Antireflective surfaces, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is an antireflective viewing surface comprising a viewing surface; and a textured layer disposed upon the viewing surface; wherein the textured layer comprises a plurality of protrusions that are smaller than the wavelength of light and that are aperiodically distributed across the viewing surface. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising electroforming a metal upon a first template to form an electroformed metal template; wherein the first template comprises a plurality of pores; disposing a layer of a polymeric resin on a viewing surface; pressing the electroformed metal template against the polymeric resin; and solidifying the polymeric resin.
1 . An antireflective viewing surface comprising:
a viewing surface; and
a textured layer disposed upon the viewing surface; wherein the textured layer comprises a plurality of protrusions that are smaller than the wavelength of light and that are aperiodically distributed across the viewing surface.
2 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have cross-sectional geometries in a direction perpendicular to the viewing surface that are circular, triangular, square, semi-circular, polygonal, ellipsoidal, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing geometries.
3 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have an average height of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers and an average width of about 25 to about 300 nanometers.
4 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have an aspect ratio of about 0.5 to about 5.
5 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the viewing surface comprises polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, polyester, polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile resins, cellulose acetate, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing thermoplastic resins.
6 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are tapered having a height to maximum diameter ratio of about 1 to about 10.
7 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions comprise a thermosetting resin, and wherein the thermosetting resin is obtained by the reaction of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, phenolics, polyurethanes, silicones, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.
8 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:
electroforming a metal upon a first template to form an electroformed metal template; wherein the first template comprises a plurality of pores;
disposing a layer of a polymeric resin on a viewing surface;
pressing the electroformed metal template against the polymeric resin; and
solidifying the polymeric resin.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal comprises nickel
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymeric resin is a thermosetting resin.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the solidifying comprises curing the polymeric resin.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the curing is accomplished by irradiating the polymeric resin with ultraviolet light.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the solidifying comprises lowering the temperature of the polymeric resin.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressing is accomplished in a roll mill or in a nip roll.
15 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:
electroforming a metal upon a first template to form an electroformed metal template; wherein the first template comprises a plurality of pores having dimensions that are smaller than the wavelength of light;
disposing a layer of a curable resinous material on a viewing surface;
pressing the electroformed metal template against the viewing surface; and
curing the curable resinous material to form a thermosetting resin.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing the electroformed metal template from the viewing surface.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising using the electroformed metal template as a parent template for manufacturing children templates that are positive or negative images of the first template.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising using the children templates to manufacture antireflective viewing surfaces.
19 . An article comprising the antireflective surface of claim 1 .
20 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 8 .
21 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 15 .
22 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 18 .
23 . A method of manufacturing an electroformed metal template comprising:
disposing a first template comprising an anodized aluminum oxide porous surface in an electroforming tank comprising a metal salt;
applying a voltage between the tank and the anodized aluminum oxide porous surface;
disposing a metal onto the anodized aluminum oxide porous surface to form an electroformed metal template; and
removing the electroformed metal template from the anodized aluminum oxide object.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the first template comprises pores having an average depth of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers and an average width of about 25 to about 300 nanometers.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the metal is nickel or a nickel-cobalt alloy.
26 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising using the electroformed metal template as a parent template for manufacturing a child template.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the child template is a negative image or a positive image of the first template.
28 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:
disposing a layer of a curable resinous material on a viewing surface;
pressing a first template against the viewing surface; wherein the first template comprises a metal oxide that has aperiodic pores that have aspect ratios of about 0.5 to about 5; and
curing the curable resinous material to form a thermosetting resin.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the metal oxide comprises anodized aluminum oxide.
30 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 28 .
31 . A composition comprising:
a metal oxide layer, wherein the metal oxide layer comprises pores having aspect ratios of about 0.5 to about 5.
32 . The composition of claim 31 , wherein metal oxide is aluminum oxide.
33 . The composition of claim 31 , wherein the pores have an average depth of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers and an average width of about 25 to about 300 nanometers.
34 . A composition comprising:
a metal oxide layer, wherein the metal oxide layer comprises tapered pores having a height to maximum diameter ratio of about 1 to about 10.
35 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein metal oxide is aluminum oxide.
36 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein the pores have an average diameter of 25 to 300 nanometers and an average height of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers.
37 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:
disposing a layer of a curable resinous material on a first template; wherein the first template comprises a metal oxide that has aperiodic pores that have aspect ratios of about 0.5 to about 5;
curing the curable resinous material to form a textured layer; and
disposing the textured layer on a viewing surface to form the antireflective viewing surface.
38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the metal oxide comprises anodized aluminum oxide.
39 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 37 .
40 . A method comprising:
anodizing aluminum in an first acid to create a plurality of pores in the anodized aluminum;
immersing the anodized aluminum in a second acid; and
changing the dimensions of the plurality of pores; wherein the plurality of pores have an average aspect ratio of about 0.5 to about 5 and further have dimensions that are smaller than the wavelength of light;
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the first acid and the second acid are the same.
42 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the first acid and the second acid are different.
43 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the first acid and the second acid are phosphoric acid.
44 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the aluminum is in the form of a film.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the aluminum is disposed upon a substrate comprising titanium and silica.
46 . An antireflective viewing surface comprising:
a viewing surface; and
a textured layer disposed upon the viewing surface; wherein the textured layer comprises a plurality of pores that are smaller than the wavelength of light.
47 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 46 , wherein the pores are tapered having a depth to maximum diameter ratio of about 1 to about 10.
48 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 46 , wherein the pores have an average depth of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers and an average width of about 25 to about 300 nanometers.
49 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 46 , wherein the pores have an aspect ratio of about 0.5 to about 5.
50 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 46 , wherein the textured layer comprises a thermosetting resin, and wherein the thermosetting resin is obtained by the reaction of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, phenolics, polyurethanes, silicones, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.