Hochreflektierende Beschichtungen auf Kunststoffoptiken

Metallized polymer substrates offering highest reflectance are not yet state of the art. Coating organic substrate materials is still a task that is connected with multiple problems. Insufficient adhesion of coatings on polymer substrates represents one of the main difficulties. We could show by experiment that aluminium and silver layers indicate good coating adhesion on many different polymers if they are deposited by vacuum evaporation considering certain process parameters. High reflectance values and a good climatic stability of the metal coated polymer parts are other important challenges to plastic mirrors. By performing roughness measurements on the different polymer samples and by comparing reflection values obtained after coating these samples the impact of the polymers surface quality on the reflectance after metal coating has been investigated. Particularly high reflectance above 97% was realized with a protected silver mirror as well as with dielectric enhanced aluminium. Applying these layer systems excellent reflection properties has been obtained on several plastic substrates comparable to those on glass mirrors. Furthermore the dielectric layers used for reflection enhancement showed the ability to protect the aluminium coating against climatic influences.     

Corrosion characterization of durable silver coatings by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and accelerated environmental testing

Highly reflective front-surface silver mirrors are needed for many optical applications. While various protective dielectric coating schemes have been developed, the long-term durability of Ag mirrors is still of great concern in the optics community for a variety of applications under harsh environments. The corrosion protection behavior of a SiNx-coated silver-mirror coating scheme was tested with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and accelerated environmental testing, including humidity and salt fog tests. The EIS data obtained were fitted with different equivalent circuit models. The results suggested that the 100A thick SiNx coating produced by rf magnetron sputtering was porous and acted as a leaky capacitor on the Ag film, whereas the addition of a NiCrNx interlayer as thin as 3A between SiNx and Ag films resulted in a much denser SiNx coating with a low-frequency impedance value of 2 orders of magnitude higher than that without the interlayer. Humidity and salt fog testing of different silver coatings showed similar results. The 100A SiNx/3A-NiCrNx/Ag coating exhibited excellent corrosion resistance against the corrosive environments used in this study.     

Leistungsfähige Spiegel für solarthermische Kraftwerke

High efficient mirrors for Concentrating Solar Power plants Mirrors are an essential component of CSP plants. Wet chemically coated silver mirrors supplied by Flabeg GmbH achieve an average specular and solar weighted reflectivity of 94.4%. Almost 30 years of field experience prove the durability of the coating. First surface mirrors could provide higher reflectivity, but so far either the necessary durability is not met or the costs are not competitive. Another approach to increase reflectivity is to equip the mirror with an antisoiling coating. This type of mirror is currently under field testing, showing already promising results. New paint systems for silvered mirrors will expand the locations for power plants to the shore or into tropical regions.     

Sintering characteristics and dielectric properties of silver-doped PMN-PZN-PT relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

The effects of silver doping on PMN-PZN-PT relaxor ferroelectric ceramics were investigated in order to demonstrate the roles of the inner electrodes in the cofiring of MLCCs, because silver could diffuse from an electrode layer into a dielectric layer. Even if the addition of silver promoted the sintering of ceramics, the insulation resistance and the dielectric properties were changed to a certain extent so that they had a great influence on the reliability of MLCCs. Defect chemistry principles were used to analyze the mechanism of action of silver doping. The relationship of silver migration and microstructural formation was also discussed     

Optical switching properties of Pd--Ni thin-film top-capped switchable mirrors

Switchable mirrors based on magnesium--nickel alloy thin films capped with catalytic Pd--Ni alloy thin films were prepared by a DC magnetron sputtering method. Their composition, structure and surface morphology were studied by XPS, XRD and AFM. Herein, the optical switching properties and durability of the switchable mirrors were investigated by varying the Ni content in the Pd--Ni alloys. Comparing pure Pd catalyst with Pd--Ni top-capped switchable mirrors, the latter show better hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics, and the speed of hydrogen desorption is obviously improved with increasing Ni content in the Pd--Ni alloy. The Pd--Ni capped switchable mirrors also have better optical switching durability. The catalytic Pd layer with the addition of Ni does not influence the transmittance (hydride state) and reflectance (metallic state) of the switchable mirrors. In addition, replacing Pd with Pd--Ni alloy decreases the cost of the switchable mirrors: employing nickel in the alloy Pd_89.2Ni_10.8 can save about 11% use of Pd. Therefore, the Pd--Ni alloy can provide a cheaper catalytic thin film, and it is expected to have applications in energy-saving windows, hydrogen sensors and hydrogen storage materials.     

Photoenhance migration of silver atoms in transparent heat mirror coatings

The photoinduced instability of silver in a heat mirror coating consisting of silver and dielectric multilayers is explained and characterized. In the presence of a reactive gas, silver atoms appear to migrate to the surface by penetrating through the top dielectric layer. This tendency is enhanced by photoexcitation. The spectral factors responsible for this phenomenon are discussed.     

