you can blur the edges, it makes it very difficult to focus on an object. It gives it sort of a shimmer, like you see sometimes with distant objects on a hot day." Chameleon-like color changes and blurry edges could "buy the pilot a couple of seconds," Curran said.
The researchers' stealthy innovations don't stop there. They also are working on a coating to thwart missiles that use infrared lock-on targeting systems. Another would shield pilots from electromagnetic interference, protecting against electronic attacks on systems and communications.
Curran has the support of New Mexico's Democratic Senator who assisted with appropriating funds from the 2005 defense budget. Additionally, Curran collaborates on the initiatives for about a year with David Carroll, director of the nanotechnology center at Wake Forest, and John Reynolds, a chemist at the University of Florida.
The team is also developing organic solar cell coating capable of a solar energy efficiency level of 5.2%. This application has the potential to be a roof coating fully capable of powering your house.