SOLNIL at SPIE Photonics West 2026
Advanced Resins and Nano-printing Solutions for AR, Metasurfaces and High-Power Laser Optics
SAN FRANCISCO (SPIE Photonics West) - SOLNIL announces its participation at SPIE Photonics West 2026 (Jan 20 - 22), where the CEO Badre Kerzabi and the CSO Marco Abbarchi will represent the company at the show and present SOLNIL’s latest technologies for augmented reality, photonic meta-surfaces and high-power laser optics. Come and visit us at BOOTH # 5029, French Pavilion
Resins for AR and photonic meta-surfaces covering RI from 1.12 to 2.6
SOLNIL is commercialising three complementary families of pure inorganic resins designed for etch-free nano-imprinting, encapsulation and gap filling of nano-photonic device and metasurfaces.
- HiRI-COAT (High Refractive Index) is a printable resin that transforms into pure inorganic ceramic materials after thermal curing, with high refractive indices adjustable from 2.1 to ~2.6, and low haze below 0.3% (100 nm thick film). It is used for fabrication of metal oxides optical coatings and meta-surfaces for augmented reality optics, where compactness, high phase control and high index contrast are required.
- GLASS-COAT (Low Refractive Index) is a printable resin that transforms into pure inorganic, glassy, silica materials after thermal curing, with refractive indices adjustable from 1.2 to 1.45, and low haze below 0.1% (200 nm thick film). It is used for fabrication of glass-type anti-sticking optical gratings and blanket, or nanostructured antireflection coatings, where high transparency and high LIDT are required.
- AIR-COAT (Ultra Low Refractive Index) is a printable resin that transforms into pure inorganic porous water-repellent silica materials after thermal curing, with refractive indices down to 1.12, and low haze below 0.1% (2000 nm thick film). It has been specifically engineered for PIC integration, gap-filling, and optical cushioning in AR waveguides, displays and vertical meta-surface stacks, where encapsulation with extreme low index and mechanical stability is required.
Solutions for high-power laser optics
SOLNIL’s nano-printed moth-eye anti-reflection coatings deliver industry-grade optical performance while significantly improving laser damage robustness and wideband transmission compared to multilayer thin films. Key features for high-power laser systems include:
- Very high transmission across broad spectral bands (double-sided processing yields >99.5% transmission).
- Oustanding laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) approaching (~80%) that of bulk fused silica,
- Self-cleaning/hydrophobic surface properties from nano-texturing (lotus-leaf effect) that reduce contamination and maintenance needs for outdoor or airborne platforms.
- Scalable, lower-cost production via SOLNIL’s etch-free nano-printing workflow - enabling wider adoption of meta-surfaces in power-laser environments.
These properties make SOLNIL solutions attractive for OEMs and integrators working on laser fusion research, industrial high-power lasers, directed-energy optics, and other demanding applications where durability and optical efficiency are essential.
Technical talks - Marco Abbarchi and collaboration with INRIA
SOLNIL’s technical team will present new results and methods at Photonics West:
- “Etching-less lithography by direct nano-imprint of photonic integrated devices” SPIE 19 January 2026, 4:50 PM - 5:20 PM PST | Room 3020 (Moscone West, Level 3).
Marco Abbarchi will present SOLNIL’s materials and etch-free nano-printing process and show how it enables high-fidelity pattern transfer without etching, reducing process complexity while maintaining optical performance.
- “Deep-learning-driven inverse-design methodology of large-scale meta-lenses” (SPIE 21 January 2026, 4:50 PM - 5:10 PM PST | Room 203 (Moscone South, Level 2).
Mahmoud Elsawy (INRIA), in collaboration with SOLNIL will present the modelling and algorithmic applying machine-learning inverse-design techniques to model and design large-scale meta-surfaces suitable for nano-printing, accelerating design cycles and enabling high-performance optical elements for AR and laser systems.
These talks highlight SOLNIL’s combined strengths in materials, scalable nano-manufacturing, and computational design that together make high-performance meta-surfaces manufacturable at scale.
About SOLNIL
SOLNIL specializes in direct-patterning of functional advanced nano-ceramic materials, through a unique combination of sol-gel resins and patented nanoimprint lithography. Our expertise spans sol-gel materials, nano-microfabrication technologies, and photonics, enabling us to offer solutions for various applications, including meta-optics, photonics, and nano-fluidics. Headquartered in Marseille, France, SOLNIL collaborates with industry pioneers to redefine the future of patterned coatings and surfaces.
For more information, visit www.solnil.com
Contact
For inquiries or to schedule a meeting at Photonics West, contact us at contact@solnil.com