An optical article includes a substrate with front and rear main faces, one main face coated with a columnar micro- or nano-structured coating. The substrate and optical article are transparent in at least a part of the visible region ranging from 380 to 780 nm, along at least one incidence angle. The columnar micro- or nano-structured coating includes an array of columns including each a core and an upper layer covering the core, the core and the upper layer being structurally and/or chemically different and have light absorbing properties with an extinction coefficient “k” ≥10-2 in the spectrum 250-2500 nm and are able to cause a change in transmission or in reflection of incident light through the optical article as a function of the angle of incidence of light. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing an optical article including a columnar micro- or nano-structured coating.

A composite tungsten oxide film includes a composition represented by a general formula M.sub.xW.sub.yO.sub.z (wherein, an element M is one or more elements selected from alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal, Fe, In, Tl, and Sn, an element W is tungsten, and an element O is oxygen) as main components, wherein 0.001≤x/y≤1, 2.2≤z/y≤3.0, organic components are not contained substantially, a sheet resistance is 10.sup.5 ohms per square or more, a transmittance in a wavelength of 550 nm is 50% or more, a transmittance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 30% or less, and also, an absorptance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 35% or more, and an absorptance in a wavelength of 800 nm with respect to an absorptance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 80% or less.

Coating liquid used for forming an ultraviolet absorption coating on a surface of an object such as glass and the like, ultraviolet absorption glass arranged with the ultraviolet absorption coating formed by the coating liquid, and a method for preparing the ultraviolet absorption glass. The coating liquid used for forming the ultraviolet absorption coating, the ultraviolet absorption glass and the method for forming the ultraviolet absorption glass, by storing and releasing electrons excited by ultraviolet lights in an ultraviolet absorber, reduce the excited electrons that are gradually accumulated during a process in which the ultraviolet absorber absorbs the ultraviolet lights, thus protecting the ultraviolet absorber and a silicon dioxide matrix, preventing the ultraviolet absorption glass from discoloring or devitrifying, ensuring weather resistance of the ultraviolet absorption coating and ensuring color consistency of the ultraviolet absorption glass.

An optical article includes a substrate with front and rear main faces, one main face coated with a columnar micro- or nano-structured coating. The substrate and optical article are transparent in at least a part of the visible region ranging from 380 to 780 nm, along at least one incidence angle. The columnar micro- or nano-structured coating includes an array of columns including each a core and an upper layer covering the core, the core and the upper layer being structurally and/or chemically different and have light absorbing properties with an extinction coefficient k 10-2 in the spectrum 250-2500 nm and are able to cause a change in transmission or in reflection of incident light through the optical article as a function of the angle of incidence of light. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing an optical article including a columnar micro- or nano-structured coating.

A process for manufacturing an electrochromic glazing unit includes forming, on one face of a glass sheet, a complete all-solid-state electrochromic stack including in succession a first layer of a transparent conductive oxide; a layer of a cathodically colored mineral electrochromic material to form an electrochromic electrode; a layer of an ionically conductive mineral solid electrolyte; a layer of a cation intercalation material to form a counter electrode; and a second layer of a transparent conductive oxide; then heat treatment of the complete electrochromic stack by irradiation with radiation having a wavelength comprised between 500 and 2000 nm, the radiation originating from a radiating device placed facing the electrochromic stack, a relative movement being created between the radiating device and the substrate so as to raise the electrochromic stack to a temperature at least equal to 300 C. for a brief duration, for example shorter than 100 milliseconds.

The present invention provides scalable, solution based processes for manufacturing electrochromic materials comprising metal oxide films for use in electrochromic devices. The electrochromic material comprises a transparent conductive substrate coated with an electrochromic metal oxide film, wherein the metal oxide film is formed by a process comprising the steps of: a) providing the conductive substrate; b) coating the substrate with a solution of one or more metal precursors; and c) exposing the coated substrate to near-infrared radiation, UV radiation and/or ozone in an aerobic atmosphere. The present invention also provides electrochromic devices incorporating these electrochromic materials.

The present invention provides a lamination system comprising a substrate and a highly reflective layer, which is formed on the substrate and has a reflective index of 2.0 or greater and a thickness of 70 nm or less.

An apparatus and a method for providing nano coating on a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a spark head unit electrically coupled to a voltage source and mounted on a frame. The spark head unit includes electrode pairs composed of a predefined inorganic material. The electrode pairs are mounted on the spark head unit in a three-dimensional array format. The electrode pairs are adapted to provide a spark between electrodes of the corresponding electrode pairs to obtain a fused electrode material upon receiving a voltage from the voltage source. The electrode pairs are also adapted to deposit the fused electrode material obtained on a surface thereby providing nano coating on the surface. The fused electrode material includes oxides of the predefined inorganic material. The three-dimensional array format is adapted to provide non-uniform deposition of the fused electrode material on the surface.

A thin film on a surface of a solid substrate, including: a) spraying on the surface: a colloidal suspension including solid nanoparticles (or colloids) of an inorganic compound dispersed in a solvent to obtain a wet layer of the colloidal suspension on the surface; or a suspension including an inorganic compound in polymeric form in a solvent, to obtain a wet layer of the suspension of the inorganic compound in polymeric form on the surface; or a solution or suspension of an organic polymer in a solvent, to obtain a wet layer of the solution or suspension of the organic polymer on the surface; b) drying the wet layer; c) optionally, heat-treating the wet layer that has undergone the drying step, whereby the thin film is obtained; wherein: the solvent comprises at least 95% by weight of water, and the drying is carried out in a static atmosphere.

Provided is a top plate for a cooking device including a glass sheet (2) and a light-shielding film (3) formed on a lower surface (2c) of the glass sheet (2) through sputtering. The light-shielding film (3) contains an oxide, a nitride, or an oxynitride of a transition metal of Group 6 to Group 11 on the periodic table. In this manner, a color close to grey can be achieved as a color of the light-shielding film (3) while insulating properties of the light-shielding film (3) are secured.