A team of researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and Kyungpook National University (KNU) developed a new material capable of preventing car accidents due to signal distortion.
This self-healing lens material has the potential scratch on the sensor surface of self-driving cars, thereby extending the life of the product. In addition, it paves the way for future technologies that can prevent malfunctions due to surface damage.
The lens material plays a crucial role in capturing and diffusing light and is therefore an essential part of various optical devices such as cameras, mobile phones and glasses. However, if the lens surface has scratches, this can significantly distort the received image or the optical signal of the device. This can lead to dangerous traffic situations.
To address this challenge, the joint research team of KRICT and KNU developed a transparent lens material that can eliminate scratches on the sensor surface in just 60 seconds. This is accomplished by focusing sunlight using a magnifying glass.
The key to effective self-healing lies in the freedom of molecular movement within the polymer. However, lenses and protective coatings are usually made of rigid materials, making it difficult to integrate a self-healing function. To overcome this obstacle, the research team combined a thiourethane structure already used as a lens material with a transparent photothermal dye, thus achieving dynamization. This bonding allows the polymers to rearrange themselves when exposed to sunlight.
The fabric is suitable for cameras as well as for example lidar devices. It heals itself – especially if scratches occur in the same place, and is still very robust.