Optical Coatings
Thin film coatings for optical applications
Nanophase Technologies
Romeoville, United States
Nanophase Technologies Corporation, a NASDAQ-traded pioneer established in 1989, specializes in engineered nanomaterials and advanced formulations serving the personal care, surface treatment, and industrial markets. Based in Romeoville, Illinois, Nanophase has distinguished itself through proprietary manufacturing processes that produce precisely controlled zinc oxide nanoparticles and other metal oxide nanomaterials with exceptional uniformity and performance characteristics. With over $100 million in funding and 50-100 employees, the company has successfully transitioned from research-stage nanotechnology to commercial-scale production, demonstrating the viability of nanomaterials in consumer applications. Nanophase's core technology revolves around physical vapor synthesis methods that create ultra-pure, non-agglomerated nanoparticles with narrow size distributions—critical attributes for consistent product performance. Their zinc oxide nanoparticles, marketed extensively to the personal care industry, provide transparent, broad-spectrum UV protection in sunscreens and cosmetics without the white residue associated with conventional zinc oxide. These nanomaterials offer superior photostability and cosmetic elegance while maintaining safety profiles that meet stringent regulatory requirements. Beyond personal care, Nanophase develops surface treatment solutions where nanoparticle-enhanced coatings provide antimicrobial properties, enhanced durability, and improved optical characteristics. The company's personal care actives portfolio includes not only UV filters but also anti-aging ingredients and skin-conditioning agents enhanced through nanotechnology. Nanophase works closely with formulation scientists at major consumer product companies to integrate their nanomaterials into commercial products, providing technical support throughout product development and regulatory approval processes. The company's manufacturing facilities incorporate advanced process controls and quality assurance systems necessary for producing materials that contact human skin, meeting FDA and international safety standards. Throughout its three-decade history, Nanophase has accumulated extensive intellectual property including patents covering nanoparticle synthesis, surface modification, and formulation technologies. The company represents a successful model for commercializing nanotechnology in strictly regulated consumer markets, demonstrating how engineered nanomaterials can enhance product performance while addressing safety and environmental concerns. As consumer demand for high-performance, transparent sunscreens continues growing, Nanophase's expertise in cosmetically elegant nanoparticle formulations positions the company for continued growth in the multi-billion dollar personal care market.
Pixelligent Technologies
Baltimore, United States
Producer of high-refractive index nanocrystal additives for display and optical applications
Nanotech Security Corp
Vancouver, Canada
Developer of nano-optic technology for authentication and brand protection applications
Nanofilm
Valley View, United States
Manufacturer of anti-reflective and hydrophobic nanocoatings for optical applications
Nanosys China
Suzhou, China
Chinese subsidiary focused on quantum dot materials for display industry
Najing Tech
Hangzhou, China
Leading Chinese manufacturer of quantum dot materials for displays and lighting
QD Vision
Lexington, United States
Pioneer in quantum dot technology for displays and lighting applications
Denton Vacuum
Moorestown, United States
US manufacturer of thin film deposition systems for nanoscale coatings
Nanobrick
Seoul, South Korea
Korean developer of photonic crystal technology for displays
Quantum Solutions
Daejeon, South Korea
Korean producer of quantum dots for displays and lighting
TelAztec
Burlington, United States
Developer of nanostructured antireflective surfaces
UbiQD
Los Alamos, United States
Developer of quantum dots for agriculture and solar applications
4D Technology
Tucson, United States
Developer of dynamic interferometry for surface metrology
NanoFilm Vacuum Coating
Singapore, Singapore
Global leader in nanotechnology surface solutions
Metalenz
Boston, United States
Metasurface optics for smartphone and AR/VR applications
Tunoptix
Baltimore, United States
Tunable metasurface optics for adaptive imaging
Lumentum
San Jose, United States
Optical and photonic products with nanoscale precision
Hanwha Solutions
Seoul, South Korea
Solar cells and advanced materials with nanotechnology
Jiangsu Nata Opto
Suzhou, China
Quantum dot materials for next-gen displays
Nata Opto
Suzhou, China
Quantum dot and phosphor materials for displays
Brewer Science
Rolla, United States
Advanced lithography materials including anti-reflective coatings
Sumitomo Chemical Electronic Materials
Tokyo, Japan
Photoresists and display materials
Picodeon
Oulu, Finland
Cold ablation PLD coating technology
Colorobbia Nano
Florence, Italy
Nano-enabled ceramic glazes and coatings
Compound Photonics
Vancouver, United States
High-resolution microdisplays for AR/VR
PPG Industries Nano
Pittsburgh, United States
Nanoparticle-enhanced coatings and paints
BlueDot Photonics
Seattle, United States
Quantum dot solar luminescent concentrators
NanoFilm Technologies
Singapore, Singapore
Advanced vacuum coating technology
Metamaterial Technologies
Halifax, Canada
Metamaterial functional films
Coherent Corp
Saxonburg, United States
Lasers, optics, and compound semiconductor materials for technology applications
IPG Photonics
Oxford, United States
High-power fiber lasers for materials processing and manufacturing
PPG Industries
Pittsburgh, United States
Global coatings company using nanotechnology in paints and protective coatings
Sumitomo Chemical
Tokyo, Japan
Photoresists, polarizing films, and OLED materials
Dongjin Semichem
Hwaseong, South Korea
Photoresists and display materials for Korean semiconductor industry
II-VI Advanced Materials (Coherent)
Saxonburg, United States
Infrared materials and compound semiconductors
Nitto Denko
Osaka, Japan
Functional films and tapes with nano-coating technology
NTT Advanced Technology
Kawasaki, Japan
Photomasks and nanotechnology processing services
Nippon Electric Glass
Otsu, Japan
Display glass substrates with nano-surface treatment
AGC Inc.
