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.

A method of manufacturing an optical device is disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide in a glass plate. The method further includes scanning the glass plate with a laser beam directed at an acute angle with respect to a first surface to form a mirror trench in the glass plate. Scanning the glass plate with the first laser beam includes pulses of the laser beam that have a duration between 2 and 500 femtoseconds. The method also includes filling the mirror trench with a reflective material and depositing a cladding layer over the waveguide and mirror trench.

A method of manufacturing an optical device is disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide in a glass plate. The method further includes scanning the glass plate with a laser beam directed at an acute angle with respect to a first surface to form a mirror trench in the glass plate. Scanning the glass plate with the first laser beam includes pulses of the laser beam that have a duration between 2 and 500 femtoseconds. The method also includes filling the mirror trench with a reflective material and depositing a cladding layer over the waveguide and mirror trench.

Certain example embodiments relate to heating a ceramic paint applied to a portion of a coated article in order to at least partially eat through the underlying coating, with any remaining materials being removable by washing, and associated articles. In certain example embodiments, the coatings are multilayer sputter-deposited coatings formed on a glass or other substrate. The heat may be provided in connection with conventional heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) and/or heat bending processes that otherwise would be performed on the coated article.

Certain example embodiments relate to heating a ceramic paint applied to a portion of a coated article in order to at least partially eat through the underlying coating, with any remaining materials being removable by washing, and associated articles. In certain example embodiments, the coatings are multilayer sputter-deposited coatings formed on a glass or other substrate. The heat may be provided in connection with conventional heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) and/or heat bending processes that otherwise would be performed on the coated article.

The present invention relates to a photocatalyst device obtained by thin film making on solid surfaces, wherein the device comprises of titania, optionally in the form of composite with noble or transition metal(s) or metal oxides. This device (FIG. 1) is evaluated in direct sunlight for hydrogen generation (FIG. 4) and oxidation of alcohols (Table 3) using aqueous alcohol solution through water splitting and simultaneously oxidizing alcohol to oxygenated products.

A process for obtaining a substrate provided with a coating, in which the coating includes a pattern with spatial modulation of at least one property of the coating, includes performing a heat treatment, using a laser radiation, of a continuous coating deposited on the substrate. The heat treatment is such that the substrate is irradiated with the laser radiation focused on the coating in the form of at least one laser line, keeping the coating continuous and without melting of the coating, and a relative displacement of the substrate and of the laser line focused on the coating is imposed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the laser line, while temporally modulating during this relative displacement the power of the laser line as a function of the speed of relative displacement and of the dimensions of the pattern in the direction of relative displacement.

A process for obtaining a substrate provided with a coating, in which the coating includes a pattern with spatial modulation of at least one property of the coating, includes performing a heat treatment, using a laser radiation, of a continuous coating deposited on the substrate. The heat treatment is such that the substrate is irradiated with the laser radiation focused on the coating in the form of at least one laser line, keeping the coating continuous and without melting of the coating, and a relative displacement of the substrate and of the laser line focused on the coating is imposed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the laser line, while temporally modulating during this relative displacement the power of the laser line as a function of the speed of relative displacement and of the dimensions of the pattern in the direction of relative displacement.

Described herein is coated article comprising: (a) a substrate comprising a ceramic, a glass, or a glass ceramic, wherein the substrate comprises a surface, the surface comprising a continuous upper portion and a plurality of lower portions, wherein each lower portion is connected to the upper portion by at least one sidewall; and (b) a first layer comprising a material capable of physical vapor deposition, wherein the first layer is disposed on the continuous upper portion and at least a portion of each sidewall and wherein at least a portion of each lower portion is free of the first layer. Methods of making such coated articles are described herein, wherein the substrate is coating via angular physical vapor deposition.

A sheet-like element made of brittle material includes two opposing side faces and a peripheral edge face which determines an outer contour of the sheet-like element. The edge face has at least one first region and at least one second region. The at least one first region differs from the at least one second region in terms of its surface structure. The at least one first region has an etched surface and the at least one second region constitutes a fractured surface. A surface area of the at least one first region is larger than a surface area of the at least one second region. The at least one first region and the at least one second region are arranged next to one another in a direction along the edge face.