Reflection from various surfaces of many optical systems, such as photovoltaics and displays, is a critical issue for their performance, and antireflection coatings play a pivotal role in a wide variety of optical technologies, reducing light reflectance loss and hence maximizing light transmission. With the current movement toward optically transparent polymeric media and coatings for antireflection technology, the need for economical and environmentally friendly materials and methods without dependence on shape or size has clearly been apparent. Herein, we demonstrate novel antireflection coatings composed of chitin nanofibers (CHINFs), extracted from crab shell as a biomass material through an aqueous-based layer-by-layer self-assembly process to control the porosity. Increasing the number of air spaces inside the membrane led low refractive index, and precise control of refractive index derived from the stacking of the CHINFs achieved the highest transmittance with investigating the surface structure and the refractive index depending on the solution pH. At a wavelength of 550 nm, the transmittance of the coatings was 96.4%, which was 4.8% higher than that of a glass substrate, and their refractive index was 1.30. Further critical properties of the films were the durability and the antifogging performance derived from the mechanical stability and hydrophilicity of CHINFs, respectively. The present study may contribute to a development of systematically designed nanofibrous films which are suitable for optical applications operating at a broadband visible wavelength with durability and antifog surfaces.

Abstract. Durable low refractive index thin films with anti-reflection properties were successfully fabricated using chitin nanofibers (CHINF) obtained from crab shell. The low refractive index film was achieved by forming porous thin films; the porosity was produced by increasing the number of airspaces inside the membrane. The layer-by-layer (LBL) method was used to achieve the effective stacking of the CHINF. The influence of surface structure and refractive index under changes in the solution pH was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry. Transmittance of the fabricated film is 4.1 % higher than that of a glass substrate and refractive index film of that is 1.29. The films had abrasion resistance and antifogging properties because of the high mechanical strength and hydrophilicity of chitin. We believe this LBL film using CHINF is a promising candidate material to overcome the durability problems associated with optical thin films.