Advanced Oxide-Based Antireflective Coatings for Optical Applications

Abstract

Herein, we presents the design, fabrication, and performance analysis of multifunctional antireflective (AR) thin-film coatings using high- and low-refractive-index oxide materials, including hafnia (HfO₂), silica (SiO₂), and titania (TiO₂). The multilayer coatings were deposited on different substrates to investigate their optical performance, environmental durability, and multifunctional characteristics. By optimizing the refractive-index contrast and layer configuration, the developed coatings exhibited significantly reduced surface reflectance over a broad spectral range.

In addition to excellent optical transmission, the coatings demonstrated hydrophobic behavior, omnidirectional antireflective performance, and high thermal stability under elevated-temperature conditions. The incorporation of HfO₂ and TiO₂ as high-index materials together with SiO₂ as a low-index material enabled enhanced durability and stable optical properties. The coatings maintained their structural integrity and antireflective characteristics after thermal treatment, highlighting their suitability for demanding optical and photonic applications.

The results suggest that these multifunctional AR coatings are promising candidates for applications in solar cells, optical windows, displays, sensors, and high-temperature optical systems where low reflection, durability, and environmental stability are required.

Key Words

Oxide thin films, Optical materials, Surface engineering, Nanostructured coatings, Broadband antireflection, Durable optical coatings