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Reversibly erasable nanoporous anti-reflection coatings from polyelectrolyte multilayers

Nature Materials volume 1, pages 59–63 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

For nearly two centuries, researchers have sought novel methods to increase light transmission in optical systems, as well as to eliminate unwanted reflections and glare. Anti-reflection coatings and surfaces have enabled the increasing performance demands of optical components fabricated from glass-based optical materials. With the current trend of technology moving towards optically transparent polymeric media and coatings, the need for anti-reflection technology and environmentally benign processing methods for polymeric materials independent of shape or size has become quite apparent. We describe an economical, aqueous-based process controlled at the molecular level that simultaneously coats all surfaces of almost any material. Systematically designed nanoporous polymer films are used, which are suitable for optical applications operating at both visible and near-infrared wavelengths. These high-efficiency anti-reflection coatings are created from phase-separated polyelectrolyte multilayer films that undergo a reversible pH-induced swelling transition. Furthermore, such films, easily patterned by an inkjet printing technique, possess potential for pH-responsive biomaterial and membrane applications.

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Figure 1: pH-switchable optical properties of PAH/PAA multilayer films.
Figure 2: Reversible nanoporosity in PAH/PAA.
Figure 3: Tuning the optical properties of nanoporous PAH/PAA multilayer films.
Figure 4: Optical properties of micropatterned, nanoporous PAH/PAA anti-reflection coatings.
Figure 5: Evidence for the graded n of nanoporous PAH/PAA anti-reflection coatings.
Figure 6: A 'double-layered block' design: demonstration of a general design approach.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J.-F. Hiller for computational support. This research was supported financially by the MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering and the National Science Foundation. J.H. acknowledges the Lucent Technologies Cooperative Research Fellowship Program.

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  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Jeri'Ann Hiller, Jonas D. Mendelsohn & Michael F. Rubner

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  1. Jeri'Ann Hiller
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  3. Michael F. Rubner
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Correspondence to Michael F. Rubner.

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Hiller, J., Mendelsohn, J. & Rubner, M. Reversibly erasable nanoporous anti-reflection coatings from polyelectrolyte multilayers. Nature Mater 1, 59–63 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat719

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