Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured for optical communication via an optical polymer stack located on top of the integrated circuit. The optical polymer stack may include one or more electro-optic polymer devices including an electro-optic polymer. The electro-optic polymer may include a host polymer and a second order nonlinear chromomophore, the host polymer and the chromophore both including aryl groups configured to interact with one another to provide enhanced thermal and/or temporal stability.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a scratch resistant, touch sensor comprising: (1) applying a non-polymer protective coating solution to a touch sensor; and (2) forming a cross-linked polymer structure by curing the protective coating solution.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a scratch resistant, touch sensor comprising: (1) applying a non-polymer protective coating solution to a touch sensor; and (2) forming a cross-linked polymer structure by curing the protective coating solution.

Abstract: A low index of refraction hybrid optical cladding may be formed from a fluorinated sol-gel. An electro-optic device may include a poled organic chromophore-loaded modulation layer (electro-optic polymer) and at least one adjacent fluorinated hybrid sol-gel cladding layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed towards flexographic printing of microscopic high resolution conductive patterns (HRCP). These HRCP may be printed using one or more formulations for high polarity and stable viscosity inks for use in the flexographic printing process. The inks may be water permeable, UV curable, and configured to resist loss of integrity when exposed to water and atmospheric moisture.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured for optical communication via an optical polymer stack located on top of the integrated circuit. The optical polymer stack may include one or more electro-optic polymer devices including an electro-optic polymer. The electro-optic polymer may include a host polymer and a second order nonlinear chromomophore, the host polymer and the chromophore both including aryl groups configured to interact with one another to provide enhanced thermal and/or temporal stability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems methods for using ink comprising organometallics in a flexographic printing process using engraved anilox rolls to transfer ink to an impression roll that prints a pattern on a substrate. A banded anilox roll with more than one geometry and/or volume of cells may be used in these production systems and methods. The pattern printed may comprise a plurality of lines which are each from 1 micrometer-25 micrometers wide and may be part of an electronics application such as a touch screen sensor or an RF antenna that requires microscopic conductive patterns such as touch screen displays or antennas.

Abstract: A roll-to-roll electroless plating system for controlled substrate depth includes electroless plating solution disposed within an electroless plating bath, a conveyor system configured to convey a roll-to-roll substrate material through the electroless plating solution, a first depth setting roller disposed at an entry location of the roll-to-roll substrate material to the electroless plating solution, and a second depth setting roller disposed at an exit location of the roll-to-roll substrate material from the electroless plating solution. A diameter of the first and the second depth setting rollers is selected to dispose the roll-to-roll substrate material at a predetermined depth of the electroless plating solution.

Abstract: A method of controlling oxygen levels for electroless plating of catalytic fine lines or features includes selecting a substrate that includes a plurality of catalytic lines or features that are part of or are disposed on the substrate. The plurality of catalytic lines or features include at least one catalytic fine line or feature and at least one catalytic standard line or feature. A dissolved oxygen concentration of an electroless plating solution is regulated to a candidate controlled oxygen level. The candidate controlled oxygen level is set to a smallest value in a regulated range in a first pass of the method. The substrate is submerged in the solution for a period of time sufficient to initiate plating of the at least one catalytic standard line or feature. The substrate is evaluated and candidate controlled oxygen level is incremented or the previous value is selected as the regulated oxygen level.

Abstract: A scratch resistant film formed by altering a surface energy of at least a portion of a substrate and disposing a first layer of coating on the substrate. The first layer of coating comprises a plurality of functionalized monomers and a solvent. The substrate then may enter a transition zone to wet the first layer of coating, wherein wetting the first layer of coating comprises disposing the substrate in a transition zone subsequent to disposing the first layer of coating. The first layer of coating is cured, and a second layer of coating is disposed on the first layer of coating, wherein the second layer of coating has a lower surface energy than the first layer of coating. The substrate may then enter a transition zone and be subsequently cured. A scratch-resistant film is formed; this film may be transparent, translucent, opaque, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a conductive pattern includes disposing an image of the conductive pattern on a substrate. The image includes material capable of being electroless plated. The image is electroless plated with a first metal forming a plated image. The first metal includes copper. The plated image is bathed in an immersion bath that includes a metal ion source of a second metal that reacts with the first metal. The second metal includes palladium. The conductive pattern includes a first metal layer having a first metal thickness, an intermetallic first metal-second metal interface layer, and a second metal layer having a second metal thickness.

