TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The average size of the nanoparticles is less than 400 nm. The reflectivity is less than 1% across a 400-900 nm spectrum. The anti-reflective film: is transparent; comprises heterogeneous physical attributes of particle size, particle morphology and/or particle density; and has a homogeneous chemical composition throughout a cross-section of the film. The substrate: is polycarbonate, preferably polycarbonate eyeglass lens and the anti-reflective film comprises silicon dioxide nanoparticles; is aluminum or textured silicon, and the anti-reflective film comprises zinc oxide nanoparticles; or is a glass and the anti-reflective product has a percent transmittance greater than 80% across a 400-800 nm spectrum. The anti-reflective film is adhered to two surfaces of the polycarbonate eyeglass lens.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The anti-reflective film on the first major planar surface is capable of absorbing solar radiation, where less than about 0.5% of the solar radiation is reflected. The microchannel reactor coated with nano-structured catalysts is configured to perform an endothermic reaction, where the solar radiation provides energy for the endothermic reaction. The method further comprises: providing energy to the deposition material to produce reactive species, where the energy is thermal, chemical, microwave, photochemical, electrochemical, plasma, and/or ultrasonic; providing the energy to the substrate to produce an activated substrate surface; and allowing an effective period of time to elapse before applying the deposition material to the substrate, where nanoparticles are formed in the deposition material during the effective period of time. EXAMPLE - Aluminum and glass substrates were cleaned by acetone, methanol and deionized water procedure. Zinc oxide thin films were prepared from source solutions of A (comprising 0.005 M zinc acetate (200 ml), and 0.25 M ammonium acetate (10 ml)) and B (comprising 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (200 ml)). The continuous deposition reactor included a microprocessor-controlled dispensing pump, a T-mixer, and a substrate heater. The source solutions A and B were mixed through the T-mixer by the peristaltic pump and entered a micro-tube, which was kept at about 70 degrees C with a water circulation system. Over a period of four minutes, the solution was applied to a substrate that was maintained at 70 degrees C by the heater. The substrate was spun at 1500 revolutions per minute during deposition. Coatings were prepared on aluminum having a smooth, mirror-like surface and micro glass slide substrates. The coated substrates were rinsed with deionized water and dried at room temperature under a stream of nitrogen gas to obtain an anti-reflective product.