A Mini Review: Antireflective Coatings Processing Techniques, Applications and Future Perspective

Abstract

Antireflective coatings (AR) are widely applied to eliminate the unwanted surface reflections from the AR coated substrate. In different optoelectronic devices, AR coatings have potential usage in photovoltaic solar cells, sensors, display devices, automobile industries to reduce reflectance, glare and enhance light transmittance. Natural phenomenon inspires researchers, and they generate bionic AR coatings copying the nature such as moth eyes, or cicada wings to fabricate efficient light harvesting AR coatings. In the current review article, we analyse and evaluate critically the progress and recent development in the fabrication of AR thin films comprising organic coatings, inorganic coatings, polymer AR coatings and bionic AR coatings. We predominantly emphasise the AR coatings fabrication by different methods and pinpoints the technological challenges in their real-world reliability. Finally, we address the future challenges and potential strategies for their upcoming prospect.

Injection molding of high-precision optical lenses: A review

“…AR coatings are the most applied since they may eliminate unwanted surface reflections and increase light transmission. In the same way that optical lenses, AR coatings are applied in electronic, photovoltaic solar cells, sensors, such as in lenses applied in automobile industries, camera lenses, and obviously, ophthalmic lenses to reduce reflectance, glare, and enhance light transmittance [40]. Other coatings are applied on the polymer surface that may be combined, or not, with AR coatings, such as anti-scratch coatings, which are essential to improve the mechanical behavior of the PC lenses widely used in eyewear applications [41].…”

Amorphous carbon nitride dual-function anti-reflection coating for crystalline silicon solar cells

“…The current commercial example of such an efficient ARC material is silicon nitride, with a refractive index of 2.02 in the middle of the visible spectrum at 550 nm. With a 68 nm thickness, Si 3 N 4 can reduce the average reflectance in the visible spectrum to about 5.3% 74 .…”