Anti-reflective coatings have a variety of applications such
as on camera lens and TV screens. There are three main
ways to make an anti-reflective coating: refractive index
matching, thin-film interference, and 'moth-eye
structures'.
My idea is a new way of manufacturing 'moth eye structure'
anti-reflective coating. A 'moth-eye structure' is a regular
array of bumps that are sized and spaced at light
wavelength (i.e. 200nm). Moth-eye structure is desirable
because it can be made with anti-reflective properties
across the full visible spectrum (unlike thin-film
interference coating).
Currently, the two methods for making moth-eye coating
are: photolithography, and UV embossing.
I propose using surface acoustic waves as another method
of making moth eye coating.
Basically, very high frequency acoustic standing waves are
formed in a 'settable' fluid. The acoustic waves would be
formed in two perpendicular axes. The two perpendicular
waves would form an 'egg carton' standing wave in the
surface of the fluid. The fluid is then 'set' (for example, by
lowering the temperature below the melting point) and the
moth-eye structure is formed.
This method will allow a wider range of materials to be
used to make the coating. It might be possible to form the
moth-eye structure on the glass itself, rather than forming
a coating of a different material.
It may also be possible to use surface acoustic waves on a
solid so that the anti-reflective effect could be turned on
and off.