The present invention provides a layered coating adhered to a substrate surface which conforms to a surface topography defined by the anisotropic chain-like silica nanoparticles on the substrate. The layered coating comprises a layer of anisotropic chain-like silica nanoparticles. The anisotropic chain-like silica nanoparticles comprise linked arrays of silica net-negatively charged nanoparticles, each linked array having at least one linear dimension of about 100 nm to about 1200 nm and the anisotropic chain-like silica nanoparticles each have a diameter of about 20 nm to about 80 nm. The substrate surface comprises surface active moieties carrying a net positive charge and the chain-like anisotropic silica nanoparticles are held to the surface by electrostatic charge. Advantageously, the layered coatings are transparent and superhydrophobic. Also provided are articles containing these layered coatings.

A method for preparing a cover substrate is provided. The method includes the following steps: providing a substrate with an anti-reflection film formed thereon, wherein the anti-reflection film comprises a first layer with low refractive index; and treating the first layer of the anti-reflection film with fluoride-based plasma to form a hydrophobic layer on the first layer.

A microfabrication method is provided with which it is possible to easily form a fine periodic structure on a surface of any substrate. A glass precursor is applied to a substrate, and the glass precursor is irradiated with short-pulse laser light. By the irradiation with short-pulse laser light, the glass precursor is activated to undergo a thermal reaction, and a fine periodic structure can be easily formed on the surface. Furthermore, by oxidizing the substrate on which the fine periodic structure has been formed, the hue of the surface can be improved while maintaining the fine periodic structure.

A coated article includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first metallic layer, a second dielectric layer, a second metallic layer, a third dielectric layer, a third metallic layer, a fourth dielectric layer, a fourth metallic layer and a fifth dielectric layer. At least one of the metallic layers is a discontinuous metallic layer having discontinuous metallic regions. An optional primer is positioned over any one of the metallic layers. Optionally a protective layer is provided as the outer most layer over the fifth dielectric layer.

A method of manufacturing a glass article comprises: (A) forming a first layer of catalyst metal on a glass substrate; (B) heating the glass substrate; (C) forming a second layer of an alloy of a first metal and a second metal on the first layer; (D) heating the glass substrate, thereby forming a glass article comprising: (i) the glass substrate; (ii) an oxide of the first metal covalently bonded thereto; and (iii) a metallic region bonded to the oxide, the metallic region comprising the catalyst, first, and second metals. In embodiments, the method further comprises (E) forming a third layer of a primary metal on the metallic region; and (F) heating the glass article thereby forming the glass article comprising: (i) the oxide of the first metal covalently bonded the glass substrate; and (ii) a new metallic region bonded to the oxide comprising the catalyst, first, second, and primary metals.

A method of manufacturing a glass article comprises: (A) forming a first layer of catalyst metal on a glass substrate; (B) heating the glass substrate; (C) forming a second layer of an alloy of a first metal and a second metal on the first layer; (D) heating the glass substrate, thereby forming a glass article comprising: (i) the glass substrate; (ii) an oxide of the first metal covalently bonded thereto; and (iii) a metallic region bonded to the oxide, the metallic region comprising the catalyst, first, and second metals. In embodiments, the method further comprises (E) forming a third layer of a primary metal on the metallic region; and (F) heating the glass article thereby forming the glass article comprising: (i) the oxide of the first metal covalently bonded the glass substrate; and (ii) a new metallic region bonded to the oxide comprising the catalyst, first, second, and primary metals.

A layer of or including substoichiometric zirconium oxide is sputter deposited on a glass substrate via a substoichiometric zirconium oxide inclusive ceramic sputtering target of or including ZrO.sub.x. The coated article, with the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer on the glass substrate, is then heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in an atmosphere including oxygen, which causes the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer to transform into a scratch resistant layer of or including stoichiometric or substantially stoichiometric zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO.sub.2), and causes the visible transmission of the coated article to significant increase.

Techniques are provided for making a coated article including an antibacterial and/or antifungal coating. In certain example embodiments, the method includes providing a first sputtering target including Zr; providing a second sputtering target including Zn; and co-sputtering from at least the first and second sputtering targets in the presence of nitrogen to form a layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yN.sub.z on a glass substrate. These layers may be heat-treated or thermally tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. In other examples, two discrete layers of Zn and Zr may be formed. The coating may be heated or tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. Coated articles made using these methods may have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties.

A method of manufacturing a glass article comprises: (A) forming a first layer of catalyst metal on a glass substrate; (B) heating the glass substrate; (C) forming a second layer of an alloy of a first metal and a second metal on the first layer; (D) heating the glass substrate, thereby forming a glass article comprising: (i) the glass substrate; (ii) an oxide of the first metal covalently bonded thereto; and (iii) a metallic region bonded to the oxide, the metallic region comprising the catalyst, first, and second metals. In embodiments, the method further comprises (E) forming a third layer of a primary metal on the metallic region; and (F) heating the glass article thereby forming the glass article comprising: (i) the oxide of the first metal covalently bonded the glass substrate; and (ii) a new metallic region bonded to the oxide comprising the catalyst, first, second, and primary metals.

A coated article includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first metallic layer, a second dielectric layer, a second metallic layer, a third dielectric layer, a third metallic layer, a fourth dielectric layer, a fourth metallic layer and a fifth dielectric layer. At least one of the metallic layers is a discontinuous metallic layer having discontinuous metallic regions. An optional primer is positioned over any one of the metallic layers. Optionally a protective layer is provided as the outer most layer over the fifth dielectric layer.