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.

Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating, and methods of making the same. In certain cases, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes nickel and/or titanium (e.g., Ni.sub.xTi.sub.yO.sub.z). The provision of a layer including nickel titanium and/or an oxide thereof may permit a layer to be used that has good adhesion to the IR reflecting layer, and reduced absorption of visible light (resulting in a coated article with a higher visible transmission). When a layer including nickel titanium oxide is provided directly over and/or under the IR reflecting layer (e.g., as a barrier layer), this may result in improved chemical and mechanical durability. Thus, visible transmission may be improved if desired, without compromising durability; or, durability may simply be increased.

A low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the coating from the glass substrate outwardly including at least the following layers: a dielectric layer of or including silicon nitride; a high index layer having a refractive index of at least 2.1; another dielectric layer of or including silicon nitride; a layer comprising zinc oxide; an infrared (IR) reflecting layer, wherein the coating includes only one IR reflecting layer; and an overcoat including (i) a layer comprising tin oxide and (ii) a layer comprising silicon nitride located over and contacting the layer comprising tin oxide. An IG unit including the coating may have a visible transmission of at least 70%.

An electrochromic device can include a substrate; an electrochromic layer or a counter electrode layer over the substrate and including a mobile ion; a first transparent conductive layer over the substrate and including Ag. In one embodiment, the electrochromic device can include a barrier layer disposed between first transparent conductive layer and the electrochromic or counter electrode layer. In another embodiment, the electrochromic device can include means for preventing (1) the mobile ion from migrating into the first transparent conductive layer, (2) Ag from migrating into the electrochromic layer or counter electrode layer, or both (1) and (2). A process of forming an electrochromic device can include forming an electrochromic layer or a counter electrode layer over a substrate; forming a barrier layer; and forming a first transparent conductive layer over the substrate.

The invention relates to a substrate (30) coated on one face (31) with a multilayer of thin films (34) comprising at least one metal functional layer (140) based on silver or made of silver and two antireflective coatings (120, 160), the said antireflective coatings each comprising at least one antireflective layer (124, 164), the said functional layer (140) being disposed between the two antireflective coatings (120, 160), characterized in that the said metal functional layer (140) is a discontinuous layer having a surface area occupation factor in the range between 50% and 98%, or even between 53% and 83%.

A mirror includes a transparent substrate, a metallic reflecting layer and a protective layer on the back of the mirror, in which at least one barrier layer to corrosive agents with a thickness after drying of less than 1 μm is located between the metallic reflecting layer and the protective layer, the barrier layer being a layer based on metal alkoxides, oxides, phosphates or sulfides and on organic resin, the alkoxides, oxides, phosphates or sulfides being chosen from titanium or zirconium alkoxides or oxides, tin or zinc oxides, zinc, manganese or tin phosphates and zinc sulfide, alone or as a mixture.

Certain example embodiments relate to ultra-fast laser treatment of silver-inclusive (low-emissivity) low-E coatings, coated articles including such coatings, and/or associated methods. The low-E coating is formed on a substrate (e.g., borosilicate or soda lime silica glass), with the low-E coating including at least one sputter-deposited silver-based layer, and with each said silver-based layer being sandwiched between one or more dielectric layers. The low-E coating is exposed to laser pulses having a duration of no more than 10.sup.−12 seconds, a wavelength of 355-500 nm, and an energy density of more than 30 kW/cm.sup.2. The exposing is performed so as to avoid increasing temperature of the low-E coating to more than 300 degrees C. while also reducing (a) grain boundaries with respect to, and vacancies in, each said silver-based layer, (b) each said silver-based layer's refractive index, and (c) emissivity of the low-E coating compared to its as-deposited form.

A method to transfer a layer of harder thin film substrate onto a softer, flexible substrate. In particular, the present invention provides a method to deposit a layer of sapphire thin film on to a softer and flexible substrate e.g. quartz, fused silica, silicon, glass, toughened glass, PET, polymers, plastics, paper and fabrics. This combination provides the hardness of sapphire thin film to softer flexible substrates.

An insulating glass (IG) window unit including first and second glass substrates that are spaced apart from each other. At least one of the glass substrate has a triple silver low-emissivity (low-E) coating on one major side thereof, and a dielectric coating for improving angular stability on the other major side thereof

Insulated glazing units comprising first and second sheets of glazing material with a low pressure space there between are described. The major surface of the second sheet of glazing material not facing the low pressure space has a low emissivity coating comprising at least one layer of fluorine doped tin oxide thereon. There is a first anti-iridescence coating between the low emissivity coating and the second sheet of glazing material. Also described are insulated glazing units comprising three (first, second and third) sheets of glazing material with a low pressure space between first and second sheets of glazing material, and a second space between the first and third sheets of glazing material. There is a low emissivity coating on one or both major surfaces facing the low pressure space. The third sheet of glazing material has a low emissivity coating on both opposed major surfaces thereof.