Layers based on niobium oxide for optical thin film coatings and a method for the production thereof.

摘要

The invention includes a bilayer antireflection coating, multilayer antireflection coatings, and a method for making a multilayer antireflective coated substrate. The bilayer and multilayer coatings include layers having metallic oxides, at least one layer in each of such coatings having as a material with an index of refraction at least about 1.90, a layer comprising oxides of zirconium such that when subjected to heat treatments, such as tempering, the coatings substantially retain their optical properties. The coatings further include layers having materials of low index of refraction which include oxides of aluminum which provide coating stability and increased coating solution storage life. In the method, the layers are applied by successive dip coating techniques using solvent-based solutions and the resulting coatings can be used to coat large sized substrates which can be later cut, trimmed and/or otherwise shaped and later heat treated with substantial retention of optical properties.