1D-photonic crystals prepared from the amorphous chalcogenide films

We describe the preparation and optical properties of the 15-layer chalcogenide dielectric mirrors with the first order stop bands in near infrared range. The high refractive index Sb–Se and low refractive index Ge–S layers were deposited on silicon and glass substrates using thermal evaporation method. To centre the stop bands of the prepared chalcogenide mirrors at 1.55 μm, the layer thicknesses, d(Sb–Se) = 117 and d(Ge–S) = 183 nm, were calculated from the quarter wave stack condition. The optical reflectivity measurements revealed the total reflection from the 15-layer chalcogenide mirrors in the range of 1,400–1,600 nm for the unpolarized light with normal incidence. The effect of annealing on the optical properties of the prepared chalcogenide mirrors was studied as well. Using spectral ellipsometry, we examined the angular dependence of the multilayers reflectivity for the light with s- and p-polarization. The preparation of the dielectric mirrors for near infrared region from chalcogenide films seems to be possible exploiting good optical quality of chalcogenide films and their simple deposition.     

Polyvinyl chloride seal layer for improving the durability of electrochromic switchable mirrors based on Mg-Ni thin film

Electrochromic switchable mirrors consisting of a multilayer of Mg₄Ni/Pd/Al/Ta₂O₅/H_XWO₃/indium tin oxide on a glass substrate degrade when subjected to changes in humidity and temperature. Polyvinyl chloride was applied as a seal layer to such a device in an attempt to improve its durability. The optical switching properties of the device were investigated through an accelerated degradation test conducted at a constant temperature of 30 °C and a relative humidity of 80%. Although the device with a seal layer was thicker, it showed superior optical switching properties with a transmittance as high as 54% in the transparent state due to interference at the multilayer. Furthermore, the device with a seal layer exhibited higher durability after 35 days in an accelerated degradation environment, as well as higher switching durability.     

Designs and investigations of anti-glare blue-tint side-view car mirrors

Recent developments for luxury car industries have been in favor of anti-glare color-tint side-view exterior car mirrors. In this study, we explore the designs, the fabrications, and the investigations of anti-glare blue-tint samples suitable for the side-view car mirrors. With an aid of the thin film design software, the TiO₂-based backside-coated optical systems are prepared by the homemade and the retailed sputtering systems, and examined for the reflection spectra and the chromaticity diagrams. From four major designs of the anti-glare blue-tint mirrors, the ultra-thin metallic layer and the dielectric stack with the bottommost reflective layer offer the blue-tint at 85% highest reflection. Although the design requires only 40 min of the deposition time, the careful control of the ultra-thin metallic film thickness is crucial.     

电子对F46镀银二次表面镜光学性能影响研究

空间电子辐照是对航天器用热控材料性能产生影响的重要因素.研究了F46镀银二次表面镜在电子辐照作用下的光学性能和质量损失的变化规律,并应用扫描电镜和电子能谱对电子辐照前后试样表面形貌和元素组成变化进行了分析.研究表明,在相同能量的电子辐照下,随电子辐照通量的增加,该二次表面镜的表面铟和氧含量减少,碳含量和质量损失增加,其表面导电层被破坏,聚全氟乙丙烯的表面碳化,致使F46镀银二次表面镜光学性能下降.     

Dielectric and optical properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films containing Ag nanoparticles

Simple sol-gel techniques are used to prepare thin films of a high dielectric constant perovskite CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂, containing different amounts of metallic silver nanoparticles. The formations of the silver nanoparticles are verified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and optical absorption studies. The dielectric properties are found to be significantly affected by the presence of the silver nanoparticles. A maximum in the dielectric constant is observed at an intermediate metal particle concentration. This is explained in terms of the polarization at the particle-dielectric interface and the internal barrier layer capacitor effect. The optical absorption spectrum is compared with Mie theory in electrodynamics for the optical absorption of small particles to extract the particle size of the silver particle. Non-uniform distributions of Ag particles through the thickness of the thin films are reported.     

Ellipsometric study of optical switching processes of Mg-Ni based switchable mirrors

Optical switching processes of Mg-Ni based switchable mirrors were studied “in situ” using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Ellipsometric angles Ψ and Δ of the switchable mirrors varied drastically as a result of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation. These variations are due to transformation between metal and semiconductor of Mg-Ni layers. We have clarified the switching processes by analyzing these variations using the following two steps. First, we evaluated dielectric functions of five materials: metal, hydrogen-solid-solution, hydride states of Mg-Ni alloy, and metal and hydride states of Pd. Using these dielectric functions, we then varied thickness and concentration of each layer.     

Some preliminary studies of the structure of ion bombarded thin films

The paper describes preliminary electron microscopic and diffraction studies of ion implanted and recoil atom implanted thin films. It is shown that oxygen implanted aluminum films form complex cermets consisting of polycrystalline aluminium islands in an amorphous dielectric matrix.The dielectric consists of compounds made up of both substrate and film elements and the implanted oxygen. It has also been shown that oxygen implanted titanium thin films form cermet structures of crystalline TiO in an amorphous dielectric probably containing TiO₂ and compounds of the silica substrate. The structure of silicon oxide films recoil implanted with silver from an argon bombarded silver over layer has been studied. It is shown that the recoil implanted material forms discrete clusters within the substrate and that argon entering the silicon oxide forms bubbles. A recoil implantation coefficient of 1.1 silver atoms per incident argon ion has been measured.     

