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- Technology Bases
- Development and Application of Technology
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- Material Design
- Process Technology
- Create a new era, open up the future
- Progress in Application of Technology
- Development of technologies and products for the future
- University-industry collaboration with the University of Shiga Prefecture
- Combining Glass and Thin Films for New Growth
- “Invisible Glass”
- New Possibilities for Float Glass
- Glass Substrates for Solar Cells
- Specialty Glass for Chemical Strengthening
- The Potentials of Ultra-thin Glass Sheets
- OLED Lighting Panel
- Lithium-Ion Secondary Battery combined with a Solar Cell
Combining Glass and Thin Films for New Growth
NEG supplies high-function glass products produced by combining various types of specialty glass with thin film technologies. Taking advantage of the features of our thin film technologies, we focus on product development aimed at realizing enhanced functionality and added value.
From Invisible Glass to Solar Mirrors
NEG’s Invisible Glass consists of 30 or more layers of anti-reflecting coatings formed on both sides of the glass in order to minimize light reflection (0.2% luminous reflectance or less for both sides of
the glass). Overall, the anti-reflecting coatings are extremely thin, at 1 µm (0.001 mm) or less, showing that NEG’s high precision film thickness control and multilayer film designing technologies are being effectively utilized. With almost no reflection from the surroundings on its surface, Invisible Glass meets demands for glass for showcases and displays, and it is consequently now undergoing development for commercial products.
In contrast to Invisible Glass, solar mirrors reflect light at almost all wavelengths, and they are used in the light collection equipment at solar thermal power generation facilities. NEG’s solar mirrors are produced by forming approximately 100 layers of thin film coatings on a large sheet of glass (approximately 1 m²), achieving reflectance of nearly 100% and resistance to high temperatures up to 500°C. The coatings show no deterioration and almost no decrease in reflectance even at high temperatures and under severe environmental conditions in desert areas.
By redesigning our solar mirrors, we were able to develop ultra-thin lightweight mirrors for space-based solar power generation. These have been supplied to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Research and development is currently underway to enable the practical use of these mirrors in Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS) by the 2030s. As it is essential to make the mirror lightweight and sufficient for facilitating transportation into space, coatings were formed on Ultra Thin Glass with a thickness of 100 µm, yielding an exceedingly low weight of 250 g per 1 m². This is a product that could only have been produced by NEG, as the company possesses both ultra-thin glass sheet technologies and thin film forming technologies. To further enhance lightness, development of mirrors that are 40 µm in thickness is currently in progress.
Functional Films to Control Wavelength — Optical Filter Glass and Heat Reflecting Glass
When the surface of glass is coated with optical filter film, glass is able to transmit particular
wavelengths while reflecting others, and light can be freely controlled. Glass that exclusively transmits red, green, and blue light (RGB) shows promise for use in projectors and other similar products. In addition, some films can control wavelengths not visible to the human eye, such as ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays. UV cut glass, which prevents goods from color fade-out and deterioration, is used for the covers of lighting fixtures in shops and stores. IR cut glass, which can produce natural color shades, is used as the cover glass for the image sensors of digital cameras and video cameras.
Products utilizing the heat reflection functions of infrared reflecting films include the front glass of fireplaces and the glass for windows used to observe the interior of furnaces. In response to needs for heat resistance, thin film is coated on super heat-resistant glass-ceramics.