Template-free synthesis of uniform hollow silica nanoparticles for controllable antireflection coatings

Antireflection coatings consisting of nanoparticles have promising applications in a wide range of UV optical fields, such as high-power laser systems and space telescopes. However, an open question for these coatings is how to minimize light scattering caused by the nanoparticles. Here, we utilize hollow silica nanoparticles to realize antireflection coatings, which largely diminish light scattering and, hence, exhibit excellent transmission even at UV wavelengths. The hollow silica nanoparticles were synthesized using a template-free approach and then dip coated onto fused silica substrates to form antireflection coatings. The coatings were found to exhibit nearly 100% transmission at any wavelength ranging from the UV to IR bands by variation of the coating thickness. Moreover, the coatings showed relatively high environmental stability because their hollow structures were insensitive to contaminants. This study provides a novel route to fabricate UV antireflection coatings with improved optical properties and good environmental stability, which will help promote the understanding, design and fabrication of optical coatings.