Abstract

A study on low-refractive-index SiO₂ antireflective (AR) coatings by a sol-gel method is reported. Variations in the properties of the coatings are related to the molar ratios of ammonia to deionized water being changed in the process of preparing the sols. From the performance test results, the optimal ratio of the reactants necessary to prepare low-refractive-index SiO₂ AR coatings is determined. Of all the SiO₂ AR coatings, the lowest recorded refractive index is 1.16 at a wavelength of 700 nm. The largest water contact angle is 121.2°, and the peak transmittance is 99.95% at a wavelength of 908 nm. Furthermore, the sol used to deposit the film with the lowest refractive index is stable because of the narrow size distribution of its constituent particles.

© 2016 Chinese Laser Press

Double layer SiO₂–TiO₂ sol–gel thin films on glass for antireflection, antifogging, and UV recoverable self-cleaning

F. M. Fardo, R. S. Ribeiro, J. A. Strauss, J. Nardi, L. C. Ferreira, G. Schmökel, T. M. H. Costa, M. B. Pereira, and F. Horowitz
Appl. Opt. 59(25) 7720-7725 (2020)

Tailoring the behavior of optical microcavities with high refractive index sol-gel coatings

Ashley J. Maker, Brian A. Rose, and Andrea M. Armani
Opt. Lett. 37(14) 2844-2846 (2012)

Fabrication of refractive microlens in hybrid SiO₂/TiO₂ sol-gel glass by electron beam lithography

W. X. Yu and X.-C. Yuan
Opt. Express 11(8) 899-903 (2003)

Design and realization of antireflection coatings for the visible and the infrared based on mesoporous SiO₂ and SiO₂-TiO₂ hybrid materials

Wenping Zhao, Hongbao Jia, Ying Wang, Qian Wang, Henan Wu, and Biao Wang
Appl. Opt. 58(9) 2385-2392 (2019)

Laser-induced damage on ordered and amorphous sol-gel silica coatings

Xiaoguang Li, Liping Zou, Guangming Wu, and Jun Shen
Opt. Mater. Express 4(12) 2478-2483 (2014)