Abstract: Apparatus for atomic layer deposition on a surface of a sheeted substrate, comprising: an injector head comprising a deposition space provided with a precursor supply and a precursor drain; said supply and drain arranged for providing a precursor gas flow from the precursor supply via the deposition space to the precursor drain; the deposition space in use being bounded by the injector head and the substrate surface; a gas bearing comprising a bearing gas injector, arranged for injecting a bearing gas between the injector head and the substrate surface, the bearing gas thus forming a gas-bearing; a conveying system providing relative movement of the substrate and the injector head along a plane of the substrate to form a conveying plane along which the substrate is conveyed.

Abstract: A plastic panel assembly having a permanent mark therein at a subsurface location and formed after substantial manufacture of the panel assembly. The plastic panel includes a substrate and a coating over the substrate, the coating including a surface that defines an exterior surface of the panel assembly. A mark is located beneath the exterior surface of the panel assembly. In making the panel assembly, a plastic substrate is provided and a protective coating is applied to the substrate. After the step of applying the protective coating, a subsurface portion of panel assembly is exposed to a laser light. The laser light opacifies a subsurface portion of the panel assembly, thereby rendering the mark within the panel assembly.

Abstract: The present application relates to a reflective polarizer, a method of manufacturing a reflective polarizer, an optical element, and a display device. The reflective polarizer may have excellent thermal and physical durability even when exposed to a light source and external friction. In addition, the method for manufacturing a reflective polarizer according to the present application may provide a large-sized reflective polarizer without using expensive equipment.

Abstract: Optical filters, their production and their uses are provided. The optical filters have heat-resistant, mechanically stable absorption layers or filter layers. The optical filters can be absorption filters or ND filters. The filter layer includes filter particles dispersed in a matrix. The filter particles have a constant absorption over a wide wavelength range. The matrix includes a heat-resistant binder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of production of graphene comprising the following stages respectively: a stage of deposition of a thin layer comprising amorphous carbon on a substrate; a stage of annealing of said thin layer under photonic and/or electronic irradiation, by which a layer comprising graphene is obtained.

Abstract: A process for treating a textile web includes applying a first treatment agent to the web. The web is moved in an open configuration over a contact surface of an ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic vibration system is operated to impart ultrasonic energy to the textile web to facilitate the distribution of the first treatment agent through a first extent of the thickness of the textile web. A second treatment agent is applied to the web. The web is moved in an open configuration thereof over a contact surface of an ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic vibration system is operated to impart ultrasonic energy to the textile web to facilitate the distribution of the second treatment agent through a second extent of the thickness of the web. The second extent is different than the first extent.

Abstract: The present invention addresses provides improved methods of preparing a low-k dielectric material on a substrate. The methods involve multiple operation ultraviolet curing processes in which UV intensity, wafer substrate temperature and other conditions may be independently modulated in each operation. In certain embodiments, a film containing a structure former and a porogen is exposed to UV radiation in a first operation to facilitate removal of the porogen and create a porous dielectric film. In a second operation, the film is exposed to UV radiation to increase cross-linking within the porous film. In certain embodiments, the curing takes place in a multi-station UV chamber wherein UV intensity and substrate temperature may be independently controlled at each station.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a novel preparation method for a conductive ZnO film which realizes large area and mass productions with low costs and low environment loads. The crystal of zinc oxide (ZnO) is deposited on a substrate by a precipitation method using liquidous solution method under the presence of citric acid. The citric acid adsorbs on the surface of (0001) face of ZnO to suppress anisotropic growth to a c axis direction of the crystal in the precipitation reaction and to form dense crystal film on the surface of the substrate. Then, the organic acid incorporated in the film is photo-decomposed by irradiating UV light to the prepared ZnO crystalline film. As the result, carriers trapped by the organic acid is released to the crystalline film so as to provide an adequate conductivity.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gradient bioceramic coating comprising a rare earth oxide, a broadband laser method for preparing the bioceramic coating, and the use of the bioceramic coating in the field of medical materials.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to printing features from an ink containing a material precursor. In some embodiments, the material includes an electrically active material, such as a semiconductor, a metal, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the material includes a dielectric. The embodiments provide improved printing process conditions that allow for more precise control of the shape, profile and dimensions of a printed line or other feature. The composition(s) and/or method(s) improve control of pinning by increasing the viscosity and mass loading of components in the ink. An exemplary method thus includes printing an ink comprising a material precursor and a solvent in a pattern on the substrate; precipitating the precursor in the pattern to form a pinning line; substantially evaporating the solvent to form a feature of the material precursor defined by the pinning line; and converting the material precursor to the patterned material.

