Development of Polymeric-Inorganic Hybrid Black Pigments with High NIR Reflectance and True Blackness for LiDAR Sensor Utilized in Autonomous Vehicle

초록

Novel LiDAR-detectable hybrid black pigments combining near-infrared (NIR)-transmissive polymeric materials with NIR-reflective inorganic metal oxides are successfully developed as advanced coatings for autonomous vehicles. These pigments are designed to overcome the intrinsic limitations of individual polymeric and inorganic components, simultaneously achieving high NIR reflectance and true black appearance. Specifically, the polymer-based NIR-transmissive layer selectively absorbs visible light while allowing efficient transmission of NIR wavelengths, functioning as a tunable optical filter. Meanwhile, the embedded inorganic metal oxides enhance internal NIR scattering and back-reflection, thereby improving overall LiDAR signal detectability. The resulting hybrid pigment system exhibits superior NIR reflectance and visual blackness compared to conventional single-layer coatings. LiDAR sensor validation tests confirm that the hybrid-coated surfaces can be reliably detected, underscoring the role of functional polymers in enabling next-generation LiDAR-compatible black coatings for autonomous mobility systems. - 본 연구는 2025년도 정부(교육부)의 재원으로 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 기초연구사업임(RS-2022-NR070869). Keywords: Organic-inorganic hybrid materials, NIR reflectance, Blackness, LiDAR, Autonomous vehicle.