Embedding Scattering Centers in Polymer Substrate to Yield Robust Hazy Film with High Optical Transmittance: Application to Virtual-Reality Display

摘要

Flexible plastic film with embedded air gaps is introduced to reduce the screen-door effect (SDE) in virtual-reality (VR) displays. Silver chloride nanorods are used as an etching mask to implement wavelength-scale patterns with high aspect ratio on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. The patterned PET is coated with a layer of highly viscous protective resin; this coating produces numerous air gaps in the valleys of the patterns, so the plastic film develops a haze. The resulting film has an average transmittance of 93.6% and an average haze of 88.6% in visible wavelengths (400-800 nm), as well as increased resistance to scratching. Consequently, the hazy film significantly reduces the SDE of a VR display, thereby reducing the SDE indices from 41% to 11% for red, from 19% to 0.8% for green, and from 14% to 0.7% for blue. The electromagnetic simulations provide evidence that the air-trapped sites in the film can effectively scatter light to yield the increase in haze.