Optical properties of composites with nanodimensional oxide coatings versus the properties of film-forming sols. I. The influence of sol’s oxide composition

The influence of the aging period (duration) and the aging-related rheological characteristics of film-forming solutions (sols) on the refractive index and thickness of coatings, light reflection and light transmission coefficients, and optical losses in glass substrate-nanodimensional oxide (CuO-TiO₂) composites is considered. It has been shown that the increase in the CuO concentration in the coating and the extension of the sol aging period favor crystallization and change the form of inclusions in the coating from pseudospherical to dendritic with a different degree of branching. The refractive index of the film and its related coefficient of mirror reflection of the composite are functions of the density of packing sol disperse-phase particles into a nanodimensional layer. The packing density of dendritic particles drops decreases with the degree of their branching and transverse size of fragments. In every case, an optimal sol aging period should be found to obtain glass composites with nanodimensional coatings offering desired optical properties.