Tokyo, Japan
Display glass and nano-coatings for electronics
Innolux Corporation
Miaoli, Taiwan
Large area displays with nano-structured films
LG Display
Seoul, South Korea
Large OLED panels with nano-coating technology
Nanophotonica
Tel Aviv, Israel
Cadmium-free quantum dots for displays and lighting
Najing Technology
Hangzhou, China
Quantum dot materials and films for displays
Ubiquitous Energy
Redwood City, United States
Transparent solar cells with nano-scale selective absorbers
CubicPV
Burlington, United States
Tandem silicon-perovskite solar technology
SunDensity
Rochester, United States
Nano-scale spectral conversion to boost solar efficiency
MLS Co.
Zhongshan, China
LED packaging and lighting solutions
Jenoptik
Jena, Germany
Photonics and precision optics
Edmund Optics
Barrington, United States
Precision optics and optical components
Newport Corporation (MKS)
Irvine, United States
Photonics solutions and precision positioning
Thorlabs
Newton, United States
Photonics equipment and optical components
Ayar Labs
San Jose, United States
In-package optical I/O for high-performance computing
Altana AG
Wesel, Germany
Specialty chemicals for coatings, adhesives, and sealants
Eternal Materials
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Photoresists, solder mask, and specialty coatings
PPG Industries
Pittsburgh, United States
Global coatings company with nanotechnology-enhanced aerospace and automotive paints
Nanophase Technologies
Romeoville, United States
Engineered nanomaterials for personal care and industrial uses
Surfactis Technologies
Angers, France
Anti-fingerprint and anti-smudge nano-coatings
Nano-Glo
San Jose, United States
Quantum dot phosphors for lighting and displays
Corning Incorporated
Corning, United States
Specialty glass and ceramics leader for display, optical communications and life sciences
Schott AG
Mainz, Germany
Specialty glass and glass-ceramics for pharma, electronics, optics and household applications
Materion Corporation
Mayfield Heights, United States
Advanced materials company with beryllium alloys, precious metals and engineered clad metals
Finisar (II-VI/Coherent)
San Jose, United States
Optical communication components including transceivers and VCSELs (now part of Coherent)
Ciena Corporation
Hanover, United States
Optical networking systems and software with coherent optics and WaveLogic technology
Viavi Solutions
Scottsdale, United States
Optical test and measurement, network test and optical security products
Jenoptik AG
Jena, Germany
Photonics company with lasers, optical systems and semiconductor equipment from historic Zeiss roots
Thorlabs Inc.
