Published: August 18, 2026

 

Summary

An autonomous platform integrates femtosecond lasers, real-time testing, and machine learning to rapidly discover, engineer, and optimize multifunctional material surfaces tailored to specific performance needs.

Applications

  • Photovoltaic antireflective surface optimization
  • Aerospace anti-icing surface development
  • Data center thermal management surfaces
  • 6G communication terahertz components

Advantages/Benefits

  • Accelerated materials discovery
  • Multi-objective property optimization
  • 24/7 autonomous operation
  • Cost-effective material enhancement
  • Eco-friendly, chemical-free processing

Background 

Advanced industries require engineered multifunctional surfaces for critical optical, thermal, and structural applications. Consequently, there is a growing need to sustainably develop high-performance properties on abundant, inexpensive substrates to reduce reliance on scarce materials.

However, traditional materials discovery is labor-intensive and extremely slow, often spanning decades. Current approaches struggle with multi-objective optimization, rely heavily on simulations instead of real experimental data, and frequently depend on environmentally harmful chemical coatings.

Technology Overview 

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a closed-loop, autonomous platform for the rapid discovery of multifunctional surfaces. It integrates femtosecond laser processing and automated sample handling to modify surface morphologies from nanometers to millimeters. Co-located, high-throughput tools measure optical, wetting, and topological properties in real-time. A machine learning system autonomously analyzes these datasets to guide subsequent experiments, enabling inverse design based on user-defined metrics.

This technology is differentiated by replacing decades-long, hypothesis-driven discovery with a rapid methodology using real experimental data rather than simulations. It engineers the topology of abundant substrates without toxic chemicals, offering an environmentally sustainable, low-cost alternative to exotic materials while simultaneously optimizing multiple properties. The system fabricates and characterizes samples in seconds, achieving gigahertz pulse repetition rates while generating over tens of thousands of surfaces and millions of measurements.

Development Stage

TRL 3: Proof of concept

Inventors

Status

Patent pending

Opportunities

Available for licensing and / or collaborative research

For More Information

Jake Carter, Kyle Ito, Saurabh Awasthi, et al. “High-throughput laser processing towards autonomous discovery of anti-icing materials”, Proc. SPIE PC13881, Laser-based Micro- and Nanoprocessing XX, PC138810K (5 Mar 2026); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3082873

Vassilia Zorba, Minok Park, Jake Carter, et al. “Laser processing in accelerated materials discovery”, Proc. SPIE PC13880, Laser Applications in Microelectronic and Optoelectronic Manufacturing (LAMOM) XXXI, PC138800K (5 Mar 2026); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3089078

Jake Carter, Vassilia Zorba, Minok Park, et al. “Multifunctional and durable engineered glass for PV applications”, Proc. SPIE PC13351, Laser-based Micro- and Nanoprocessing XIX, PC1335109 (19 Mar 2025); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3044771

Jake Carter, Minok Park, Kyle Ito, et al. “Towards inverse design of corrosion resistant metal surfaces using laser processing”, Proc. SPIE PC13351, Laser-based Micro- and Nanoprocessing XIX, PC133511C (21 Mar 2025); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3044766