The evolution of glass is on-going, and there seem to be no limits to its potential. A new development has come to light recently, as researchers at London's prestigious King's College discover that by coating glass with a film of gold, more light can be transmitted through more angles, thus reducing the amount that is reflected back. The research, published in Applied Physics Letters apl.aip.org (search Volume 99, issue 081106) shows that by applying a very thin layer of gold over the glass and controlling the thickness of the thinnest part of the layer, the interaction of the light and electrons can be engineered on the nanoscale to increase the transmission of light through the glass. This results in light passing through the glass even when it is not viewed straight on. This finding could literally change the way we watch our flat-screen TVs or view LEDs in watches and clocks, which currently need to be seen head-on for a clear perspective. "This research could greatly increase output in LEDs, allowing new heights of efficiency to be reached and it may also allow nanoscale light sources for many other applications, such as bio and chemical sensing and integrated photonics." said PhD student Ryan McCarron, who is leading the project.
