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.

Disclosed are methods for coating or decorating a surface of a glass sleeve. The methods include depositing a metal layer onto a surface of the glass sleeve by an electroless plating method. Also disclosed are glass sleeves which are coated or decorated on an internal surface, and electronic devices comprising the coated glass sleeves.

A self-assembled metal mesh transparent conductive film and the method of fabricating the same are provided in the present invention. Some key aspects of the present invention are as follows: 1) to control the opening size in self-assembled metal mesh transparent conductive film; 2) to tune the surface energy of substrate using surface treatment; 3) to improve transparency of metal mesh by low-temperature method such as chemical etching; 4) to increase the conductivity of metal mesh without high temperature annealing; and 5) to strengthen the metal mesh film by post-treatment. The transparent conductive film of the present invention can be formed on rigid or flexible substrates. The present method enables tuning the transparency and conductance of the metal mesh film through tuning the opening size of metal mesh, and is also cost-effective due to low process cost and high material utilization rate.

The invention provides a glazing sheet and a coating on the glazing sheet. The coating comprises, in sequence moving outwardly from the glazing sheet, a dielectric base coat comprising oxide film, nitride film, or oxynitride film, a first infrared-reflective layer, a first nickel-aluminum blocker layer in contact with the first infrared-reflective layer, a first dielectric spacer coat comprising an oxide film in contact with the first nickel-aluminum blocker layer, a second infrared-reflective layer, a second nickel-aluminum blocker layer in contact with the second infrared-reflective layer, a second dielectric spacer coat comprising an oxide film in contact with the second nickel-aluminum blocker layer, a third infrared-reflective layer, a third nickel-aluminum blocker layer in contact with the third infrared-reflective layer, and a dielectric top coat comprising an oxide film in contact with the third nickel-aluminum blocker layer. Also provided are methods of depositing such a coating.

A low-E coating has good color stability (a low E* value) upon heat treatment (HT). The provision of an as-deposited crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of or including zinc oxide, doped with at least one dopant (e.g., Sn), immediately under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver in a low-E coating has effect of significantly improving the coating's thermal stability (i.e., lowering the E* value). One or more such crystalline, or substantially crystalline, layers may be provided under one or more corresponding IR reflecting layers comprising silver.

A low-emissivity (low-E) coating includes first and second infrared (IR) reflecting layers of or including a material such as silver. The coating includes a bottom dielectric portion including a layer of or including silicon zirconium oxynitride, and a center dielectric portion including a layer of or including zinc stannate. The coating is configured to realize a combination of desirable visible transmission, consistent and low emissivity values, thermal stability upon optional heat treatment such as thermal tempering, desirable U-value, desirable LSG value, and desirable coloration and/or reflectivity values to be achieved. In certain example embodiments, an absorber layer sandwiched between a pair of dielectric layers may be provided in. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, or in other suitable applications such as monolithic window applications, laminated windows, and/or the like.

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 for preparing a metal layer comprising: a) preparing a liquid composition comprising at least one precursor of at least one metal, at least one solvent of the precursor and at least one photo-initiator, the concentration of the precursor being at least 0.6% by weight relative to the weight of the liquid composition; b) depositing the liquid composition on a substrate forming a liquid composition deposited on a substrate; c) irradiating with a UV, Vis and IR source the liquid composition deposited on a substrate obtained at step b) forming a metal layer comprising or consisting of the metal; d) obtaining a metal layer. The present invention also relates to a material comprising a substrate and a metal layer, the metal layer being in contact with said substrate, the metal layer consisting of particles of metal in spatial contact together thereby forming a continuous metal layer of particles.

A glazing includes at least one substrate, one portion of which includes an electrically conductive element, the conductive element including a connector made of chromium-containing steel, which connector is soldered with a solder based on tin, silver and copper to an electrically conductive track, wherein the electrically conductive track, which is formed by fritting a silver paste including a mixture of silver powder and glass frit, has a resistivity measured at 25 C. lower than or equal to 3.5 .Math.cm and a porosity level lower than 20%, the porosity level being measured by scanning electron microscopy from a cross section through the portion of the substrate including the electrically conductive track and having been polished beforehand by ion milling.

A transparent structure may have multiple layers, such as an inner layer and an outer layer, which may be formed from glass. The transparent structure may have a large, curved surface with compound curvature and high geometric strain and may include one or more layers. To apply a physical vapor deposition coating with uniform thickness on a curved surface, cathode power may be modulated during the deposition, a mask having an opening with a curvature matching the curved surface may be used, a cathode shape may be varied, the cathodes may sputter the coating outwardly toward the curved surface, a magnetic field may modulate the flux produced by the cathodes, and/or the pressure and/or flow of gas may be adjusted. By modifying the physical vapor deposition coater in one or more of these ways, the coating may have a uniform thickness, and therefore a uniform color, across the curved surface.