Rapid Fabrication of Bio-inspired Antireflection Film Replicating From Cicada Wings

Ze Wang,Zhiwu Han,Shichao Niu,Luquan Ren,Bo Li,Junqiu Zhang,Xiaoming Feng,Zhibin Jiao

doi:10.1007/s42235-020-0001-z

Ze Wang, Zhiwu Han + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-020-0001-z

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Abstract

Inspired by cicada wings, a flexible film with self-cleaning and broadband antireflection properties was fabricated with a rapid, straightforward and cost-effective method. The cicada wing was selected as the original template, and a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) negative replica was obtained by evaporation solvent process. The original template was directly peeled off. Subsequently, the polydi-methylsiloxane (PDMS) was spread in the as-prepared PMMA negative replica. After curing and peeling processes, the PDMS positive replica was manufactured successfully. The morphologies and performances of cicada wings were perfectly inherited by the PDMS positive replica. What is more, the excellent optical property of cicada wing was investigated experimentally and theoretically. Compared with flat PDMS film, the average reflectivity of structural PDMS film was reduced from 9% to 3.5% in the wavelength range of 500 nm–900 nm. These excellent antireflection properties of bio-inspired antireflection film can be attributed to the nanostructures which achieve a gradient refractive index between air and the materials, and the mechanism of the antireflection properties was revealed via effective medium theory. Besides, the bio-inspired broadband antireflective film exhibited superhydrophobic property after the surface treatment (a 152.1°water contact angle), and it also displayed satisfactory flexibility. This work provided a universal method to fabricate the exquisite biological structures, realizing the transfer of structure and function. Moreover, the multifunctional antireflection film exhibited the potential value for applications in optical communications, flexible display screens, and anti-dazzle glasses.

Highlights

Along with networks widely applied, the mobile phone and various electronic displays are tied up with our daily life
3.1 Structure characterization The morphologies and structures of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) negative replica and PDMS positive replica were characterized by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM, BRUKERDIMENSION FASTSCAN) and Field Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy (FESEM, JEOL JSM6700F)
It indicated that the PMMA negative replica and the prototype could be separated completely and there was hardly any residue left

Summary

Introduction

Along with networks widely applied, the mobile phone and various electronic displays are tied up with our daily life. The troubles arise when they are used outside or in strong light surroundings. The intense light glowing out from the surface would impair the vision, yet the information we want is disturbed. What’s worse, strong reflection on the optoelectronic conversion device will lose a lot of light energy, reducing the energy conversion efficiency[1,2,3,4]. The dazzling light is supposed to be suppressed, and it’s a hot topic for researchers. As is known to all, the strong reflection is caused by the sudden change of the refractive index in different media, and that is “Fresnel reflection”, it is important to achieve antireflection by depressing the Fresnel reflection[5,6,7]

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Conclusion