Cited by 14Optical Coatings and GratingsSurface Roughness and Optical MeasurementsAdvanced optical system design

Advancements and Challenges in Anti-Reflective Coatings: A Comprehensive Review

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Song, Jinwoo, Kumar, Prashant, Raouf, Izaz, Kim, Heung Soo·2025·Journal of Materials Research and Technology

Abstract

Anti-reflective (AR) coatings play a vital role in improving optical performance by reducing reflection and enhancing light transmission. They are widely used in optics, photonics, and energy systems, such as windshields, lenses, and solar cells. For instance, single-layer MgF 2 can lower glass reflectance from ∼4% to ∼1%, while sol–gel derived silica coatings achieve transmittance above 99% in the visible range. A wide range of studies have further explored AR coatings using diverse fabrication methods and materials, including sol–gel, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, spin coating, and dip coating, each offering unique advantages in terms of cost, optical quality, and durability. Despite extensive progress, research on AR coatings remains fragmented. Many studies focus narrowly on individual fabrication methods or applications, and several foundational works are now outdated. Consequently, there is still no consolidated understanding of how different fabrication techniques influence coating performance or how they compare across contexts. With new methodologies rapidly emerging, a comprehensive and updated review is necessary. The objective of this paper is to fill this gap by systematically analyzing AR coating technologies. Fabrication methods are categorized into physical, chemical, and advanced techniques, providing a clear framework to evaluate their principles, strengths, and limitations. The review highlights quantitative performance outcomes such as reflection reduction and transmittance enhancement, identifies challenges in durability and scalability, and outlines promising directions for future research. By synthesizing recent advances, this work delivers an integrated overview of AR coatings and serves as a resource for developing next-generation optical and energy devices.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.09.268

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137 of 137 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • CVD produces uniform, high-purity and quality coatings with excellent coverage even on irregular shapes, high density, and good substrate adhesion, but has high operating temperatures and expensive equipment.

    “Thin-film processing through CVD is favoured because it produces uniform, high-purity and quality coatings. Through its surface-reactive mechanisms, CVD offers a series of appealing features, including an excellent coverage, even on irregular shapes, high density, and good substrate adhesion to a variety of substrates. Nevertheless, high operating temperatures and expensive equipment are among the”

    From Metal Oxide Thin Films for Advanced Photonic Applications (2026) · cites this paper as [140]

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Authors
Song, J., Kumar, P., Raouf, I., & Kim, H. S.
Affiliations
  • Dongguk University (KR)
  • Woosong University (KR)
  • Case Western Reserve University (US)
Corresponding author
Kim, Heung Soo
Venue
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-11
Volume
39
Pages
2926-2938
ISSN
  • 2214-0697 (ISSN-L)
  • 2238-7854
OpenAlex
W4414684890
Cited by
12
References
137
Citations by year
2026: 12
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Journal of Materials Research and Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Research Foundation of Korea
  • Korea Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2025-00523019)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Optical Coatings and Gratings
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Computational Mechanics › Surface Roughness and Optical Measurements
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Advanced optical system design
Keywords
antireflection coatings, optical coatings, antireflection, optical transmittance, magnesium fluoride, sol-gel coatings, silica coating, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, spin coating, dip coating, coating durability, solar cells, lens

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