Abstract: The method of laser surface treating pre-prepared zirconia surfaces provides for applying an organic resin in a thin, uniform film to a zirconia surface; maintaining the resin-coated zirconia surface in a controlled chamber at approximately 8 bar pressure at a temperature of approximately 175 degrees Centigrade for approximately 2 hours; heating the resin-coated zirconia surface to approximately 400 degrees Centigrade in an inert gas atmosphere, thereby converting the organic resin to carbon; and irradiating the carbon-coated zirconia surface with a laser beam while applying nitrogen under pressure, thereby forming a zirconium carbonitride coating.

Abstract: The synthesis of single graphene sheets decorated with metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, and their uses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor and a method for the production of high purity silicon granules. The reactor includes a reactor chamber; and the reaction chamber is equipped with a solid feeding port, auxiliary gas inlet, raw material gas inlet, and exhaust gas export. The reaction chamber is also equipped with an internal gas distributor; a heating unit; an external exhaust gas processing unit connected between a preheating unit and a gas inlet. The reaction chamber is further equipped with a surface finishing unit, a heating unit and a dynamics generating unit. The reaction is through decomposition of silicon-containing gas in densely stacked high purity granular silicon layer reaction bed in relative motion, and to use remaining heat of exhaust gas for reheating. The present invention achieves a large scale, efficient, energy saving, continuous, low cost production of high purity silicon granules.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having backlight structures. The backlight structures may include a light source. Light from the light source may be coupled into an edge of a light guide plate. The backlight structures may include layers such as a diffuser layer and one or more layers of brightness enhancing film. The brightness enhancing film layers may be used to collimate light scattered from the light guide plate and thereby enhance backlight efficiency. Brightness enhancing films may be formed from transparent substrates such as layers of polyester. A patterned polymer layer such as a layer of patterned cured resin may be formed on the transparent substrate of a backlight enhancing film. A roller-based manufacturing process may be used to form the patterned polymer layer on the substrate. The patterned polymer layer may include a series of parallel ridges with rounded peaks.

Abstract: A method of forming low dielectric contrast structures by imprinting a silsesquioxane based polymerizable composition. The imprinting composition including: one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers each having one or more polymerizable groups, wherein each of the one or more polymerizable group is bound to a different silicon atom of the one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers; and one or more polymerizable diluents, the diluents constituting at least 50% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: A composition for forming an aluminum film, comprising a complex represented by the following formula (1) and a complex represented by the following formula (2), the molar ratio of the complex represented by the following formula (1) and the complex represented by the following formula (2) being 40:60 to 85:15: AlH3.NR1R2R3??(1) AlH3.(NR1R2R3)2??(2) (in the above formulas (1) and (2), R1, R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, aryl group or aralkyl group.).

Abstract: A process for forming a coating layer on a substrate comprising: depositing a thin film of a concentrated aqueous nano titania sol onto at least a portion of the substrate; exposing at least a portion of the deposited film to a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation in order to gel the film of aqueous sol; and drying at least a portion of the gelled portion, thereby forming the coating layer.

Abstract: An optical probe for emitting and/or receiving light within a body comprises an optical fiber that transmits and/or receives an optical signal, a silicon optical bench including a fiber groove running longitudinally that holds an optical fiber termination of the optical fiber and a reflecting surface that optically couples an endface of the optical fiber termination to a lateral side of the optical bench. The fiber groove is fabricated using silicon anisotropic etching techniques. Some examples use a housing around the optical bench that is fabricated using LIGA or other electroforming technology. A method for forming lens structure is also described that comprises forming a refractive lens in a first layer of a composite wafer material, such as SOI (silicon on insulator) wafers and forming an optical port through a backside of the composite wafer material along an optical axis of the refractive lens. The refractive lens is preferably formed using grey-scale lithography and dry etching the first layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membranes comprising a substrate layer (S) based on a sulfonated polymer and a positively charged film layer (F) on top of said substrate, and to a method for their preparation. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to nanofiltration processes making use of said composite membrane.

