title: One-step index-tunable antireflection coatings from aggregated silica nanoparticles.
abstract: We demonstrate a method for producing thickness- and refractive index-tunable antireflection coatings utilizing a one-step spin coating procedure with silica nanoparticle solutions. Aging nanoparticle solutions under controlled pH and temperature induces aggregation, allowing precise control of the porosity and refractive index of the spin-processed coating. Coating thickness measurements as a function of solution aging time and temperature allow for determination of the activation energy of the reaction-limited aggregation process. We demonstrate optimization of the antireflection effect for a single-layer silica nanoparticle coating on glass, and suggest that the aggregation method may be generalized to various other nanoparticle-based assemblies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana 47803, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Kwadwo E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Tettey
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bunch
authors.forename: Daeyeon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nolte