Patent Title: A Polymeric Hybrid Material with Photothermal Properties and Production Method Thereof
IP Status: Granted European patent with registered unitary effect; US patent application pending
Technology Area: Photothermal Materials / Functional Polymers / Polydopamine Coatings / Light-to-Heat Technologies
TRL: TRL 4
This polymeric hybrid material uses homogeneous polydopamine coatings on polymer particles to convert absorbed light into heat and impart photothermal functionality to different surfaces and products. Its water-based, adaptable material platform can be processed into multiple forms, supporting scalable applications including surface sterilisation, water evaporation and purification, biofilm control and functional coatings.
Technology Overview
The technology is a polymeric hybrid material and production method in which polymer particles dispersed in an aqueous medium are coated with polydopamine to provide photothermal functionality. Polydopamine absorbs incident light and converts the absorbed energy into heat, enabling polymeric materials that do not inherently exhibit strong photothermal behaviour to generate localised heat when exposed to light.
During production, polymer particles remain homogeneously dispersed and stable in a basic aqueous medium while dopamine monomers undergo oxidative polymerisation at their surfaces. This forms a controlled and homogeneous polydopamine coating around individual polymer particles. Sub-micron polyurethane particles represent an important implementation, while the material concept can also be adapted to other polymer systems suitable for stable aqueous dispersion.
The hybrid material can be used not only as a functional coating but also in the production of films, foams, membranes, adhesives, sponges and fibres. This processing versatility enables photothermal functionality to be incorporated directly into the structure of a final material or product rather than being limited to a specialised standalone photothermal component. Laboratory-scale work has included coating, film and foam formats.
Phase change materials may also be incorporated into the hybrid formulation. This allows light-to-heat conversion provided by the polydopamine component to be combined with thermal-energy-storage or temperature-management functions. The type and proportion of the phase change material can be adapted according to the intended thermal response.
A key development advantage is the ability to translate the photothermal functionality into different material formats with potential for scalable production. Laboratory prototypes have reached temperatures of approximately 200 °C under laser irradiation. A foam-format prototype placed on water has also generated continuous evaporation under irradiation. Together, these characteristics create a common material platform for applications ranging from light-driven surface sterilisation to solar-assisted water purification and desalination.
Problem / Market Need
Photothermal technologies use absorbed light to produce localised heat and can enable processes such as surface sterilisation, water treatment and thermal management without a conventional external heating element. For these technologies to move into practical products, however, the active material must be stable, homogeneous, compatible with different geometries and suitable for scalable integration into manufacturing processes.
Photothermal materials that are restricted to specialised particles or specific substrates may be difficult to incorporate into practical end products. This technology directly imparts photothermal functionality to polymer particles and allows that functionality to be transferred into industrially relevant forms such as coatings, films, foams, membranes and fibres.
The approach is therefore particularly relevant to applications requiring light-activated sterilising surfaces, biofilm control or solar-driven water evaporation, where the photothermal function can be incorporated directly into the material rather than added as a separate heating component.
Key Advantages
- Direct light-to-heat conversion functionality imparted to polymeric materials
- Homogeneous and controlled polydopamine coating of individual polymer particles
- Water-based production approach with stable particle dispersion
- Compatibility with coatings, films, foams, membranes, adhesives, sponges and fibres
- Photothermal functionality can be integrated directly into the final material structure
- Potential integration with phase change materials for additional thermal-energy-management functionality
- Adaptable and potentially scalable material platform for different products and geometries
- Potential use across light-triggered processes including sterilisation, water evaporation and biofilm control
Applications
- Light-activated surface sterilisation
- Functional surfaces for bacterial and biofilm control
- Solar-driven water evaporation and purification
- Photothermal membranes and foams for desalination
- Photothermal coatings and functional films
- Thermal-energy-management materials incorporating phase change materials
- Photothermal membranes, fibres, sponges and composite materials
- Functional surfaces and products requiring light-controlled local heating
Relevant Industries
- Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- Polymers and Coatings
- Water Treatment and Desalination
- Healthcare, Hygiene and Sterilisation Technologies
- Membrane Technologies
- Energy and Thermal Management
- Technical Textiles and Functional Surfaces
Technology Readiness Level & Validation
Technology Readiness Level: TRL 4
The technology has been produced at laboratory scale, with prototypes prepared in different formats including coatings, films and foams. Laboratory-scale testing has been performed to evaluate the photothermal behaviour of these prototypes.
During laboratory studies, the material reached temperatures of approximately 200 °C under laser irradiation. This value relates to the specific laboratory test conditions used; because parameters such as irradiation intensity, wavelength and test geometry have not been supplied as public validation data, it should not be interpreted as a general application-level performance value.
A foam-format prototype placed on the surface of water demonstrated continuous evaporation under irradiation. The technology has also been investigated for reducing bacterial and biofilm formation on surfaces. Current evidence relates to laboratory-scale development, and industrial validation has not yet been reported.
Intellectual Property
US Patent Publication: US20240110058A1
US Application No.: US18/276,455
European Patent: EP4291599B1
International Application: PCT/TR2022/050136
Patent Title: A Polymeric Hybrid Material With Photothermal Properties And Production Method Thereof
Priority Date: 22 February 2021
International Filing Date: 16 February 2022
US Publication Date: 4 April 2024
European Patent Grant Date: 19 June 2024
Applicant / Assignee: Sabancı University & SUNUM
Protection / Filing Coverage: Türkiye, United States, Unitary Patent and Spain
Commercialisation Status
Laboratory-scale prototypes are available and the technology is available for licensing. Further development opportunities include scaling the adaptable photothermal material platform and validating its performance in target application environments.
Collaboration Opportunities
- Licensing
- Scientific consultancy
- Joint R&D and co-development
- Industrial validation and pilot testing
Potential partners may include functional polymer and coating manufacturers, membrane-technology companies, water-treatment and desalination solution providers, sterilisation and hygiene technology developers, and companies working on light-activated functional surfaces or thermal-management materials.
Promising areas for joint development include scaling the laboratory-demonstrated photothermal effect to larger surfaces and continuous manufacturing processes, validating coating, film and foam formats under application-relevant conditions, and conducting pilot studies in target uses such as water treatment and antibacterial surfaces.
Inventors
Inventors: Hayriye Ünal, Serkan Ünal, Cüneyt Erdinç Taş
Contact
For licensing, industrial validation, joint R&D or other collaboration opportunities related to this technology, please contact Sabancı University Technology Transfer Office (SUATT) at dpe.suatt@sabanciuniv.edu.