Modified polymer nanopillars array for enhanced light trapping on large area

ABSTRACT

Electroless plating is used to enhance the strength of anodised aluminium oxide (AAO) which can be further utilised as a mould to fabricate the structures on large area of polymer for anti-reflection properties. Nanopillars of high aspect ratio are fabricated on polymer (polystyrene) sheet by hot embossing process which has ensured repeatability with precision and high throughput. The height of nanopillars matches the depth of the mould cavity. The enhanced light trapping performance is attributed to the high aspect ratio nanopillars with cup-shaped top surface.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Electroless coating
• hot embossing
• polystyrene
• nanopillars
• anti-reflection
• anodised aluminium oxide

Acknowledgements

The authors are acknowledging the Central Research Facility (CRF) and Nano Research facility (NRF), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi for FESEM imaging, EDX, AFM imaging, 3D optical profilometer and UV-Vis-NIR spectophotometer facility.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received its funding from IIT Delhi.