Lotus Synthesis is a French start-up based in Lyon and founded in 2011 which is producing functional (hybrid) inorganic nanoparticles for top coating applications.
The patented technology allows the production of hybrid (surface-functionalized and/or doped) oxide (TiO2, ZrO2, ZnO …) nanoparticles with customized properties by an in situ and one-pot Sol-Gel process via a molecular approach. This leads to one major break-through in order to move nanotechnology from lab to market: the control and reproducible surface functionalization of each nano-particle. The star-up’s know-how relies on rare and deep expertise in molecular design of Sol-Gel precursors. Such chemical engineering leads to answer a specific need by selecting the adequate coordination complex that will be further transformed into doped and/or hybrid nanoparticles (core/shell nanostructures) via a hydrolysis-polycondensation Sol-Gel process.
Lotus Synthesis has then adopted a strategy exclusively based on liquid phase products. Theefficient and easy scale-up process relies on a remarkable clean-technology solution for thecustomers since there is no manipulation of dry nano-powder, from production preparation to customer delivery.
The company follows an eco-strategy which leads to the stability for the nanodispersions (up to 30% in weight) and the control and reproducibility of the final nano-material properties of each batch. The Lotus Synthesis nanodispersions in aqueous or organic (commercial) media are then highly stable and elaborated to be integrated into clients’ formulations related to smart industrial top coats, which are mainly processed through spin-, spray- or dip-coating, and roll-to-roll. The company also commercializes a very efficient self-cleaning and anti-fungal waterborne TiO2-based varnishes (UVAC) for buildings. Its production capacity is at present ten tons a year.
The products from Lotus Synthesis bring specific properties such as self-cleaning, anti-scratch, high refraction index, anti-fungal, anti UV, luminescence, etc.
Many industrial fields are concerned, as for example:
-Paints, varnishes
-Optical films
-Technical textiles
-Environment (pollution remediation)
-Photovoltaïc
-Cosmetics
