Systems, methods, and apparatus for encapsulating objects like that of microelectronic components and batteries. The system includes three successive layers that include a first covering layer composed of an electrically insulating material deposited by atomic layer deposition, which at least partly covers the object, a second covering layer that includes parylene and/or polyimide, and which is disposed on the first covering layer, and a third covering layer deposited on the second covering layer in such a way as to protect the second encapsulation layer, namely, with respect to oxygen, and thereby increase the service life of the object.

Methods and apparatus for vapor deposition of an organic film are configured to vaporize an organic reactant at a first temperature, transport the vapor to a reaction chamber housing a substrate, and maintain the substrate at a lower temperature than the vaporization temperature. Alternating contact of the substrate with the organic reactant and a second reactant in a sequential deposition sequence can result in bottom-up filling of voids and trenches with organic film in a manner otherwise difficult to achieve.

Novel, lubricious antimicrobial coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes at low temperatures that do not deform the device and preserves the antimicrobial effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

Provided is an antireflective member that has a water- and oil-repellent layer on a multi-layered antireflective layer and is capable of exhibiting excellent surface lubricity, water- and oil-repellent properties, and durability. The surface of the multi-layered antireflective layer on a base material has a root-mean-square surface roughness of 0.8 nm to 2.0 nm. The water- and oil-repellent layer has a thickness of 1 to 30 nm and is a cured product of water- and oil-repellents having as principal components a fluorooxyalkylene group-containing polymer modified organosilicon compound with the numerical average molecular weight of 4,500 to 10,000 of a fluoropolymer part and/or partial hydrolysis condensate thereof.

An optical device includes a substrate, a first surface-relief grating including grooves and ridges formed on or in the substrate, a first overcoat layer in the grooves of the first surface-relief grating, and a first antireflective layer on the first overcoat layer. The ridges of the first surface-relief grating include high-refractive index, photoactive metal oxide nanoparticles and a material of the first overcoat layer in regions between the metal oxide nanoparticles, or the first overcoat layer includes the metal oxide nanoparticles and a material of the first antireflective layer in regions between the metal oxide nanoparticles. Methods of fabricating the optical device are also described.

Systems having one or more features that are advantageous for depositing fluorinated polymeric coatings on substrates, and methods of employing such systems to deposit such coatings, are generally provided.

A polymer substrate having deposited on its surface a reaction product of a precursor material obtained or obtainable by a method for preparation of polymer, and to the use of the polymer having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties or of the polymer having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties obtained or obtainable by the method for medical applications, antibiofouling applications, hygiene applications, food industry applications, industrial or computer related applications, consumer goods applications and appliances, public and public transport applications, underwater, water sanitation or seawater applications.

Methods of forming metal-containing films are provided. The methods include forming a blocking layer, for example, on a first substrate surface, by a first deposition process and forming the metal-containing film, for example, on a second substrate surface, by a second deposition process.

A method for making a dense organosilicon film with improved mechanical properties, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate within a reaction chamber; introducing into the reaction chamber a gaseous composition comprising hydrido-dimethyl-alkoxysilane; and applying energy to the gaseous composition comprising hydrido-dimethyl-alkoxysilane in the reaction chamber to induce reaction of the gaseous composition comprising hydrido-dimethyl-alkoxysilane to deposit an organosilicon film on the substrate, wherein the organosilicon film has a dielectric constant from ˜2.70 to ˜3.50, an elastic modulus of from ˜6 to ˜36 GPa, and an at. % carbon from ˜10 to ˜36 as measured by XPS.

Provided is a maintenance method of a heat treatment apparatus including a chamber having a box shape and provided with a heater and a receiving member that supports a cassette having a box shape including a space in which a workpiece is supported. The maintenance method includes: attaching a loading/unloading jig including a roller on an upper portion and capable of moving the roller upward and downward, to the receiving member; transmitting the cassette supported by the receiving member onto the roller by raising the loading/unloading jig; unloading the cassette to an outside of the chamber by moving the cassette on the roller; loading the cassette into the chamber by moving the cassette on the roller; transmitting the cassette to the receiving member by lowering the loading/unloading jig; and detaching the loading/unloading jig from the receiving member.