PHENOmenon, revolutionising user experience using groundbreaking optics

The objective of this project is the development of a new technology that allows the use of new materials, laser technology, simulation and design tools to develop customised surface structures (at a very tiny scale) to fabricate high quality optics with enhanced properties like extreme light focusing, anti-fog properties, etc. with a writing speed, thus boosting time and cost efficiency compared with existing technologies.

This holographic technology is based on the use of lasers and new materials that allow the generation of three-dimensional nanostructures, pixel by pixel, in a photopolymeric medium that would result in the effect of a hologram. It is the first time that a single laser can be divided into more than 10,000 simultaneous beams with a resolution of more than one micron, and, furthermore, maintaining the quality process to achieve an improvement in the power of the lasers, reducing time and lowering costs.

For this reason, although it is not an unknown technology, it is a technology that until now was not industrializable for different reasons. Currently, and thanks to advances such as the appearance of new materials, nanoparticles, etc., it has been possible to incorporate them with the same quality standards as those applicable to current holograms.

Some of its possible applications include information storage and fibre communication, diagnosis and treatment, LED lighting, curved and flexible displays, solar cells or security identification documents.

The project, created in 2018 and led by the AIMEN Technology Centre, is within the framework of the European projects known as "Horizon 2020". PHENOmenon has received an investment of 4 million euros, financed entirely from European funds, and could generate up to 4,500 high-quality jobs and €1 billion turnover for EU companies.

Thanks to PHENOmenon project, other industries in Europe will have the technology to design and manufacture products with radically improved or new functionalities to respond to European Society needs, i.e. better healthcare, cost-efficient energy production, better transport vehicles and infrastructures.

PHENOmenon in citizens daily life

The benefits of the solution developed will also be reflected in the daily lives of citizens:

• Improved LED and OLCD-based devices: Better light distribution enable efficient lighting and high quality image. Lighting and displays everywhere.
• Highly efficient Photovoltaic concentrators: Advanced optics will enable additional capacity to capture energy from sunlight and transform it into green energy.
• Antifogging coating on lens: To be used in vehicle light or cameras, this solution will significantly improve safety and security.
• Holographic interaction: Holographic projection to enable new ways of interacting with devices or vehicles.
• Holographic security features: Features to be integrated in banknotes and other documents (ID documents, credit cards, brand tags, etc.) making them practically impossible to counterfeit.

Our role

The Burgos Paper Mill has promoted the presence of our entity in this European research project, although the involvement falls on the whole company, since other departments, such as R+D+i, Laboratory and Coin, also participate.

The Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda is in charge of verifying if this technology of creating holograms by physical-chemical means could be directly applicable to the different substrates of our products, both in paper and in plastics, or even, metals.

It is also in charge of verifying the robustness, as well as the scope of the security features of the holograms applied with this technology.

Participants

This project was evaluated by the European Commission with a result of 14.5 out of 15 points, which expresses the European interest in this type of technology.

PHENOmenon consortium comprises 12 entities from 5 European countries: Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Focusing on the research, AIMEN (project coordinator, Spain), ICFO (Spain), CNRS (France) and IMT-A (France) will develop the new materials, laser manufacturing technology, simulation and design tools for on-demand production of advanced optics. EU companies Multiphoton Optics (Germany), FLUXIM (Switzerland) and CDA (Germany) will commercialise the manufacturing technology, optical calculation software and modelling solutions and provide manufacturing services to other companies, respectively.

Moreover, PHENOmenon relies on leading technology companies using the manufacturing solutions to create new products. THALES (France) will produce antifogging on-board cameras and improved PV concentrators for aerospace applications. FNMT (Spain) will integrate holographic features in banknotes and other documents. PSA (France) will create completely new car interiors using holographic control panels and curved/flexible displays, as well as integrating antifogging coating in car lighting. FlexEnable (United Kingdom) will provide advanced concepts for low consumption LED. DesignLED (United Kingdom) will provide a innovative backlight unit for high quality imaging in curved/flexible displays.

Other participations

In addition to this project, FNMT-RCM participates in different technological platforms, sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, such as, for example, 3NEO, Materplat or Fotónica 21, in which sector associations, technological centres, universities and companies from different industrial fields also participate, discussing new materials, new processes or new technologies.

Dissemination and press

PHENOmenon, revolutionising user experience using groundbreaking optics (Press Release)

For more information, please consult the project website: http://www.phenomenonproject.eu