Abstract
Generating mesoporous films with adequate film thickness and refractive index is a common method to achieve amplitude and phase matching in low-cost interference-based antireflective coatings (ARCs). For high-surface-energy materials, pores on the 2-50 nm (i.e., on the subwavelength scale) are subject to capillary condensation by surrounding gas phase water molecules, which hampers their functioning. In this work, we examine the effect of relative humidity on mesoporous ARCs and present a simple method for the preparation of ARCs with robust operation under variable conditions. The materials route is based on the generation of well-defined porous aluminosilicate networks by block copolymer co-assembly with poly(isobutylene)- block-poly(ethylene oxide) and postsynthesis grafting of trichloro(octyl)silane molecules to the pore walls. The functionalized films exhibited a maximum transmittance value of 99.8%, with an average transmittance of 99.1% in the visible wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm. Crucially, the antireflection performance was maintained at high humidity values, with an average transmittance decrease of only 0.2% and maximum values maintained at 99.7%. This compared to maximum and average losses of 3.6 and 2.7%, respectively, for nonfunctionalized reference samples. The ARCs were shown to retain their optical properties within 50 humidity cycles, indicating long-term stability against fluctuating environmental conditions.
Highlights
Antireflective coatings (ARCs) are a common component in fields such as eye glasses, display technology, solar cells, and windows.[1]
Research Article extensively studied for the formation of a variety of inorganic mesoporous thin film architectures with closely controlled porosity and pore size.[15−17] Well-established sol−gel chemistry methods, when combined with solution-based block copolymers (BCPs), allow for the facile preparation of mesoporous ARCs via conventional liquid deposition processes.[18−21] Incorporation of TiO2 into mesoporous ARCs allows for the degradation of organic contaminants via photocatalysis
The optical properties of the resulting ARCs are studied in repeated cycles under variable humidity by ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) and in situ optical transmittance measurements, and conclusions are drawn for the robust operation of mesoporous ARCs under variable ambient conditions
Summary
Antireflective coatings (ARCs) are a common component in fields such as eye glasses, display technology, solar cells, and windows.[1]. Research Article extensively studied for the formation of a variety of inorganic mesoporous thin film architectures with closely controlled porosity and pore size.[15−17] Well-established sol−gel chemistry methods, when combined with solution-based BCPs, allow for the facile preparation of mesoporous ARCs via conventional liquid deposition processes.[18−21] Incorporation of TiO2 into mesoporous ARCs allows for the degradation of organic contaminants via photocatalysis This has been achieved via integration of preformed nanocrystals,[20] ultrathin crystalline,[22] or mesoporous titania layers.[23]. We describe a simple, low-cost preparation of mesoporous aluminosilicate materials using the amphiphilic poly(isobutylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PIB-b-PEO) block copolymer as a structure-directing agent mixed with aluminosilicate material derived from sol−gel chemistry This approach allows systematic tuning of the porosity value of the ARC to ensure ideal amplitude and phase matching after grafting of trichloro(octyl)silane molecules to the pore walls. The optical properties of the resulting ARCs are studied in repeated cycles under variable humidity by ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) and in situ optical transmittance measurements, and conclusions are drawn for the robust operation of mesoporous ARCs under variable ambient conditions
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