About the project
This project will investigate engineering biology approaches to producing photoluminescent quantum dots for laser dazzle and damage protection. Building on previous UKDI/DASA-funded research, it will explore novel materials, coating formulations and biological production methods, supporting future optical protection technologies and alternative low SWaP-C coating manufacturing approaches.
This PhD project will build on the UKDI/DASA-funded research programme ACC6034385 – “Bio-engineered nanocoating for eye protection against laser dazzling”. The research will investigate engineering biology approaches (e.g. bacterium nano-foundries) to the expression of photoactive or photoluminescent quantum dots (e,g. cadmium selenide) and their application to protection against laser dazzle and laser-induced damage.
The project will explore the development of novel protective optical materials and coatings based on biologically derived processes. A key objective will be to understand how engineering biology techniques can support the production and optimisation of photoluminescent quantum-dot-based materials for use in optical protection applications (e.g. control of physical shape, reduce production overhead, self-assembly processes).
Research activities may include the investigation of coating formulations, the optimisation of biological production processes and the assessment of material performance for protective applications. The work will consider how such approaches could contribute to alternative methods for coating manufacture, with the potential for lower SWaP-C solutions compared with conventional approaches.
Potential application areas include protection against laser-directed energy threats and the development of optical absorber technologies, including reverse-saturable absorber, optical limiting and all-optical switching concepts. The project will investigate how novel materials and coating technologies might be exploited to improve protection from laser dazzle and damage while maintaining functionality within optical systems.
By combining engineering biology, advanced materials and optical protection technologies, the research will contribute to the development of innovative approaches for next-generation protective coatings. The project offers opportunities to work at the interface of biology, materials science and photonics, addressing challenges associated with the design, manufacture and optimisation of complex functional materials.
