Method of making an anti-reflection coating

US6177131A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Walther Glaubitt · Würzburg, DE
• Andreas Gombert · Glückstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 14, 1997
• Grant date: Jan 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Oct 14, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/40
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of and a solution for making a highly porous optical antireflection coating of a selectively designed index of refraction, by applying a colloidal dispersion derived from hydrolytically condensing, in the presence of water and a catalyst, one or more silicon compounds of the general formula R.sub.a SiX.sub.4-a, or precondensates derived therefrom, to a substrate. In the formula, R is an organic group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by oxygen atoms and/or sulfur atoms and/or amino groups, X is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl or NR'.sub.2, R' being hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and a being 0, 1 or 2. The solution also contains colloidally dispersed organic polymers at a molar ratio, relative to the silane, between 0.1 mmol/mol silane and 100 mmol/mol silane, the median molecular mass of the polymer being between 200 and 500,000. Sol-vents, preferably alcohol, may also be present in the solution. After being applied to an optical substrate, the solution is dried and organic components are removed from it to leave a porous coating of predetermined index of refraction.