Abstract: A touch panel with a single plate includes a plate and a sensing circuit structure. The substrate is taken as a cover. The sensing circuit structure is formed on the plate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an antimicrobial membrane, to a method for preparing said antimicrobial membrane, to a process of operating said antimicrobial membrane, and to uses of said antimicrobial membrane. The antimicrobial membrane of the invention comprises on at least one side of the membrane a multilayer coating, said multilayer coating having alternate polycation and polyanion layers, wherein one or more polycation layers and one or more polyanion layers comprise metal nanoparticles having antimicrobial activity, wherein i) said metal nanoparticles comprise silver; and ii) at least 75 wt. % of said metal is present in a reduced form.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display device includes forming an alignment material layer on a substrate by coating an alignment material, irradiating UV rays onto the alignment material layer and pre-baking the alignment material layer; and post-baking the alignment material layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a recording medium includes preparing a substrate of the recording medium, forming a first face recording layer at a first face side of the substrate, forming a first face protection layer for protecting the first face recording layer on the first face recording layer, forming a second face constituting whole or a part of a layer configuration at a second face side of the substrate, deactivating a protection feature of the first face protection layer; and forming a first face constituting whole or a part of a layer configuration of a first face on the first face protection layer.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for removing at least a portion of the carbon-containing species within an organosilicate (OSG) film by treating the OSG film with a chemical, such as but not limited to an oxidizer, exposing the OSG film to an energy source comprising ultraviolet light, or treating the OSG film with a chemical and exposing the OSG film to an energy source.

Abstract: An agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound is capable of making a liquid surface express anisotropy in a simplified manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shielding circuitry from interference with conformal coating are disclosed. Systems having conformal EMI shields according to embodiments are provided by applying insulating and conductive layers to areas of a printed circuit board (PCB). This produces systems that may be thinner and also smaller in surface area, and that may be suitable as part of electronic devices.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a sheet or a fabric with crystalline TiO2 nano-particles includes providing a polymer material as a support, and then synthesizing the crystalline TiO2 nano-particles with immobilizing them on a surface of the support, followed by forming the fabric or the sheet. The fabric is a textile or a nonwoven fabric. A type of the support is a fiber or a sheet type. The synthesizing of the crystalline TiO2 nano-particles is performed by occurring a sol-gel reaction under a microwave irradiation, wherein a TiO2 precursor, water, an alcohol, and an ionic liquid applied in the sol-gel reaction during the synthesizing.

Abstract: A glassy cholesteric liquid crystalline composition comprising compounds with a volume-expanding core bound to one or more hybrid chiral-nematic (or Ch) pendant moieties and a method of producing oriented films of such compounds. The Ch pendant moieties are comprised of chiral spacer groups connected to the core via linker groups and nematic groups linked to the chiral spacer groups. Thin-films of the composition are morphologically stable for extended periods of time. Also, the thin-films are able to selectively interact with light from the visible to near-IR wavelength range.

