Nanowire-based metamaterial for antireflective applications

In this paper, we introduce a hexagonal array of vertical gold nanowires with enhanced antireflective properties in the UV-Vis and near-IR wavelengths. The array reduces the reflectance of the underlying silicon wafer, based on the plasmonic resonances that metals exhibit at the nanoscale. The design is optimized with the particle swarm optimization algorithm, an evolutionary algorithm able to drive the morphology of a nano-object towards an optimum. The nanowires' optical properties are evaluated with numerical simulations. The reflectance of the optimized array decreases 100%, mainly in the visible wavelengths, unveiling its potential as an antireflective coating.