Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein describe optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. A sol-gel matrix is formed above a surface of a substrate. Organic micro-particles are embedded in a surface of the sol-gel matrix. A heat treatment is applied to the sol-gel matrix and the embedded plurality of organic micro-particles. Substantially all of the organic micro-particles are removed during the heat treatment, and after the heat treatment, the sol-gel matrix has a surface roughness suitable to provide anti-glare properties.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein describe optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. A transparent substrate is provided. An optical coating is formed on the transparent substrate. The optical coating includes a plurality of plate-shaped silicon dioxide particles.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein provide anti-reflective coatings with porosity gradients and methods for forming such anti-reflective coatings. A transparent substrate is provided. A primary material and a sacrificial material are simultaneously deposited above the transparent substrate to form a coating above the transparent substrate. At least some of the sacrificial material is removed from the coating to form a plurality of pores in the coating.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein describe optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. A substrate is provided. A coating formulation is applied to the substrate. The coating formulation includes an aqueous-based suspension of particles. The particles have a sheet-like morphology and a thickness of less than about 100 nanometers (nm). The coating formulation is cured to form an anti-glare coating above the substrate. The anti-glare coating has a thickness of between 1 micrometer (μm) and 100 μm.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein describe optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. A substrate is provided. A coating is formed above the substrate. The coating includes a plurality of micro-particles including a UV-absorbing material and has a surfaces roughness suitable to provide the coating with anti-glare properties.
Abstract:
The present disclosure includes a texture formulation that includes an aliphatic diol, an alkaline compound and water which provides a consistent textured region across a silicon surface suitable for solar cell applications. The current invention describes silicon texturing formulations that include at least one high boiling point additive. The high boiling point additive may be a derivative compound of propylene glycol or a derivative compound of ethylene glycol. Processes for texturing a crystalline silicon substrate using these formulations are also described. Additionally, a combinatorial method of optimizing the textured surface of a crystalline silicon substrate is described.
Abstract:
Fluorine-doped antireflection coatings, methods for preparing the coatings and articles comprising the coatings are disclosed. The fluorine-doped antireflection coating comprises a fluorine-doped xerogel coating disposed on a substrate. The index of refraction of the xerogel coating is less than the index of refraction of the substrate, generally between about 1.15 and about 1.45. The fluorine atoms can be distributed uniformly through the thickness of the coating, disposed at the surface of the coating, or the distribution can be graded from the surface through the thickness of the coating. The methods comprise applying a coating precursor solution comprising a sol-gel precursor to a glass substrate, heating the coating to form a xerogel coating, and fluorine-doping the coating. The fluorine-doping can be performed by utilizing a coating precursor solution comprising a first fluorine source, contacting the cured coating with a second fluorine source, or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
Methods for forming anti-glare coatings including forming a layer using a sol-gel process are described. The layer further includes at least one of porogens, nanoparticles, or photosensitive macromolecules. The porogens, nanoparticles, or photosensitive macromolecules are removed using a thermal treatment or UV treatment to impart porosity and surface roughness to the layer. Alternatively, the layer may be roughened using a mechanical process. The layer can optionally be subjected to a curing step. The curing step may be a thermal curing process or a chemical curing process.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein describe coating formulations, such as those used to form optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. The coating formulation includes an aqueous-based suspension of particles. The particles have a sheet-like morphology and a thickness of less than about 10 nm. The coating also includes a polysiloxane or silane emulsion, a polysiloxane or silane solution, or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
The present disclosure includes a texture formulation that includes an aliphatic diol, an alkaline compound and water which provides a consistent textured region across a silicon surface suitable for solar cell applications. The current invention describes silicon texturing formulations that include at least one high boiling point additive. The high boiling point additive may be a derivative compound of propylene glycol or a derivative compound of ethylene glycol. Processes for texturing a crystalline silicon substrate using these formulations are also described. Additionally, a combinatorial method of optimizing the textured surface of a crystalline silicon substrate is described.