Durability of doped zinc oxide/silver/doped zinc oxide low emissivity coatings in humid environment

The relationship between internal stress of doped zinc oxide films and durability of doped zinc oxide/silver/doped zinc oxide low emissivity (low-e) coatings in humid environment was investigated. Aluminum, titanium, tin, chromium, silicon, gallium, magnesium, boron, barium, and calcium were chosen as a doping element in sputtering targets. Ratios of dopant/zinc in the oxide targets were 4/96-5/95 at.%. Films were formed by radio frequency sputtering. Doping of barium and calcium to the zinc oxide film led to a large increase in the internal stress. Doping of the other elements resulted in decreasing the internal stress. It was concluded that durability of the low-e coatings in humid environment closely correlated with the internal stress of the oxide layers.     

Using surface plasmon resonances to test the durability of silver-copper films

Silver has high reflectivity in the visible and infrared but cannot be used fully because of its distressing lack of durability. A technique that uses the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon offers a sensitive method for studying the corrosion of silver and assessing improvements. It has been used in the investigation of the effects of flashing a thin layer, approximately 1 nm thick, of copper over silver in an attempt at cathodic protection. Tests include exposing silver and silver-copper films to air, 94% relative humidity, water, and hydrogen sulfide.     

UV‐verstärkte Silberschichten

UV‐enhanced Ag‐coatings with optimized environmental stability For the construction of optical instruments, mirrors with silver (Ag) coatings are of great importance, because Ag has the highest reflectivity of all metals from the visible (VIS) throughout the infrared (IR) spectral range. Investigations performed at IOF show, that the deposition of a closed and dense protective layer is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the effective protection of silver: hygroscopic particles can harm even silver coatings protected by a previously defect‐free protective layer. In order to improve the protection, a nanolaminate approach for Ag‐protection has been developed. By this approach, both the environmental stability and the optical performance can be optimized.     

Ag/SiO_2/Ag组成的三角形纳米柱的光学及传感特性

研究了一种Ag/SiO2/Ag组成的三角形纳米柱的LSPR消光光谱特性及其传感特性.时域有限差分（FDTD）法计算结果表明,三棱柱结构在中间夹层SiO2后,消光光谱峰值出现红移现象,并伴随着折射率灵敏度的增加.随着中间介质层厚度的增加,上下两层金属间表面等离子体耦合逐渐减弱,消光光谱峰值红移速度减慢.当介质层厚度为60nm时,金属层间的表面等离子体耦合消失,消光光谱与折射率灵敏度不再发生变化.对于实际制作时可能出现尖角钝化的三棱柱结构,中间介质层仍然表现出对其光学及传感特性的良好的调节作用.     

Tolerances For Layer Thicknesses in Dielectric Multilayer Coatings and Interference Filters

A theory is developed for dielectric multilayer coatings in which the layers depart from calculated thickness. The theory is applied to alternating systems of quarter wave layers of ZnS and MgF₂. The effects of thickness errors are: (1) A shift of the wavelength at which maximum reflectance occurs; and (2) a change in phase shift upon reflection. The magnitude of these effects, and also their dependence on various parameters, are determined. Statistical tolerances for layer thicknesses are computed for given tolerances on the multilayer performance. The accuracy required for producing dielectric interference filters is up to about 40 times higher than the accuracy sufficient for the production of dielectric mirrors and beam splitters. Various techniques of experimentally controlling film thicknesses, and their accuracies, are discussed. The production of mirrors and beam splitters deviating from theoretical maximum reflectance by only 1 percent seems to be possible with Dufour’s simple single photocell method of monitoring film thicknesses. With more precise methods, such as those developed by Giacomo and Jacquinot, or Traub, the production of interference filters appears to be possible to within plus or minus one half their half widths.     

Reflected optical harmonics from dielectric mirrors

Optical second and third harmonics were generated in reflection from commercially available laser dielectric mirrors. Although most dielectric coatings on laser mirrors are centrosymmetric, the inversion symmetry is broken at the dielectric-air interface. When intense femtosecond laser pulses are reflected off the dielectric mirrors, a second-order dipole contribution to surface second-harmonic generation can exist and is detected. More dramatically, at a laser fluence of ～10 GW/cm(2) the normally much weaker electric-dipole-allowed third-harmonic generation that originated in the bulk accentuates the second-harmonic generation. These reflected harmonics are, in some cases, nonnegligible in many sensitive experiments.     

Terahertz reflectivities of metal-coated mirrors

Terahertz (THz) reflectivities of a variety of metal-coated mirrors were measured. Gold, silver, and aluminum coatings were tested and compared. It was found that all types of optical metal-coated mirrors perform equally well as THz reflectors.