Solid solution-based nanocomposite optical ceramic materials

Abstract

A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof.

1 . A nano-structure comprising:
 a solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is a solid solution-based optical ceramic material. 
     
     
         3 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is capable of transmitting light within a long-wave infrared light range, a medium wave infrared light range, an eye safe infrared light range, a short wave infrared light range, a visible infrared light range, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is capable of achieving transparency and functioning in the mid-wave infrared light range and the maximum refractive index difference between the first and second nano-sized phases lies between about 0.15% and about 0.6%. 
     
     
         5 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is capable of achieving transparency and functioning in the eye-safe infrared light range and the maximum refractive index difference between the first and second nano-sized phases lies between about 0.5% and about 1.5%. 
     
     
         6 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is capable of achieving transparency and functioning in the short wave infrared light range and the maximum refractive index difference between the first and second nano-sized phases lies between about 0.15% and about 0.6%. 
     
     
         7 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the solid solution-based optical material is capable of achieving transparency and functioning in the visible infrared light range and the maximum refractive index difference between the first and second nano-sized phases lies between about 0.05% and about 0.15%. 
     
     
         8 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  wherein the at least two nano-sized phases are selected from yttria (Y 2 O 3 ), magnesia (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAl 2 O 4 ), carbides, oxycarbides, nitrides, oxynitrides, borides, oxyborides, sulfides, selenides, sulfo-selenides and semiconductors and the dopant is a metal oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  comprising first and second nano-sized phases, wherein the dopant decreases the refractive index of the first phase. 
     
     
         10 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  comprising first and second nano-sized phases, wherein the dopant increases the refractive index of the first phase. 
     
     
         11 . The nano-structure of  claim 10  wherein the first nano-sized phase is MgO, the second nano-sized phase is Y 2 O 3  and the dopant is NiO. 
     
     
         12 . The nano-structure of  claim 11  wherein the solid solution containing a dissolved dopant comprises Ni 0.455 Mg 0.545 O. 
     
     
         13 . The nano-structure of  claim 1  capable of transmitting infrared light in a lens, dome or window. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 an airborne platform; and   an electro-optic sensor system located on the airborne platform, wherein the electro-optic sensor system includes a nano-structure comprising   a solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases contains a dopant in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the airborne platform is located on a guided projectile. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the electro-optic sensor is part of a dome, window or lens. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing a refractive index mismatch comprising:
 intermixing a first nano-sized phase and a second nano-sized phase into one another, wherein the first nano-sized phase has a first refractive index and the second nano-sized phase has a second refractive index; and   adding a dopant to the first phase to form a solid solution, wherein the first refractive index is increased or decreased to substantially match the second refractive index.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first nano-sized phase is magnesia having a refractive index of about 1.649. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the second nano-sized phase comprises yttria having a refractive index of about 1.847. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the dopant is NiO is added in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of MgO to about 1.844 up to about 1.850. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the dopant is NiO is added in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of MgO to about 1.846 up to about 1.848.