Abstract: A radiation-curable hard-coat composition includes a principal resin that includes multi-(meth)acrylate functionalized oligomers or polymers and a free radical-polymerization initiator. The initiator includes at least two photo-initiators in a predetermined ratio that generate a highly reactive species when irradiated with radiation.

Abstract: A radiation-curable optically clear coating composition for patterned deposition on a touch sensor includes a principal resin that includes multi-(meth)acrylate functionalized oligomers or polymers and a free radical-polymerization initiator that includes at least one surface curing agent and at least one deep curing agent.

Abstract: A method of depositing a patterned coating in a multi-station flexographic printing system includes printing a coating in a pattern on a roll-to-roll substrate material with a first flexographic printing station, routing the printed roll-to-roll substrate material from the first flexographic printing station to a subsequent flexographic printing station, and curing the printed roll-to-roll substrate material at the subsequent flexographic printing station.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for manufacturing a conductive pattern using ink comprising nano-catalysts such as metal nanoparticles and nanowires. The geometry of the printed pattern, nanoparticle content of the ink, and conductivity desired for the end application of the product, alone or in combination with these or other factors, may support a manufacturing process where a conductive pattern may be formed without electroless plating, without curing, or with a modified plating and/or curing procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed towards flexographic printing of microscopic high resolution conductive patterns (HRCP). These HRCP may be printed using one or more formulations for high polarity and stable viscosity inks for use in the flexographic printing process. The inks may be water permeable, UV curable, and configured to resist loss of integrity when exposed to water and atmospheric moisture.

Abstract: Systems and methods of flexographically printing a pattern comprising a plurality of lines or a first antenna loop array on a first side of a substrate, wherein printing the first antenna loop array comprises using an ink and at least one flexomaster. The ink comprises an acrylic monomer resin and a catalyst which may be an organometallic acelate or oxolate at a concentration from 1 wt %-20 wt %. The substrate may have one pattern on one surface of the substrate or may be printed as a double-sided substrate with at least one pattern on each side of the substrate. The ink is cured to dissociated the catalyst in the ink prior to electroless plating, this may be done using one curing process on each side, using one curing process in total, or by performing a partial cure on a first pattern and then curing the second pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems methods for using ink comprising organometallics in a flexographic printing process using engraved anilox rolls to transfer ink to an impression roll that prints a pattern on a substrate. A banded anilox roll with more than one geometry and/or volume of cells may be used in these production systems and methods. The pattern printed may comprise a plurality of lines which are each from 1 micrometer-25 micrometers wide and may be part of an electronics application such as a touch screen sensor or an RF antenna that requires microscopic conductive patterns such as touch screen displays or antennas.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured for optical communication via an optical polymer stack located on top of the integrated circuit. The optical polymer stack may include one or more electro-optic polymer devices including an electro-optic polymer. The electro-optic polymer may include a host polymer and a second order nonlinear chromomophore, the host polymer and the chromophore both including aryl groups configured to interact with one another to provide enhanced thermal and/or temporal stability.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a transparent, scratch resistant film, comprising: (1) cleaning a surface of a flexible substrate; (2) altering the surface energy of the surface of the flexible substrate; (3) coating the surface of the flexible substrate with a transparent, scratch resistant coating comprising functionalized group monomers and a solvent; (4) wetting the transparent, scratch resistant coating; and (5) forming a cross-linked polymer structure by curing the transparent, scratch resistant coating.