The invention relates to a process for producing a structured shaped body or a layer of this type from a precursor of a metal oxide or mixed oxide selected from compounds of metals selected from among magnesium, strontium, barium, aluminum, gallium, indium, silicon, tin, lead and the transition metals. The process includes at least the following steps: (a) dissolving at least one compound of the at least one metal in an organic solvent and/or exchanging a ligand of the one or more dissolved metallic compounds for a stabilizing ligand, (b) adding a ligand that has at least one photochemically polymerizable group and at least one such group that allows a stable complex formation to the solution and forming a sol with or from the product of this reaction (precursor), (c) applying the sol on a substrate, and (d) exposing the sol anisotropically in such a way that a polymerization of the photochemically polymerizable groups takes place in the exposed areas.

A method of depositing a lateral pattern of a deposition material onto a substrate. The method comprises fabricating a laterally patterned deposition surface on the substrate having one or more deposition regions and one or more non-deposition regions. The method comprises depositing deposition material onto the deposition regions of the deposition surface to form a deposition structure comprising deposited regions and non-deposited regions. Depositing deposition material comprises dissolving the deposition material in a solvent to form a solution, introducing the deposition surface into fluid contact with the solution, varying a temperature of the solution, varying a pressure of the solution; and selectively heating the deposition regions to temperatures greater than the temperature of the solution to cause the deposition material to precipitate from the solution and deposit onto the deposition regions.

A composition of matter includes a substrate material (M) having a bulk portion and an outer surface integrated to the bulk portion. The outer surface includes a modified surface layer. The modified surface layer extends to a depth from the outer surface of at least 1 nm. The modified surface layer includes M and at least one other material (X) which is a metal or metal alloy. The modified surface layer has a 25 C. electrical conductivity which is at least 2.5% above or below a 25 C. electrical conductivity in the bulk portion of M. The composition of matter can be an article that includes a frequency selective surface-based metamaterial, and the plurality of modified surface portions can be a plurality of periodic surface elements that provide a resonant frequency.

A method for synthesizing a copper-silver alloy includes an ink preparation step, a coating step, a crystal nucleus formation step and a crystal nucleus synthesis step. In the ink preparation step, a copper salt particle, an amine-based solvent, and a silver salt particle are mixed, thereby preparing a copper-silver ink. In the coating step, a member to be coated is coated with the copper-silver ink. In the crystal nucleus formation step, at least one of a crystal nucleus of copper having a crystal grain diameter of 0.2 m or less and a crystal nucleus of silver having a crystal grain diameter of 0.2 m or less is formed from the copper-silver ink. In the crystal nucleus synthesis step, the crystal nucleus of copper and the crystal nucleus of silver are synthesized.

Vacuum-integrated photoresist-less methods and apparatuses for forming metal hardmasks can provide sub-30 nm patterning resolution. A metal-containing (e.g., metal salt or organometallic compound) film that is sensitive to a patterning agent is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-containing film is then patterned directly (i.e., without the use of a photoresist) by exposure to the patterning agent in a vacuum ambient to form the metal mask. For example, the metal-containing film is photosensitive and the patterning is conducted using sub-30 nm wavelength optical lithography, such as EUV lithography.

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.

The invention relates to methods of depositing silver onto a substrate using a dilute silver salt solution.

The invention relates to direct-structurable coating compositions comprising a metal oxide precursor, a photoacid generator, and a solvent. The present invention also relates to the use of such a coating composition to produce directly structured metal oxide layers, a method for producing metal oxide layers using such a coating composition, a metal oxide-containing layer produced according to such a method, and the use of such a metal oxide-containing layer to produce electronic components, in particular to produce transistors, diodes, sensors or solar cells.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of thin silver nano-particles containing layers, which are produced directly on a substrate as part of a coating or printing process. The layers can show different colours in transmittance and reflectance. The invention further relates to decorative and security elements. When the layers are applied over a security element, such as a hologram, the obtained products may show different colours in reflection and transmission, an extremely bright optically variable image (OVD image). Depending on the thickness of the layer a more or less intensive metallic aspect appears.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of initiating an optical fiber. In some embodiments, a distal portion of the optical fiber is coated with an energy absorbing material. In some embodiments, the material includes a metal flakes or powder dispersed in a solution of organic solvents. After the material dries, laser energy is fired through the optical fiber. The laser energy can be absorbed in the material and ignites the organic solvents. This combustion melts the material of the optical fiber, and impregnates the optical fiber with the metal flakes or powder of the material. The resulting optical fiber is thus permanently modified so that the energy applied through the fiber is partially absorbed and converted to heat.