Abstract: An antibacterial substrate of the present invention includes a substrate and a plurality of antibacterial metal islands formed on the surface of the substrate. The antibacterial metal islands are exposed to an external atmosphere. The average value of contact angles between the substrate and the respective antibacterial metal islands is 90 degrees or less, as measured on the basis of results of surface observation with a scanning electron microscope.

Abstract: A photocatalyst layer (TiO2) is formed on the surface of a substrate (glass plate) through the intermediary of a monoclinic undercoat layer (ZrO2), and no dead layer is substantially present between the photocatalyst layer and the undercoat layer. Also, by providing a peel preventing layer between the substrate and the undercoat layer, it is possible to eliminate film peeling between the photocatalyst layer and the substrate, defects and discoloration. A metal element may be doped in the photocatalyst layer, and it is preferable that the metal element is at least one of Sn, Zn, Mo and Fe. The phrase “no dead layer is substantially present” means that the thickness of the dead layer is 20 nm or less. The thickness of the photocatalyst layer is preferably from 1 nm to 1,000 nm, more preferably from 1 nm to 500 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a method for evaluating the contamination by quantifying the surface contamination of an object such as a window glass plate, a wall, or the like in such a manner that the quantified value is close to the visual sensation of human being. The method comprises the steps of taking a color image of the surface of the object, converting a color image data denoting the color image into a monochromatic image data, dividing a monochromatic image denoted by the monochromatic image data into a dot matrix to obtain lightness per dot, selecting an area to be evaluated on the dot matrix, calculating a standard deviation of lightness from the distribution of lightness of the selected area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass member including a photocatalyst layer and a heat reflecting layer, the glass member having high photocatalytic activity and exhibiting a low reflectance and a colorless or pale blue reflection color tone or a bluish green or green reflection color tone. The glass member is produced by laminating an antistripping layer made of silicon oxide or the like, a crystalline undercoat layer made of zirconium oxide or the like and a photocatalyst layer made of titanium oxide or the like on the other surface of a glass substrate having a heat reflecting layer formed on one surface thereof.

Abstract: A photocatalytic member which does not undergo heat treatment is provided. A photocatalyst layer is formed on the surface of a substrate through the intermediary of an undercoat layer. The main component of the undercoat layer is a crystalline zirconium compound, the photocatalyst layer is constituted of a crystalline phase, and the substrate has a low heat resistant element.

Abstract: A member having high photocatalytic activity and multiple glass using the member are provided. A photocatalyst layer (TiO2) is formed on the surface of a substrate (glass sheet) through the intermediary of a crystalline undercoat layer (ZrO2), and no dead layer is substantially present between the photocatalyst layer and the undercoat layer. Also, provision of an amorphous layer between the substrate and the undercoat layer prevents peeling or defects between the photocatalyst layer and the substrate. In particular, by adjusting the thickness of each layer within a specific range, it is possible to obtain an article having a film configuration in which the optical feature of a reflection color, small variation of the reflectance, and a photocatalytic function are combined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a titanium compound film on a substrate by a sputtering process by use of, in place of a conventional metallic titanium target, a titanium target containing a metal (such as tin or zinc) having two or more times higher sputtering yield in an argon atmosphere than titanium; an article coated with a titanium compound film; and a sputtering target for use in the film coating. The content of tin or zinc in the titanium target containing tin or zinc is preferably in the range of 1 to 45 at %, and further a third metal may be added. These can remove drawbacks in that the film has a low film formation rate and a high output power cannot be applied due to the occurrence of arcing in forming a titanium compound film on the surface of a substrate, such as plate-shaped glass, by a reactive sputtering process.

Abstract: The optical device having a predetermined surface profile of the invention is fabricated by forming a multi-layered dielectric film on the surface of a solid composition layer having a glass transition temperature of not lower than 100° C. The solid composition layer is formed by molding and curing a polymerizable organic group-having fluid composition. The curing may be effected through photopolymerization or thermal polymerization of the polymerizable organic group in the composition, and a predetermined surface profile is transferred onto the composition layer from the mold used. The cured composition is released from the mold, and this is coated with a multi-layered dielectric film.

Abstract: A photocatalyst layer (TiO2) is formed on the surface of a substrate (glass plate) through the intermediary of a monoclinic undercoat layer (ZrO2), and no dead layer is substantially present between the photocatalyst layer and the undercoat layer. Also, by providing a peel preventing layer between the substrate and the undercoat layer, it is possible to eliminate film peeling between the photocatalyst layer and the substrate, defects and discoloration. In the above-described TiO2 layer, metal such as tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo) or iron (Fe) is doped. The phrase “no dead layer is substantially present” means that the thickness of the dead layer is 20 nm or less. The thickness of the photocatalyst layer is preferably from 1 nm to 1,000 nm, more preferably from 1 nm to 500 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming a zirconium compound film on a substrate by a sputtering process using a zirconium target which contains a metal (such as tin or zinc) of which the sputtering yield in an argon atmosphere is more than twice that of zirconium in place of a conventional metallic zirconium target. An article coated with the zirconium compound film and a sputtering target used for coating the film are provided. It is desirable that the content of the metal be 1-45 at %, but a third metal can be added thereto.

