Template-Free Fabrication of Refractive Index Tunable Polysiloxane Coating Using Homogeneous Embedding Strategy: Application in High-Power Laser System

Fabrication of UV-Curable Polysiloxane Coating with Tunable Refractive Index Based on Controllable Hydrolysis

In order to improve laser transmission efficiency at 1053 nm and 527 nm, a potassium deuterium phosphate (DKDP) crystal (a key component of high-power laser systems) needs a bi-layer antireflection coating system on its incident surface. UV-curable polysiloxane coatings with a refractive index varying from 1.500 to 1.485 were prepared through the polycondensation of a methacryloxy propyl trimethoxylsilane (MPS) monomer with a controllable degree of hydrolysis. Additionally, the influence rule of the coating structure on the refractive index was intensively studied, and the primary factors that dominate the hydrolysis process were discussed. Further refractive index adjustment was achieved using only a small amount of dopant based on the polysiloxane coating with refractive index of 1.485, allowing for high antireflection of the bi-layer coating system at desired wavelengths to be achieved. In addition, high laser damage resistance and remarkable mechanical properties of the coating were simultaneously realized through the incorporation of a minor quantity of dopants, which benefited from the successful modulation of the intrinsic refractive index of the polysiloxane coating.