Abstract: A production method of an electroless plating material of the present invention is a method for the production of an electroless plating material that has a surface to be plated by electroless plating, and includes an ozone treatment step in which a material body that is made of a resin is brought into contact with a solution that contains ozone to form a modified layer in a surface of the material body, and a superficial layer removal step in which, after the ozone treatment step, the surface of the material body is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to remove a superficial layer of the modified layer.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method of making a metal oxide film with a sufficiently high degree of crystal orientation, without difficulties, at low cost, and with little damage to a base material and the metal oxide film, and to provide laminates and electronic devices using the same. A method includes a step of forming a metal film having a (111) plane, on a base material; a step of forming a metal oxide film on the (111) plane of the metal film; and a step of maintaining a temperature of the metal oxide film formed on the (111) plane of the metal film, at 25-600° C. and irradiating the metal oxide film with UV light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method adhering a layer to a substrate that features defining first and second interfaces by having a composition present between the layer and the substrate that forms covalent bonds to the layer and adheres to the substrate employing one or more of covalent bonds, ionic bonds and Van der Waals forces. In this manner, the strength of the adhering force of the layer to the composition is assured to be stronger than the adhering force of the layer to the composition formed from a predetermined adhering mechanism, i.e., an adhering mechanism that does not include covalent bonding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative C-type retardation compensator for a liquid crystal display. The negative C-type retardation compensator for the liquid crystal display includes polyarlate having a thio group or a sulfur oxide group in a polymer main chain thereof Accordingly, the retardation compensator has an absolute value of negative retardation that is larger in a thickness direction that a retardation compensator which includes polyarylate having no thio group or sulfur oxide group in a polymer main chain thereof even though the retardation compensator having the thio group or sulfur oxide group and the retardation compensator having no thio group or sulfur oxide group are the same as each other in thickness. Thereby, the negative C-type retardation compensator for liquid crystal displays is capable of being desirably applied to the liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing cured coating films on a substrate surface.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a system for the light-induced directed self-assembly (LIDSA) of periodic sub-wavelength nanostructures, including: a light source for delivering a beam of photons; a reaction chamber disposed adjacent to the light source; a gas including one or more precursor materials disposed within the reaction chamber; and a substrate disposed within the reaction chamber, wherein the substrate is positioned and configured to receive the beam of photons; wherein the beam of photons causes a periodic sub-wavelength nanostructure of one or more constituents of the one or more precursor materials to form on a surface of the substrate. In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention also provides an associated method.

Abstract: A formulation comprising a first organosilane precursor and a halogenation reagent wherein at least a portion or all of the halogenation reagent reacts to provide the second organosilane precursor. Methods of generating such formulation in situ from readily available pure materials are also provided. Further provided are methods of using the formulations as the precursor for a flowable vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A method for repairing process-related damage of a dielectric film formed on a substrate caused by processing the dielectric film includes: irradiating the damaged dielectric film with UV light in an atmosphere of hydrocarbon-containing gas to restore the surface of the dielectric film; and irradiating the surface-restored dielectric film with UV light in an atmosphere of oxygen gas to partially remove the hydrocarbon film.

Abstract: A method for producing metal structures includes an initiator composition comprising a photocatalytic substance being applied to a substrate. A precursor composition that can be reduced to a metal by the photocatalytic activity of the nanodusts is applied to the layer. A structure template is then applied, partially displacing the precursor composition, and then the substrate is illuminated. Structured metal structures are thus generated.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic structures includes an initiator composition comprising photocatalytic nanorods being applied to a substrate. A precursor composition is applied to the layer, and is reduced to form a metal by the photocatalytic activity of the nanorods. High-resolution metallic structures can be obtained by structured exposure.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for reproducing a template. The template includes a transfer surface and a release layer. The transfer surface has a concavoconvex pattern. The release layer includes an inorganic functional group and an organic functional group, both being bonded to the transfer surface. The method for reproducing the template includes the following two steps: removing the organic functional group by oxidizing and decomposing the organic functional group included in the release layer; and removing the inorganic functional group; and forming the release layer by coupling a silane coupling agent with the transfer surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit creation technology that improves conductive line manufacture by adding active and elemental palladium onto the surface of a substrate. The palladium is disposed in minute amounts on the surface and does not form a conductive layer by itself, but facilitates subsequent deposition of a metal onto the surface, according to the pattern of the palladium, to form the conductive lines.

Abstract: A method for curing a paint coating applied to a workpiece includes applying radiant light energy to cure the paint coating on surfaces of the workpiece within a line of sight of a radiant light energy source, and applying ambient air to the workpiece to cure the paint coating on surfaces of the workpiece not within the line of sight of the radiant light energy source.

