2025 AIChE Annual Meeting

(85i) Scalable and Thermally Stable TiO2/SiO2 Bragg Mirrors

Authors

Takumi Uchiyama, University of Massachusetts
Daeeon (Dan) Jung, University of Massachusetts
Lucas D. Verrastro, University of Massachusetts
Jingyang Yan, University of Massachusetts
Barbara Stewart, University of Massachusetts
Reika Katsumata, University of Massachusetts Amherst
James J. Watkins, University of Massachusetts
Bragg mirrors are alternating arrangements of high and low refractive index layers that manipulate the light characteristics from each layer and deliver a high reflectance as specific wavelengths. The fabrication of Bragg mirrors using solution-based routes has inherent challenges such as materials selection, long curing times, thermal instability, and scalability issues. These challenges become severe with the increasing number of layers and poor efficiencies. Herein, we report the first scalable and thermally stable Bragg mirrors with superior ~100% reflectance. A simple solution process route to an 11 layer Bragg stack is applied using a titanium dioxide nanoparticle/Norland optical adhesive 81 composite as a high-refractive index layer and tetraethyl orthosilicate/Pluronic F127 surfactant to form a low-refractive index layer. Post-processing using rapid thermal annealing at 450 oC is used to remove the organics within 10 min. Furthermore, we demonstrate the scalability of these Bragg mirrors using a commercial roll-to-roll tool to produce Bragg mirrors having dimensions of 5 ft by 0.5 ft. This work opens avenues to design commercial Bragg mirrors with potential applications in our daily lives, including building glass, car windows, and optical filters.