Moth-eye　inspired　nanostructure　is　widely　used　in　optical　applications.　In　this　numerical　study,　a　new　type　of　anti-reflection　film　is　designed　using　finite　difference　time　domain　method　(FDTD).　A　three-dimensional　model　is　established,　simulating　a　monolayer　of　close-packed　silica　nanoparticle　film　embedded　in　a　layer　of　polymeric　optical　adhesive.　FDTD　simulation　is　carried　out　in　the　visible　band　of　wavelength,　in　order　to　investigate　the　transmittance　of　light　propagation　through　the　silica　nanoparticle　and　adhesive　layer.　The　effect　of　size　of　nanostructure　as　well　as　the　embedding　degree　of　optical　adhesive　are　compared　on　different　substrates,　including　visible　transparent　substrates　with　lower　refractive　index,　i.e.,　fused　silica　glass,　PMMA,　PS,　and　visible　opaque　silicon　substrate,　with　high　refractive　index.　The　numerical　results　reveal　that　we　can　obtain　the　best　optical　performance　with　nanoparticle　size　of　200　nm　in　diameter,　while　the　immersion　degree　has　different　effects　on　different　substrates.　©　2021　Elsevier　GmbH