Hyundai Motor Group unveils nanotech capable of repairing vehicle surface scratches

Lee Jong-soo, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Group's Institute of Advanced Technology Development, introduces transparent solar panels during the Nano Tech Day 2023 event in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its advanced nanotechnologies which enable vehicles to self-repair surface damage, self-recharge batteries via solar cells and lower indoor temperatures through cooling films, Korea's largest carmaker said Thursday.

These cutting-edge technologies based on nanoengineering involve synthesizing and arranging materials at the microscopic level to create new materials with unique properties, it said.

Hyundai Motor and Kia showcased these nanotech innovations at the Nano Tech Day 2023 event in Seoul. One of these technologies is a nano-coating which allows vehicles to heal surface damage. As autonomous driving and electric vehicle (EV) technologies advance, the risk of critical component damage increases.

Even minor scratches on vital parts like cameras or LiDAR sensors used in autonomous driving can hinder a vehicle's perception and decision-making capabilities. EVs, in particular, require durable and wear-resistant powertrain components.

The self-healing polymer coating, developed by Hyundai and Kia utilizing nanomaterials, is a pioneering technology that can restore the coating to its original state within about two hours at room temperature without requiring external heating or recovery accelerants. When a coated component sustains damage, the divided polymer within the coating exploits chemical reactions to restore its original state.

While self-healing technologies have already been commercialized, they often require the use of recovery accelerants, making repetitive healing difficult, and are limited in application without additional heating devices.

Hyundai and Kia are currently developing the capability to apply self-healing technologies to various areas, starting with camera lenses and LiDAR sensors and crucial components for autonomous driving and eventually extending to the vehicle's paint surface and other parts.

In addition, the company developed the oil capsule polymer coating to drastically reduce parts wear. This innovative technology uses nanocapsules within the polymer coating that burst upon friction, releasing lubricating oil to form a protective film.

This self-healing lubricant can provide long-lasting lubrication until the end of the part's lifespan, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced costs. This technology can be applied to various components, including EV motors and reduction gears, reducing rotational loss and enhancing efficiency.

Nanoengineering also plays a role in improving EV performance by enhancing the range of travel on a single battery charge and reducing charging time. The transparent solar panel introduced by Hyundai and Kia utilizes high-efficiency perovskite materials, achieving more than 30 percent higher photoelectric efficiency than conventional silicon solar panels. This technology reduces the vehicle's battery dependency and improves energy efficiency.

“The nano-based technologies unveiled today are the result of continuous efforts by Hyundai Motor Group's material experts. Nanotechnology will be a crucial key in leading the transformation of the mobility industry,” said Hong Seung-hyun, vice president of Hyundai Motor Group's materials research and engineering center.