LIST Launches STRAYPROTECT Spin-Off with Super-Black Coating for Aerospace & Optics

On Tuesday 22 April 2025, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) announced the launch of its twelfth spin-off, STRAYPROTECT, which will operate in the field of nanotechnology and has developed an innovation described as a super-black coating capable of absorbing 99.4% of light, intended for use in aerospace, defence and high-performance optical applications.

Developed by researchers at LIST, STRAYPROTECT’s proprietary coating uses carbon nanostructures to trap light and suppress parasitic straylight reflections, which reportedly improves the performance of sensitive optical devices such as those deployed for space and military applications.

“STRAYPROTECT marks a breakthrough in space optics by enabling the gas-phase synthesis and integration of super-black coatings onto complex-shaped components. This innovation offers a lightweight, high-performance European solution to suppress stray light, outperforming conventional bulky shielding and multi-layer coatings in both efficiency and cost,” explained Group Leader of Plasma and Vapor Deposition Processes at LIST, Nicolas Boscher.

Two distinct coating architectures were developed to mitigate stray light across the visible to far-infrared spectral range. STRAYPROTECT’s advanced formulations are not only mechanically stable, but also compatible with diverse substrates, including additively manufactured components. Applications span:
- aerospace optics and space-based telescopes;
- imaging systems to enhance societal resilience;
- high-precision scientific instrumentation.

LIST noted that the coatings make the most of cutting-edge composites, including carbon nanotubes and cermets and can be applied to silicon microchips, quartz, copper, aluminium and more.

Jurgen Joossens, Deputy CEO of LIST, said: “LIST champions Luxembourg's innovation ecosystem, aligning with our government's vision to foster startups and spin-offs. Through LIST-Ventures, we cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset within our organisation and drive a dynamic valorisation strategy, aiming to create captivating spin-offs that attract both local and international investors. STRAYPROTECT is yet another success for our entrepreneurial researchers. We wish the team the best of luck on their entrepreneurial journey!”

As reported by LIST, the development of STRAYPROTECT emerged from a request by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) to design a European-made solution for super-black coatings, leading to the creation of a novel technology supported by a series of ESA grants (BlackCoat projects). The project was guided through LIST’s internal venture programme, LIST Ventures and technology acceleration pipeline.

“Initial interest from the space industry confirms a strong demand for STRAYPROTECT’s unique coating technology,” added principal investigator and founder of STRAYPROTECT, Naoufal Bahlawane.

STRAYPROTECT has now reached Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5), demonstrating its performance in relevant environments and paving the way for industrial implementation, LIST stated.

IK

(Photo credit: LIST)