Abstract: A method of making an antiglare coating using a mullite sol, possibly for use in a plasma display device, a photovoltaic device, or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a mullite sol by mixing glycycloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (or other suitable silane) with an aluminum chloride (or other suitable aluminum-containing compound), and one or more of a solvent and water; casting the mixture by spin coating to form a layer on a substrate (e.g., a glass substrate); and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an antiglare coating.

Abstract: Methods of making hydrophilic coatings having anti-fog properties, and hydrophilic articles are provided. In certain example instances, a substrate supports a layer comprising titanium dioxide and a ether/oleate-based organic compound. After drying or curing, the resulting coating may be hydrophilic thereby allowing water or the like to easily shed therefrom (e.g., providing anti-fog properties).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making glass. In certain example embodiments, a major surface(s) of the glass is treated with aluminum chloride (e.g., AlCl3). This treating, or application of an aluminum chloride based layer on the glass substrate, may be performed using combustion deposition. The combustion deposition may be performed at or just prior to the annealing lehr in certain example embodiments, or at any other suitable location. The aluminum chloride barrier layer, applied at a desirable glass temperature, helps to reduce sodium leaching or diffusion from the glass during conditions such as high heat and/or humidity, thereby improving the durability and/or stability of the resulting product.

Abstract: A low-index silica coating may be made by forming silica sol comprising a silane and/or a colloidal silica. The silica precursor may be deposited on a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) to form a coating layer. The coating layer may then be cured and/or fired using temperature(s) of from about 550 to 700° C. A capping layer composition comprising an antifog composition including a siloxane and/or hydrofluororether may be formed, deposited on the coating layer, then cured and/or fired to form a capping layer The capping layer improves the durability of the coating. The low-index silica based coating may be used as an antireflective (AR) film on a front glass substrate of a photovoltaic device (e.g., solar cell) or any other suitable application in certain example instances.

Abstract: A low-index silica coating may be made by forming silica sol including or of a silane and/or a colloidal silica. The silica precursor may be deposited on a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) to form a coating layer. The coating layer may then be cured and/or fired using temperature(s) of from about 550 to 700° C. The coating layer includes a striping-reducing agent to inhibit the appearance of striping in the coating layer. The low-index silica based coating may be used as an antireflective (AR) film on a front glass substrate of a photovoltaic device (e.g., solar cell) or any other suitable application in certain example instances.

Abstract: A low-index silica coating may be made by forming silica sol including a silane and/or a colloidal silica. The silica precursor may be deposited on a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) to form a coating layer. The coating layer may then be cured and/or fired using temperature(s) of from about 550 to 700° C. A barrier undercoating including a metal oxide, such as, silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, and/or an oxynitride of silica may be deposited between the coating layer and substrate. Preferably, the barrier undercoating does not substantially affect the percent transmission or reflection of the low-index silica coating. The low-index silica based coating may be used as an antireflective (AR) film on a front glass substrate of a photovoltaic device (e.g., solar cell) or any other suitable application in certain example instances.

Abstract: There is provided a forming a solution by mixing at least a polymeric silane, a solvent, acetone, acetic acid, and a rheological enhancer, wherein the rheological enhancer may comprise an acrylic latex; and agitating the solution. Also provided are methods of using the same in coated articles, and coated articles themselves.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making a stabilized colloidal silica solution, the method including forming a solution by mixing a colloidal silica, a solvent, and a stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of siloxane-based stabilizers, polysorbate-based stabilizers, non-ionic surfactant based stabilizers, and acrylic polymer-based flow-enhancing stabilizers; and agitating the solution. There is also provided methods of using the same in coated articles, and coated articles themselves.

Abstract: A method of making a photovoltaic device including an antireflective coating, including: forming a coating solution by mixing a mono-metal oxide, a bi-metal oxide, a silane, or a siloxane with a solvent, such that the coating solution may be used as a barrier between the antireflective coating and a glass substrate that inhibits sodium ion migration in the glass substrate after exposure to environmental factors including humidity and temperature. A photovoltaic device including a photovoltaic film, a glass substrate, and a barrier layer provided on the glass substrate; an anti-reflection coating provided on the glass substrate and on the barrier layer; wherein the barrier layer comprises one or more of the following: a mono-metal oxide, a bi-metal oxide, a silane, or a siloxane.

Abstract: A method of making an anti-reflection coating using a sol-gel process, for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a polymeric component of silica by mixing silane(s) with one or more of a first solvent, a catalyst, and water; forming a silica sol gel by mixing the polymeric component with a colloidal silica, and optionally a second solvent; forming a combined sol by mixing siloxane(s) with the silica sol; casting the mixture by spin coating or the like to form a silica and siloxane containing layer on a substrate; and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an anti-reflection coating which may be used in a photovoltaic device or the like.

