An easy-cleaning coating, an easy cleaning coating having anti-fogging properties, and an easy-cleaning, anti-reflective coating.

An optical member that functions as an optical coupling layer has a first layer having a porous structure, and a second layer contacting a first main surface of the first layer. The second layer includes a resin composition, and has a transmittance of 5% to 85% with regard to a first light that is within the wavelength range of greater than 800 nm and less than or equal to 2000 nm. The first layer includes a first region having the porous structure, and a second region in which pores of the porous structure are filled with a resin composition.

A stereolithography method of manufacture of a polymer structure having a spatially gradient dielectric constant, including: providing a volume of a liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating a portion of the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a layer of the polymer structure; contacting the layer with the liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a second layer on the first layer; and repeating the contacting and irradiating to form the polymer structure, wherein the polymer structure comprises a plurality of unit cells wherein each unit cell is integrally connected with an adjacent unit cell, each unit cell is defined by a plurality of trusses formed by the irradiation, wherein the trusses are integrally connected with each other at their respective ends, and the trusses of each unit cell are dimensioned to provide the spatially gradient dielectric constant.

The disclosure relates to an improved glass product having a multifunctional coating or a durable top coat over a functional coating. The glass product may include a functional coating on that is most effective on a surface exposed to various mechanical and chemical elements. The disclosed coating provides a durable protective coating over the functional layer to provide protection over the functional layer on an exposed surface. Alternatively, the functional coating may be applied to the protective coating with a porous, nano-structured surface, which protects the functional coating applied thereto.

A graded-index optical element may include a nanovoided material including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The nanovoided material may be transparent between the first surface and the second surface. Additionally, the nanovoided material may have a predefined change in effective refractive index in at least one axis due to a change in at least one of nanovoid size or nanovoid distribution along the at least one axis. Various other elements, devices, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a void-containing layer in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive or an adhesive is less likely penetrated into voids. The void-containing layer of the present invention includes: nanoparticles, surfaces of which are modified with a compound having a surface orientation, wherein the void-containing layer has a void fraction of 35 vol %.

A nanovoided polymer-based material may include a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and an interfacial film disposed at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. The interfacial film may include one or more layers of material. A method of forming a nanovoided polymer-based material may include (1) forming a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and (2) forming an interfacial film at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. Various other methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.

A void-containing layer is disclosed in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive or an adhesive is less likely penetrated into voids. The void-containing layer of the present invention includes: nanoparticles, surfaces of which are modified with a compound having a surface orientation, wherein the void-containing layer has a void fraction of 35 vol %.

A stereolithography method of manufacture of a polymer structure having a spatially gradient dielectric constant, including: providing a volume of a liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating a portion of the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a layer of the polymer structure; contacting the layer with the liquid, radiation-curable composition; irradiating the liquid, radiation-curable composition with activating radiation in a pattern to form a second layer on the first layer; and repeating the contacting and irradiating to form the polymer structure, wherein the polymer structure comprises a plurality of unit cells wherein each unit cell is integrally connected with an adjacent unit cell, each unit cell is defined by a plurality of trusses formed by the irradiation, wherein the trusses are integrally connected with each other at their respective ends, and the trusses of each unit cell are dimensioned to provide the spatially gradient dielectric constant.

In some examples, a method includes forming a material layer on a substrate, partially polymerizing a component of the material layer, to form fluid-filled droplets within a partially polymerized matrix, deforming the material layer to form anisotropic fluid-filled droplets, and further polymerizing the partially polymerized matrix to form an anisotropic voided polymer, including anisotropic voids in a polymer matrix. The anisotropic voids may include anisotropic nanovoids. Example methods may further include depositing electrodes on the anisotropic voided polymer so that at least a portion of the anisotropic voided polymer is located between the electrodes. Examples may include forming electroactive elements including an anisotropic nanovoided polymer, and devices (such as sensors and/or actuators) including electroactive elements.