METAPRINT “Nano-imprint lithography of titania-based meta-optics” targets the nano-fabrication of near eye displays for augmented reality smart-glasses by direct printing hard ceramics (e.g. TiO2).
It will deliver Photonic Meta-surfaces capable of redirecting virtual images from a micro-display to the eyes.
GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY
TO UNLOCK THE “SMART GLASSES” MARKET
SOLNIL’S PATENTED TECHNOLOGY LEVERAGES EXTREME MATERIALS
Printable inorganic resist: TiO2 with a ultra-high refractive index (UHRI, RI up to 2.6) and Ultra-low refractive index SiO2 (ULRI, RI down to 1.12).
Spin- or dip-coating, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of ultra-high RI (UHRI) and ultra-low RI (ULRI)
SOLNIL’s solutions are fully miscible in any proportion
LARGE AND FINE TUNEABILITY OF RI FROM 1.12 TO 2.6 +/- 0.005 RIU
REFRACTIVE INDEX (CONTRAST) AND FIELD OF VIEW FOR AR
Larger RI contrast improves the field of view of smart glasses
TiO2 with RI up to 2.6
(e.g. the same RI of SiC)
SiO2 down to RI = 1.12
Field of view of virtual images increased by 40% with respect to current offers
LIQUID DEPOSITION VIA SPIN COATING CAN BE USED ONTO 3D STRUCTURES PREVIOUSLY ETCHED BY CONVENTIONAL TOP-DOWN METHODS
DIRECT PRINTING OF PRINTABLE RESISTS PRODUCES 3D PATTERNS AVOIDING TOXIC AND EXPENSIVE ORGANIC RESISTS FOR LITHOGRAPHY, LIFT-OFF STEPS, AND ETCHING STEPS
FOR 2D FILMS:
NO VACUUM, NO DANGEROUS PRECURSOR GASSES
FOR 3D META-SURFACES:
NO UV, NO LIFT OFF, NO ETCHING
JUST DIRECT PRINTING OF THE FINAL STRUCTURES MADE OF INORGANIC MATERIALS
HIGHER SUSTAINABILITY
Beyond the superior performances of our material, we provide a massive reduction of both CapEx (>50 times) and CoO (>4 times) with respect to the incumbent top-down lithographic methods
SOLNIL has freedom to operate in this field and is already servicing several leading actors in the AR market by providing the technology for near eye displays based on diffractive waveguides.
METAPRINT will go beyond this common approach adopting Photonic Meta-surfaces to:
- Enhance the light management efficiency (extending the battery lifetime)
- Improve spatial resolution of the virtual images
- The colour brightness
METAPRINT will showcase the viability of our approach by building a pilot-production line of near eye displays over 200 mm flat wafers and on 100 mm curved ones
METAPRINT RESULTS WERE PRESENTED IN THESE OCCASIONS:
- Direct Nano-imprint Lithography: Precision Patterning of purely Inorganic Compounds for Advanced Optical Materials
7th of March, TechBlick 6-7 March 2025, https://lnkd.in/eGK_Tv7x
- Touch Taiwan 2025 (https://lnkd.in/dKEvbnjj), a great event to meet the rich Taiwanese Display Ecosystem
- Nano-Imprint Lithography of Metal Oxides: Materials and Nano-Fabrication Methods for Photonic Metasurfaces
OPTICA OIC Conference (Tucson, USA) https://www.optica.org/events/topical_meetings/optical_interference_coatings/
- LASER WORLD OF PHOTONICS Trade fair. Messe München Congress: June 22–27, 2025 ICM–Internationales Congress Center München https://www.linkedin.com/company/laserworldofphotonics/
- Materials and direct nano-imprint lithography for high power lasers optics
EPIC Technology Meeting on Industrial Laser Processes at Optoprim (Milan, 10-11 September 2025)
https://epic-photonics.com/events/epic-meeting-on-industrial-laser-processes-at-optoprim/
MARCO ABBARCHI, CSO at SOLNIL, marco.abbarchi@solnil.com
Pépinière d’entreprises Luminy Biotech, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13011 Marseille France