Newton, United States
Photonics equipment manufacturer with optical components, lasers, motion control and imaging systems
OSI Optoelectronics
Hawthorne, United States
High-performance photodiodes and optical sensors for aerospace, defense and medical applications
Laser Components
Olching, Germany
Laser and optoelectronic components including photodiodes, laser optics and custom solutions
II-VI Infrared (Coherent)
Saxonburg, United States
Infrared optics and materials for thermal imaging, defense and CO2 laser applications
NKT Photonics
Birkerød, Denmark
Specialty fiber and fiber laser company with supercontinuum sources and photonic crystal fibers
Menlo Systems
Martinsried, Germany
Optical frequency combs and ultrafast laser systems co-founded by Nobel laureate Theodor Hänsch
Lumibird
Lannion, France
European laser group with solid-state lasers for defense, lidar, medical and scientific markets
JDSU (Viavi/Lumentum)
Milpitas, United States
Pioneering optical communications company that split into Viavi and Lumentum in 2015
Santec Corporation
Komaki, Japan
Tunable laser sources and optical instruments for telecommunications and medical imaging (OCT)
Laser Quantum (Novanta)
Stockport, United Kingdom
Scientific laser systems with CW and ultrafast lasers for spectroscopy and imaging (Novanta)
Luxtera (Cisco)
Carlsbad, United States
Silicon photonics pioneer with optical transceivers for data centers (acquired by Cisco)
Lightwave Logic
Newark, United States
Electro-optic polymer technology for high-speed photonic devices and modulators
Lightelligence
Boston, United States
Photonic computing solutions for AI and machine learning
SpaceLink
Reston, United States
Building global data relay system for space-to-ground communications
SES
Betzdorf, Luxembourg
Global satellite operator with GEO and MEO constellations
Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Materials
Tokyo, Japan
Diversified chemical company providing advanced materials for electronics and display
Axalta Coating Systems
Philadelphia, United States
Global coatings company specializing in automotive and industrial applications
AGC Glass
Tokyo, Japan
Global glass manufacturer with electronic and specialty glass solutions
Ushio
Tokyo, Japan
Light source manufacturer providing UV lamps, excimer lasers, and LED solutions
Ciena Corporation
Hanover, United States
Network systems and software company providing optical and packet networking solutions
Infinera Corporation
San Jose, United States
Optical networking company with photonic integrated circuit technology
ADVA Optical
Munich, Germany
Adtran company (formerly ADVA) providing optical networking and encryption solutions
Corning Optical
Corning, United States
Corning optical communications division providing fiber optic cables and connectivity
Prysmian Group
Milan, Italy
World's largest cable manufacturer providing fiber optic and power cables
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Research Triangle Park, United States
Sumitomo Electric lightwave division providing fiber optic products and fusion splicers
OFS Fitel
Norcross, United States
Furukawa company providing specialty optical fiber and fiber optic cable
Excelitas Technologies
Waltham, United States
Photonics company providing detection, illumination, and optical technology solutions
Quantel Laser
Les Ulis, France
Lumibird company (formerly Quantel) providing lasers for defense, lidar, and medical
Continuum Lasers
San Jose, United States
Amplitude company providing Nd:YAG and tunable lasers for scientific applications
Photon Control
Burnaby, Canada
MKS Instruments company providing fiber optic temperature sensors for semiconductor
OptiGrate Corporation
Oviedo, United States
Volume Bragg grating manufacturer for laser beam combining and spectral filtering
Avantes
Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Spectrometer and fiber optic sensing company for analytical applications
Leonardo DRS
Arlington, United States
Defense electronics company providing IR sensors and electro-optical systems
Corning Incorporated
Corning, United States
Materials science company producing specialty glass and ceramics
Schott AG
Mainz, Germany
German specialty glass manufacturer for pharma, electronics, and optics
AGC Inc
Tokyo, Japan
Japanese glass and materials company for construction, automotive, and electronics
GoPro
San Mateo, United States
Action camera company making rugged cameras for extreme sports
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Tokyo, Japan
Japanese entertainment company with games, anime, and toys
View Inc
Milpitas, United States
Smart building technology with electrochromic smart glass
Dolby Laboratories
San Francisco, United States
Audio and imaging technology company for entertainment
IMAX Corporation
Mississauga, Canada
Entertainment technology company for immersive cinema
The Walt Disney Company
Burbank, United States
Global entertainment conglomerate with streaming and parks
Dolby Laboratories
San Francisco, United States
Audio and imaging technology
Buhler Leybold Optics
Alzenau, Germany
Precision optical thin film coatings
Angstrom Sun Technologies
Acton, United States
Thin film deposition and optical coating systems
Sun Chemical Nano
Parsippany, United States
Nanoscale inks and materials for electronics printing
Angstrom Sciences
Duquesne, United States
Sputtering targets and thin film deposition materials
QustomDot
Ghent, Belgium
Quantum dot technology for vibrant color conversion and display enhancement
trinano technologies
Munich, Germany
Nanocoating for solar modules increasing energy output by 4%
Infrascreen
Wageningen, Netherlands
Nanotechnology-based greenhouse screens
NanoLens
Stuttgart, Germany
Nanophotonic lens and optical sensing solutions
AeroShield
Boston, United States
Aerogel insulation for windows and building efficiency
Allegiance Nanosolutions
Boulder, United States
Hydrophobic and oleophobic nanocoatings for glass and surfaces
North Glass Nano
Luoyang, China
Self-cleaning nano-coated glass for construction