Evaluation of Anti-Reflection Films using Absolute Reflectance Measurement

November 4, 2020

Introduction

Anti-reflection films are used for a variety of applications and wavelength regions; for windows and lens in the visible region to optical communication devices and materials in the near infrared region. With the demand and variance for these materials, the amount of reflectivity allowable has decreased to less than 0.1% reflectance.

An absolute reflectance measurement accessory can be used to evaluate the reflectance of films by changing the incident angle, detection angle, or polarization of the incident light. In this application note, the automated absolute reflectance measurement accessory is used to measure film samples for both the visible and near-infrared regions with less than 0.1% reflectance.

Experimental

The linearity measurements were obtained using 66.7, 133.3, 200.0, and 266.6 mg/L of KMnO4 solution for the visible region and ND filter A and B for the infrared region.

For the visible region, the dark measurement is carried out using the masking shield of the cell holder of the automated absolute reflectance measurement accessory. The baseline measurement is obtained using water. For the infrared region, the dark measurement is performed identical to the visible region and the baseline measurement is obtained with air. Three sample measurements are performed with the filters: ND filter A set in the sample holder, with ND filter B not parallel to filter A, and with ND filter B in the sample holder.

Linearity Measurement Conditions
Visible NIR
Bandwidth L5.0 nm Bandwidth 40.0 nm
Response 3.84 sec Response 3.84 sec
Scan Speed 100 nm/min Scan Speed 100 nm/min
Data Interval 1 nm Data Interval 1 nm

The reflection measurements of three antireflection films with different coatings were obtained using the following measurements parameters. The dark measurements were carried out with the masking shield in the sample holder. The baseline measurement was obtained with air and the sample measurements were obtained by placing the samples in the sample holder.

Film Reflectance Measurement Conditions
Visible NIR
Bandwidth L5.0 nm Bandwidth 40 nm (V-770), 10 nm (V-780)
Response 0.96 sec Response 3.84 sec
Scan Speed 200 nm/min Scan Speed 100 nm/min
Incident Angle Incident Angle
Data Interval 0.5 nm Data Interval 1 nm
Polarization N-polarized Polarization N-polarized

Keywords

Automated Absolute Reflectance measurement accessory, Materials, Films

Results

The linearity measurements of KMnO4 in the visible region  and the calibration curve at 526 nm are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Absorbance spectra of KMnO4 solutions (left) and calibration curve of KMnO4 solutions obtained at 526 nm (right)

In the absorbance range from 1 to 4, the R2 value illustrates the highest correlation (more than 0.999), indicating the automated absolute reflectance measurement accessory can obtain absorbances up to 4 AU and therefore transmittance and reflectance values can be obtained up to 0.01%.

Figure 2 shows the absorption spectrum of the ND filters.

Figure 2. Absorbance spectra of ND filters

The spectrum of the individual ND filter A and B agrees with the sum of the two filters. This also indicates that the automated absolute reflectance measurement accessory can obtain absorbances up to 4 AU and therefore transmittance and reflectance values can be obtained up to 0.01%.

The antireflection films were measured using a UV-Vis/NIR spectrophotometer with PbS detector (V-770) and the one with InGaAs detector (V-780) and the reflectance data are shown in Figure 3 for the visible region, and the near-infrared spectra are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 3. Reflectance spectra of an antireflection film with a visible coating

Figure 4. Reflectance spectra of an antireflection film with infrared coating 1

Figure 5. Reflectance spectra of an antireflection film with infrared coating 2

Table 1 provides the reflectance values of the minima.

Table 1. Minima reflectance values

AR Coat Vis AR Coat NIR 1 AR Coat NIR 2
Wavelength (nm) Reflectance (%) Wavelength (nm) Reflectance (%) Wavelength (nm) Reflectance (%)
V-770 450.5 0.03681 1049 0.03655 1406 0.03703
V-780 1049 0.03655 1406 0.04235

These figures illustrate that measurements with less than 0.1% reflectance can be obtained in both the visible and near-infrared regions.

Conclusion

The V-770 and V-780 provide nearly identical spectra in regards to the S/N from 980 to 1140 nm. However, from 1320 to 1600 nm the V-780 obtains a higher S/N due to the InGaAs detector. The V-770 is equipped with a PbS detector which has high sensitivity over a wider wavelength range, while the InGaAs detector of the V-780 has a higher sensitivity over a shorter wavelength range. The V-770 is therefore suitable for measurements with a wide wavelength range and the V-780 is ideal for high sensitivity measurements.

About the Author

Spectroscopy Group