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a method of painting a motor vehicle bodywork part, the method comprising the steps consisting in applying a first component on the part, in allowing the first component to tension on said part during a so-called “flash-off” stage, then in applying a second component on the part, the part being moved by a handler robot in front of a stationary applicator during the two spraying steps and in front of flash-off acceleration means during the flash-off stage. The invention also provides a painting booth having at least one stationary applicator for applying a paint component on a part carried by an arm of a handler robot that is present in the booth, and means for accelerating the flash-off of the part, the means being arranged in the booth in such a manner that the part can enter into the field of action of the acceleration means while being carried by the same handler robot.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for correcting micro-defects on a Fresnel lens surface are described. In one aspect, a measured amount of fluid coating material is applied to the grooved side of a Fresnel lens body, such that in addition to a thin layer of fluid coating material adhering to the surfaces of lens facets and the draft facets of the Fresnel lens body, some of the liquid coating material pools at the bottom corners of the grooves and forms a curved meniscus thereat. The pooled liquid coating material fills out the micro-defects existing in the bottom corners of the grooves. The surface profile of the liquid coating material traces closely to the designed profile of the Fresnel lens body. When the liquid coating material solidifies, the resulting solid coating serves to reduce the undesirable optical effects of the micro-defects in the bottom corners of the Fresnel lens body.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed using a plasma. The apparatus includes a processing chamber defining a processing cavity for containing an object to be processed and a process gas therein, a microwave radiating antenna having a microwave radiating surface for radiating a microwave in order to excite a plasma in the processing cavity, and a dielectric body provided so as to be opposed to the microwave radiating surface, in which the distance D between the microwave radiating surface and a surface of the dielectric body facing away from the microwave radiating surface, which is represented with the wavelength of the microwave being a distance unit, is determined to be in the range satisfying the inequality 0.7×n/4?D?1.3×n/4 (n being a natural number).

Abstract: A method of forming a lyophobic coating on a surface having oxidized groups is disclosed. The method includes bringing into contact with the surface a silane or siloxane having the formula SiX4 wherein each X is the same or different, wherein at least one X is a leaving group and at least one X is a lyophobic group.

Abstract: Metal nano articles were incorporated into wood. Ionic liquids were used to expand the wood cell wall structure for nanoparticle incorporation into the cell wall structure. Nanoparticles of elemental gold or silver were found to be effective surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) imaging contrast or sensing agents. Nanoparticles of elemental iron were found to be efficient microwave absorbers and caused localized heating for disrupting the integrity of the lignocellulosic matrix. Controls suggest that the localized beating around the iron nanoparticles reduces losses of cellulose in the form of water volatiles and CO2. The ionic liquid is needed during the incorporation process at room temperature. The use of small amounts of ionic liquid combined with the absence of an ionic liquid purification step and a lower energy and water use are expected to reduce costs in an up-scaled pretreatment process.

Abstract: The laser light emitting device includes a glass rod having an input end and an output end. The glass rod has a core provided along the central axis thereof and a cladding covering the core. The refractive index of the core on the side of the input end is higher than the refractive index of the cladding. A value given through subtraction of the refractive index of the cladding from the refractive index of the core on the side of the output end is smaller than a value given through subtraction of the refractive index of the cladding from the refractive index of the core on the side of the input end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for modifying wettability of a surface of an inorganic material, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an inorganic material with a surface; and charging the surface of the inorganic material with positive surface charges obtained from photoelectron-emission by an X-ray irradiation to the surface of the inorganic material.

Abstract: A thin film deposition apparatus includes a substrate supporting unit supporting a substrate, a deposition source evaporating a deposition material to supply a steam of the deposition material to the substrate, and a deposition source shifting unit moving the deposition source so that the deposition source is relatively shifted with respect to the substrate supporting unit.

Abstract: Method and equipment to produce nanopowders of materials based on pure metals, their alloys and chemical compounds of these metals with elements taken from the row of B, C, O and Si, encapsulated into a salt shell selected from the group of NaCl, NaF, LiCl, and LiF or their mixtures, includes independent evaporation by means of electron beam and/or laser radiation sources of the material and alkali metal(s) halogenide and simultaneous deposition of a mixture of their vapor phases on a substrate in a closed pumped-down volume. To achieve the required ratio of vapor flows, a screen with variable cross-section diaphragms is placed between the substrate movable in parallel to the evaporators, and the evaporators, thus allowing an independent regulation of the intensity of the vapor flow coming to the substrate from each of the evaporators.