Abstract: A diffuser is provided in an illumination system, where the diffuser is capable of blocking significant amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain example embodiments, the diffuser includes a glass substrate which supports a UV coating(s) that blocks significant amounts of UV radiation thereby reducing the amount of UV radiation which can make its way through the diffuser. In certain example embodiments, the coating may include inorganic particulate in a fit matrix so that the coating may both diffuse visible light and perform UV blocking.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for obtaining a sample of fluid from a process conduit. The device includes a tubular core that has a passageway extending therethrough. The tubular core has ends that are attachable to spaced-apart portions of a conduit. A tubular sleeve surrounds the tubular core such that the tubular core extends lengthwise through the tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve has a boss formed thereon that has a bore extending therethrough. The bore fluidly communicates with the tubular core. A syringe is mountable to the boss and the syringe has a needle. The needle is dimensioned to extend through the bore to puncture the core and to project into the passageway inside the core.

Abstract: A method of making an anti-reflection coating using a sol-gel process, for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a polymeric component of silica by mixing silane(s) with one or more of a first solvent, a catalyst, and water; forming a silica sol gel by mixing the polymeric component with a colloidal silica, and optionally a second solvent; forming a metal oxide sol by mixing silane(s) with a metal oxide, a second catalyst, and a third solvent; forming a combined sol by mixing the metal oxide sol with the silica sol; casting the mixture by spin coating or the like to form a silica and metal oxide containing layer on a substrate; and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an anti-reflection coating which may be used in a photovoltaic device or the like.

Abstract: A method of making an anti-reflection coating using a sol-gel process, for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a polymeric component of silica by mixing glycycloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (or other suitable silane) with one or more of a first solvent, a catalyst, and water; forming a silica sol gel by mixing the polymeric component with a colloidal silica, optionally a second solvent, and at least one organic additive; casting the mixture by spin coating to form a porous silica based layer on a substrate; and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an anti-reflection coating.

Abstract: Methods of making hydrophilic coatings having anti-fog properties, and hydrophilic articles are provided. In certain example instances, a substrate supports a surfactant and polyethylenimine. The method includes forming a polyethylenimine-solvent mixture; applying a surfactant to a surface of the substrate; and applying the polyethylenimine-solvent mixture to the dried surfactant on the surface of the substrate. After drying or curing, the resulting coating may be hydrophilic thereby allowing water or the like to easily shed therefrom (e.g., providing anti-fog properties).

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods of controlling the transfer voltage in a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive member and the transfer member. The methods offset the effects of large transfer current spikes caused when a media sheet enters and exits the transfer nip. The control may include either ramping up or ramping down the transfer voltage. The ramped transfer voltage may include a series of alternating positive and negative steps that generally trend to ramp up or down. The size of the steps may further be adjusted to provide a smooth transition.

Abstract: There is provided a coated article (e.g., solar cell) that includes an improved anti-reflection (AR) coating. This AR coating functions to reduce reflection of light from the light incident glass substrate, thereby allowing more light within the solar spectrum to pass through the incident glass substrate and reach the photovoltaic semiconductor so that the solar cell can be more efficient. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the AR coating may be of or include a composite of a metal fluoride(s) and silica (SiO2). The metal may be Mg, Ca, or the like, in certain example embodiments of this invention. Thus, in certain example embodiments of this invention, the AR coating may be of or include a composite of (a) MgF2 and/or CaF2, and (b) silica.

Abstract: An image transfer assembly in a color printer or the like includes four image forming units. Each of the image forming units includes a photoconductive unit and a transfer device. A voltage is applied to the transfer device thereby creating a voltage potential between the photoconductive unit and the transfer device to facilitate the transfer of toner to a media substrate, such as paper. The transfer devices in the first two image forming units share a single high voltage power supply while separate high voltage power supplies supply the necessary voltage to the transfer devices of the other two image forming units.

Abstract: A fuser assembly within an image forming apparatus having a paper path along which substrates travel through the image forming apparatus including a heating member and a backup member cooperating with the heating member to form a nip therebetween for fusing images onto substrates passing through the nip. Also provided is structure for conveying substrates along the paper path to the nip, and a processor. The processor determines a relative humidity, determines if the relative humidity is above a predefined value corresponding to undesirable substrate curl; sets an interpage gap between conveyed substrates to a nominal value if the relative humidity is below the predefined value; and determines if the interpage gap should be increased beyond the nominal value if the relative humidity is above the predefined value. A corresponding method is provided.

Abstract: An image forming device prints on specialty media comprising a first and second area having different media properties. The device prints on the first area at a first transfer voltage level selected in response to a media property of the first area. The device prints on the second area at a second transfer voltage level selected in response to a media property of the second area. The device changes from the first transfer voltage level to the second transfer voltage level when a predetermined location on the specialty media, on which no image is formed, is within the transfer nip.