Rhodamine-doped nanoporous polymer films as high-performance anti-reflection coatings and optical filters

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple and robust procedure for the fabrication of rhodamine-doped nanoporous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films, whose optical properties, such as anti-reflection, fluorescence and absorption can be tailored to specific applications. By exploiting phase separation of a binary polymer blend (PMMA and polystyrene), we fabricated foam-like nanoporous films that could be easily and cost-effectively integrated into the fabrication process of optical components. We link film morphology, studied by multifrequency atomic force microscopy (AFM), to the effective refractive index of the films for use as anti-reflection coatings. The film's morphology leads to superior broadband anti-reflection performance compared with homogeneous films. For applications involving optical filters and spectral conversion layers (e.g., for photovoltaic applications), we doped the films with the fluorescent molecule rhodamine, whereby simple variations in the fabrication process enabled us to prepare rhodamine-doped nanoporous PMMA with tunable fluorescence and absorption, without losing the anti-reflective properties. The above combination of optical properties makes the films attractive for a wide range of applications.