Abstract: A method for forming a zirconium compound film on a substrate by a sputtering process using a zirconium target which contains a metal (such as tin or zinc) of which the sputtering yield in an argon atmosphere is more than twice that of zirconium in place of a conventional metallic zirconium target. An article coated with the zirconium compound film and a sputtering target used for coating the film are provided. It is desirable that the content of the metal be 1-45 at %, but a third metal can be added thereto.

Abstract: An optical fiber collimator which facilitates optical adjustment. The optical fiber collimator includes a gradient index rod lens, and an optical fiber optically connected to the rod lens. An anti-reflection film is formed on one end face of the rod lens. The anti-reflection film has a refractive index which continuously changes from a value substantially equal to that of a center refractive index of the rod lens to a value substantially equal to that of the refractive index of the optical fiber along a film thickness direction of the anti-reflection film. A refractive index matching medium having a refractive index substantially equal to that of the optical fiber bonds the anti-reflection film to the end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: There is provided a method for evaluating the contamination by quantifying the surface contamination of an object such as a window glass plate, a wall, or the like in such a manner that the quantified value is close to the visual sensation of human being. The method comprises the steps of taking a color image of the surface of the object, converting a color image data denoting the color image into a monochromatic image data, dividing a monochromatic image denoted by the monochromatic image data into a dot matrix to obtain lightness per dot, selecting an area to be evaluated on the dot matrix, calculating a standard deviation of lightness from the distribution of lightness of the selected area.

Abstract: The sheet resistance of titanium oxide film can be controlled in 109 to 1013 &OHgr;/□ by coating a titanium oxide film on a substrate by sputtering a target containing metallic titanium under an atmosphere at reduced pressure and then subjecting the film to heat treatment under and oxidizing, inert or reducing atmosphere, depending on the oxygen-deficient state of the film. It is possible that a small amount of niobium oxide is contained in the titanium oxide, or a niobium oxide film is provided as an underlying film.

Abstract: A method for forming a zirconium compound film on a substrate by a sputtering process using a zirconium target which contains a metal (such as tin or zinc) of which the sputtering yield in an argon atmosphere is more than twice that of zirconium in place of a conventional metallic zirconium target. An article coated with the zirconium compound film and a sputtering target used for coating the film are provided. It is desirable that the content of the metal be 1-45 at %, but a third metal can be added thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article having a substrate with a photocatalyst coating film formed thereon by ae sputtering method, characterized in that the photocatalyst coating film comprises titanium oxide as a main component and at least one kind of metal having a sputtering rate for Ar being 0.9 to 2.7 times that of Ti, preferably at least one kind of metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, V, Mo, Nb, Al and Cr, in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in terms of the sum of such metals. The coating film is formed by a method using a Ti metal sputtering target or a Ti sub-oxide sputtering target containing the metal in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in terms of the sum of such metals, or a method using two kinds of targets for two sputtering cathodes and applying reversing potential so as to have a cathode and an anode alternately.

Abstract: The optical device having a predetermined surface profile of the invention is fabricated by forming a multi-layered dielectric film on the surface of a solid composition layer having a glass transition temperature of not lower than 100° C. The solid composition layer is formed by molding and curing a polymerizable organic group-having fluid composition. The curing may be effected through photopolymerization or thermal polymerization of the polymerizable organic group in the composition, and a predetermined surface profile is transferred onto the composition layer from the mold used. The cured composition is released from the mold, and this is coated with a multi-layered dielectric film.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article having a substrate with a photocatalyst coating film formed thereon by ae sputtering method, characterized in that the photocatalyst coating film comprises titanium oxide as a main component and at least one kind of metal having a sputtering rate for Ar being 0.9 to 2.7 times that of Ti, preferably at least one kind of metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, V, Mo, Nb, Al and Cr, in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in terms of the sum of such metals. The coating film is formed by a method using a Ti metal sputtering target or a Ti sub-oxide sputtering target containing the metal in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in terms of the sum of such metals, or a method using two kinds of targets for two sputtering cathodes and applying reversing potential so as to have a cathode and an anode alternately.

Abstract: A photocatalytic member including a titanium-based oxide film disposed on one of the major surfaces of a transparent substrate, the titanium-based oxide film having a photocatalytic function and a physical thickness of 50 to 500 nm; and a primer film interposed between the transparent substrate and the titanium-based oxide film, the primer film being composed of two layers and having a total physical thickness of 40 to 200 nm, the layer of the primer film adjoining the transparent substrate having at least a function of blocking the gas and impurities which are discharged or eluted from the transparent substrate, and the layer of the primer film adjoining the titanium-based oxide having a larger refractive index than that of the layer adjoining the transparent substrate; in which the primer film reduces the dependence of the color on the thickness of the titanium-based oxide film, and the color of reflected visible light and the color of transmitted visible light of one of the major surfaces of the transparen

Abstract: A method of film deposition is disclosed, which eliminates the conventional problem that a coating film having a component concentration gradient in the thickness direction and thus having a boundary with a compositional gradient or a coating film in which two or more components coexist as a mixture thereof cannot be stably obtained by sputtering. In the method, two planar cathodes are closely arranged as a pair, and a voltage is applied thereto while alternately inverting the polarities thereof so that when a target A bonded to one of the cathodes is used as a negative electrode, then a target B bonded to the other cathode and differing to the target A in component is used as a positive electrode. The targets A and B are simultaneously bombarded with positive ions while passing a substrate in front of the targets so as to cross the cathodes.