General Strategy toward Dual-Scale-Controlled Metallic Micro-Nano Hybrid Structures with Ultralow Reflectance

Functional metal surfaces with minimum optical reflection over a broadband spectrum have essential importance for optical and optoelectronic devices. However, the intrinsically large optical impedance mismatch between metals and the free space causes a huge obstacle in achieving such a purpose. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a general pulse injection controlled ultrafast laser direct writing strategy for fabricating highly effective antireflection structures on metal surfaces. The presented strategy can implement separate and flexible modifications on both microscale frame structures and nanoscale particles, a benefit from which is that optimized geometrical light trapping and enhanced effective medium effect reducing the surface reflection can be simultaneously achieved within one hybrid structure. Thus, comprehensively improved antireflection performances can be realized. Hybrid structures with substantial nanoparticles hierarchically attached on regularly arrayed microcones are generally constructed on different metal surfaces, achieving highly efficient light absorption over ultraviolet to near-infrared broadband spectrum regions. Reflectance minimums of 1.4%, 0.29%, and 2.5% are reached on Cu, Ti, and W surfaces, respectively. The presented strategy is simple in process, adaptable for different kinds of metals, reproduceable in dual-scale structural features, and feasible for large-area production. All these advantages make the strategy as well as the prepared antireflection structures excellent candidates for practical applications.