EC film stacks and different layers within the EC film stacks are disclosed. Methods of manufacturing these layers are also disclosed. In one embodiment, an EC layer comprises nanostructured EC layer. These layers may be manufactured by various methods, including, including, but not limited to glancing angle deposition, oblique angle deposition, electrophoresis, electrolyte deposition, and atomic layer deposition. The nanostructured EC layers have a high specific surface area, improved response times, and higher color efficiency.

A trim for an object and its method of manufacture involve providing a transparent or translucent substrate defining a top surface, applying an opaque layer above the top surface of the substrate, the opaque layer defining one or more apertures through which light can pass, and applying one or more translucent metallic-looking layers above a top surface of the opaque layer. In some implementations, the trim is a selectively illuminable trim whereby a light source is arranged beneath a bottom surface of the substrate, the light source being configured to output light through the substrate, the one or more apertures defined by the opaque layer, and the one or more metallic-looking layers.

A system and method are provided for implementing a unique scheme by which to execute digital vapor phase patterning on metals, semiconductor substrates and other surfaces using a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture or technique. For certain substrate printing and manufacturing applications, including some printed electronics applications, the disclosed schemes implement techniques to digitally pattern metal layers with bulk material properties in a manner that is aligned with underlying layers on the fly. The disclosed digital printing process may pattern a release oil on a substrate in support of a metal deposition process. Changeable patterning is implemented with an ability to modify the alignment of the patterns on-the-fly. The release layer on a drum is laser patterned in order that the patterned release layer is transferred to the substrate, or the patterning of the release layer is accomplished directly on the substrate.

The invention relates to a method for producing a semi-transparent motor vehicle design element (3), comprising the following steps:

A providing a dimensionally stable, at least partially light-permeable substrate (1) which is heat-resistant for a temperature of at least 60° C., the substrate (1) having a front side (1a) and a rear side (1b),

B introducing the substrate (1) into a vacuum chamber (2) and applying a first metallic semi-transparent layer (L1) by means of a PVD process to the substrate (1) according to step a) which is situated in the vacuum chamber (2), and

C applying a light-impermeable cover layer (LD) to the front or rear side (1a, 1b) of the substrate (1), the light-impermeable cover layer (LD) containing at least one light-permeable opening (8) for reproducing at least one graphical symbol (SYM),

steps B and C being carried out such that light (LSQ) passing through the at least one opening (8) in the light-impermeable cover layer (LD) from the rear side (1b) towards the front side (1a) of the substrate (1) is incident on the first metallic semi-transparent layer (L1) and at least partially passes outwards through the first metallic semi-transparent layer (L1) in order to project the at least one graphical symbol (SYM) represented by the at least one opening (8).

This optical laminate includes a transparent substrate, an optical functional layer, and an antifouling layer laminated in this order, wherein the optical functional layer is a laminate in which a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer are alternately laminated, the antifouling layer is formed of a vapor-deposited film obtained by vapor deposition of an antifouling material, and the residual amount of fluorine atoms in the antifouling layer detected by XRF after 10 minutes of cleaning by irradiation with 40 KHz and 240 W ultrasonic waves in a fluorine-based solvent is 70% or more.

A light-transmitting electroconductive film (20) according to the present invention includes a region containing krypton at a content ratio of less than 0.1 atomic % at least partially in a thickness direction (D) of the light-transmitting electroconductive film (20). A transparent electroconductive film (X) according to the present invention includes a transparent substrate (10); and the light-transmitting electroconductive film (20) disposed on one surface side in the thickness direction (D) of the transparent substrate.

A method for decorating a substrate which includes the succession of the following steps: provide the substrate; deposit a layer of a sacrificial material over a surface of the substrate; structure the sacrificial material layer so as to create in this sacrificial material layer a plurality of cavities to form a decorative or technical pattern; eliminate the sacrificial material layer except at the location where the pattern is provided.

EC film stacks and different layers within the EC film stacks are disclosed. Methods of manufacturing these layers are also disclosed. In one embodiment, an EC layer comprises nanostructured EC layer. These layers may be manufactured by various methods, including, including, but not limited to glancing angle deposition, oblique angle deposition, electrophoresis, electrolyte deposition, and atomic layer deposition. The nanostructured EC layers have a high specific surface area, improved response times, and higher color efficiency.

An exterior material for cooking appliance capable of improving visibility, Vickers hardness, and scratch resistance by forming laser holes in a surface of an exterior material including a Diamond like carbon (DLC) coating layer, and a method for manufacturing the exterior material. The cooking appliance exterior material includes a base material, a Diamond like carbon (DLC) coating layer provided on the base material, an adhesive layer provided between the base material and the DLC coating layer to attach the DLS coating layer to the base material to incase an adhesion force between the base material and the DLC coating layer, and a plurality of laser holes provided in a surface of the exterior material.

Various embodiments herein relate to electrochromic devices, methods of fabricating electrochromic devices, and apparatus for fabricating electrochromic devices. In a number of cases, the electrochromic device may be fabricated to include a particular counter electrode material. The counter electrode material may include a base anodically coloring material. The counter electrode material may further include one or more halogens. The counter electrode material may also include one or more additives.