Multilayer coatings for optical ceramics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945757-B2
Application number	US-201916447229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 20, 2019
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

An optical element includes an optical surface including a ceramic material. The optical element further includes a coating that includes a bifunctional molecule arranged on the optical surface. The bifunctional molecule includes a first functional group and a second functional group. The first functional group forms a covalent bond to the ceramic material of the optical surface, and the second functional group includes an aromatic functional group. The optical element further includes a carbon-containing material non-covalently bonded to the second functional group of the bifunctional molecule of the coating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical element, comprising:
an optical surface comprising a ceramic material;
a coating comprising a bifunctional molecule arranged on the optical surface, the bifunctional molecule comprising a first functional group and a second functional group, the first functional group forming a covalent bond to the ceramic material of the optical surface, and the second functional group comprising an aromatic functional group; and
a hydrophobic hybridized carbon material non-covalently bonded to the second functional group of the bifunctional molecule of the coating;
wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material is non-covalently bonded to the second functional group of the bifunctional molecule of the coating by Pi stacking interactions; and
wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material is non-covalently bonded to the second functional group and is indirectly bonded to the ceramic material of the optical surface.

2. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises zinc sulfide.

3. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the covalent bond is a disulfide bond.

4. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the aromatic functional group of the bifunctional molecule is a monocyclic ring or a bicyclic ring.

5. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material comprises a carbon nanotube.

6. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the bifunctional molecule further includes a linker group between the first functional group and the second functional group.

7. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material comprises carbon nanotube yarn.

8. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is a lens, an optical window, a sensor, a detector, a dome, or a beam splitter.

9. An optical element, comprising:
an optical surface comprising zinc sulfide;
a coating comprising a bifunctional molecule arranged on the optical surface, the bifunctional molecule comprising a first functional group and a second functional group, the first functional group forming a disulfide bond to the zinc sulfide of the optical surface, and the second functional group being a phenyl group;
a hydrophobic hybridized carbon material non-covalently bonded to the phenyl group of the bifunctional molecule of the coating; and
an encapsulation layer arranged on the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material;
wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material is non-covalently bonded to the phenyl group of the bifunctional molecule of the coating by Pi stacking interactions; and
wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material is non-covalently bonded to the second functional group and is indirectly bonded to the zinc sulfide of the optical surface.

10. The optical element of claim 9 , wherein the bifunctional molecule further includes a linker group between the first functional group and the second functional group.

11. The optical element of claim 10 , wherein the linker group comprises a hydrocarbon chain.

12. The optical element 9 , wherein the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material comprises a carbon nanotube.

13. The optical element of claim 9 , wherein the optical element is a lens, an optical window, a sensor, a detector, a dome, or a beam splitter.

14. The optical element of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulation layer arranged on the hydrophobic hybridized carbon material, wherein the encapsulation layer is optically compatible with the optical surface.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Cason Michael W

Classifications

• G02B5/00

  Optical elements other than lenses (light guides G02B6/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00) · CPC title

• G02B3/00

  Simple or compound lenses · CPC title

• G02B1/10

  Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements (G02B1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29L2011/00

  Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms · CPC title

• C04B41/522 Primary

  Multiple coatings, for one of the coatings of which at least one alternative is described · CPC title