Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation
This work focused on developing optical coatings for decorative applications that remain transparent in the radiofrequency range. To achieve this, a combination of dielectric material (silicon-aluminum nitride, SiAlN<sub>x</sub>) and low-electrical-conductivity semiconductor material (ge...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/6/530 |
| _version_ | 1797239830833266688 |
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| author | Enrique Carretero Rocío Chueca Rafael Alonso |
| author_facet | Enrique Carretero Rocío Chueca Rafael Alonso |
| author_sort | Enrique Carretero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This work focused on developing optical coatings for decorative applications that remain transparent in the radiofrequency range. To achieve this, a combination of dielectric material (silicon-aluminum nitride, SiAlN<sub>x</sub>) and low-electrical-conductivity semiconductor material (germanium) was utilized. Germanium plays a crucial role in providing absorption in the visible spectrum, facilitating the design of coatings with various aesthetic appearances, while allowing for control over their transmittance. The optical properties of thin germanium layers were thoroughly characterized and leveraged to create multilayer designs with diverse aesthetic features. Different multilayer structures were designed, fabricated, and optically characterized, resulting in coatings with metallic gray, black, or various colors in reflection, while retaining the ability to transmit visible light for illumination and signaling applications. Finally, the radiofrequency attenuation of the developed coatings was measured, revealing negligible attenuation; this is in stark contrast to the metallic coatings used for decorative purposes, which can attenuate by up to 30 dB. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:57:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f570deda6549441a9f27a4d76079aa77 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:57:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-f570deda6549441a9f27a4d76079aa772024-03-27T13:57:36ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-03-0114653010.3390/nano14060530Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency AttenuationEnrique Carretero0Rocío Chueca1Rafael Alonso2Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Electrónica y Comunicaciones, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Maria de Luna, 1, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainThis work focused on developing optical coatings for decorative applications that remain transparent in the radiofrequency range. To achieve this, a combination of dielectric material (silicon-aluminum nitride, SiAlN<sub>x</sub>) and low-electrical-conductivity semiconductor material (germanium) was utilized. Germanium plays a crucial role in providing absorption in the visible spectrum, facilitating the design of coatings with various aesthetic appearances, while allowing for control over their transmittance. The optical properties of thin germanium layers were thoroughly characterized and leveraged to create multilayer designs with diverse aesthetic features. Different multilayer structures were designed, fabricated, and optically characterized, resulting in coatings with metallic gray, black, or various colors in reflection, while retaining the ability to transmit visible light for illumination and signaling applications. Finally, the radiofrequency attenuation of the developed coatings was measured, revealing negligible attenuation; this is in stark contrast to the metallic coatings used for decorative purposes, which can attenuate by up to 30 dB.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/6/530optical coatingsgermaniumthin filmradiofrequencysputtering |
| spellingShingle | Enrique Carretero Rocío Chueca Rafael Alonso Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation Nanomaterials optical coatings germanium thin film radiofrequency sputtering |
| title | Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation |
| title_full | Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation |
| title_fullStr | Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation |
| title_short | Germanium-Based Optical Coatings for Aesthetic Enhancement with Low Radiofrequency Attenuation |
| title_sort | germanium based optical coatings for aesthetic enhancement with low radiofrequency attenuation |
| topic | optical coatings germanium thin film radiofrequency sputtering |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/6/530 |
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