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 quartz etching method of the invention includes forming a mask on a quartz glass substrate and carrying out etching using a hydrofluoric acid-based etchant solution. The quartz etching method includes: preparing a quartz glass substrate; forming a mask having a predetermined pattern on the quartz glass substrate; and carrying out etching on the quartz glass substrate. When the quartz glass substrate is prepared, the quartz glass substrate is selected in accordance with a standard such that a concentration of hydroxyl groups included therein is less than or equal to 300 ppm.

Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for improving the uniformity of, and/or conformance to a desired pattern for, metal island layers (MILs) formed on a substrate (e.g., a glass or other substrate), and/or associated products. Certain example embodiments form MILs using a laser or other energy source or magnetic field assisted technique, e.g., to compensate for non-uniformities that otherwise likely would result in the MIL diverging from its desired configuration. For example, a laser or other energy source may introduce heat onto a substrate, enable pulsed laser deposition, raster a target including the MIL metal to be deposited, raster a substrate where the MIL is to be formed, etc. These and/or other techniques may be used to enable the MIL to be formed on the substrate in a desired pattern, e.g., by compensating for implicit non-uniformities of the substrate and/or by selectively creating non-uniformities in how the MIL is formed.

Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for improving the uniformity of, and/or conformance to a desired pattern for, metal island layers (MILs) formed on a substrate (e.g., a glass or other substrate), and/or associated products. Certain example embodiments form MILs using a laser or other energy source or magnetic field assisted technique, e.g., to compensate for non-uniformities that otherwise likely would result in the MIL diverging from its desired configuration. For example, a laser or other energy source may introduce heat onto a substrate, enable pulsed laser deposition, raster a target including the MIL metal to be deposited, raster a substrate where the MIL is to be formed, etc. These and/or other techniques may be used to enable the MIL to be formed on the substrate in a desired pattern, e.g., by compensating for implicit non-uniformities of the substrate and/or by selectively creating non-uniformities in how the MIL is formed.

A coated glass element includes: a glass surface; and a coating that coats at least part of the glass surface. The coating includes at least one layer. The at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter: [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.20/[Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80≥1.0. [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.20 are counts of [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2] ions, measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), at 20% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface and [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80 are counts of [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

A coated glass element includes: a glass surface; and a coating that coats at least part of the glass surface. The coating includes at least one layer. The at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter: [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.20/[Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80≥1.0. [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.20 are counts of [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2] ions, measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), at 20% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface and [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80 are counts of [Si.sub.2C.sub.5H.sub.15O.sub.2.sup.−].sub.80 ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

A coated glass element includes: a glass surface and a coating that coats at least part of the glass surface. The coating has at least one layer. The at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter: [Al.sup.+].sub.80/[Al.sup.+].sub.20≥1.8. [Al.sup.+].sub.20 are counts of [Al.sup.+] ions, measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), at 20% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface and [Al.sup.+].sub.80 are counts of [Al.sup.+] ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

A coated glass element includes: a glass surface and a coating that coats at least part of the glass surface. The coating has at least one layer. The at least one layer of the coating fulfills the following parameter: [Al.sup.+].sub.80/[Al.sup.+].sub.20≥1.8. [Al.sup.+].sub.20 are counts of [Al.sup.+] ions, measured by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), at 20% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface and [Al.sup.+].sub.80 are counts of [Al.sup.+] ions, measured by a TOF-SIMS, at 80% of a time a sputter gun beam needs to reach the glass surface.

The present document discloses a glazing in the form of a window glass or vehicle glass which comprises a transparent glass substrate, and a coating, which comprises at least one functional metal Ag alloy coating layer. The alloy coating layer consists essentially of Ag with an alloying agent selected from a group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, Hf, Ta or W. An alloying agent concentration is 0.15-1.35 at. %, preferably 0.20-1.00 at. % or 0.25-0.80 at. % of the Ag alloy coating layer, the rest being Ag, and the Ag alloy coating layer has a thickness of 5-20 nm, preferably 8-15 nm or more preferably 8-12 nm.

The present document discloses a glazing in the form of a window glass or vehicle glass which comprises a transparent glass substrate, and a coating, which comprises at least one functional metal Ag alloy coating layer. The alloy coating layer consists essentially of Ag with an alloying agent selected from a group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, Hf, Ta or W. An alloying agent concentration is 0.15-1.35 at. %, preferably 0.20-1.00 at. % or 0.25-0.80 at. % of the Ag alloy coating layer, the rest being Ag, and the Ag alloy coating layer has a thickness of 5-20 nm, preferably 8-15 nm or more preferably 8-12 nm.