A method for preparing an optically transparent, superomniphobic coating on a substrate, such as an optical substrate, is disclosed. The method includes providing a glass layer disposed on a substrate, the glass layer having a first side adjacent the substrate and an opposed second side, the glass layer comprising 45-85 wt. % silicon oxide in a first glass phase and 10-40 wt. % boron oxide in a second glass phase, such that a glass layer has a composition in a spinodal decomposition region. The method further includes heating the second side of the glass layer to form a phase-separated portion of the layer, the phase-separated portion comprising an interpenetrating network of silicon oxide domains and boron oxide domains, and removing at least a portion of the boron oxide domains from the phase-separated portion to provide a graded layer disposed on the substrate. The graded layer has a first side disposed adjacent the substrate, the first side comprising 45-85 wt. % silicon oxide and 10-40 wt. % boron oxide, and opposite the first side, a porous second side comprising at least 45 wt. % silicon oxide and no more than 5 wt. % boron oxide.

An antireflection structure comprising a transparent substrate having a plurality of holes with U-shaped or V-shaped cross-sectional shapes perpendicular to a flat surface portion and a metal oxide film disposed on the surface portion of the transparent substrate and in the space portions formed in an upward direction from the bottom portions of holes in the transparent substrate, wherein the average diameter of the openings of the holes is 50 nm to 300 nm, the average distance between the center points of openings of the adjacent holes is 100 nm to 400 nm, and the depth of each hole from the surface portion of the substrate is 80 nm to 250 nm; and the thickness of the metal oxide film disposed in each of the space portions increases as the depth of each of the holes becomes larger, thereby reducing the difference in depth between the holes from the uppermost surface portion of the metal oxide film disposed on the surface portion to the surface portions of the metal oxide films in the space portions.

A process comprises cold-forming a flat glass substrate into a non-planar shape using a die. The cold-formed glass substrate is bonded to a non-planar rigid support structure at a plurality of non-planar points using the die. Bonding methods include injection molding the non-planar rigid support structure, and direct bonding. An article is also provided, comprising a cold-formed glass substrate having opposing major surfaces and a curved shape, the opposing major surfaces comprising a surface stress that differ from one another. The cold-formed glass substrate is attached to a rigid support structure having the curved shape. The cold-formed glass substrate includes an open region not in direct contact with the non-planar rigid support structure, and the open region has a curved shape maintained by the non-planar rigid support structure.

The present document discloses a glazing in the form of a window glass or vehicle glass which comprises a transparent substrate, and a coating. The coating comprises, in order outward from the transparent substrate, an optional diffusion barrier layer, a first anti-reflective layer, an optional first seed layer, a first functional metal layer, at least one optional first blocker layer, a second anti-reflective layer, an optional second seed layer, a second functional metal layer, at least one optional second blocker layer, a third anti-reflective layer, and an optional top layer, wherein at least one of the first functional metal layer and the second functional metal layer comprises a Ag alloy consisting essentially of Ag with an alloying agent selected from a group consisting of Li, C, Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Rh, Pd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Pt or Au.

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.

A material includes a transparent substrate coated with a stack of thin layers acting on infrared radiation including at least one functional layer. The stack includes a protective coating deposited above at least a part of the functional layer. The protective coating includes at least one lower protective layer based on titanium and zirconium, these two metals being in the metal, oxidized or nitrided form, and at least one upper protective layer of carbon, within which layer the carbon atoms are essentially in an sp.sup.2 hybridization state, located above the layer based on titanium and zirconium.

A glazing includes a transparent substrate coated with a stack of thin layers including at least one functional metal layer and at least two antireflective coatings, each antireflective coating including at least one dielectric layer, so that each functional metal layer is positioned between two antireflective coatings. The stack includes at least one silver-based functional metal layer including at least 95.0% by weight of silver, with respect to the weight of the functional layer, and from 0.5 to 3.5% by weight of zinc, with respect to the weight of zinc and silver in the functional layer.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

A low-E (low emissivity) coating includes a multilayer overcoat designed for reducing fingerprints. The multilayer overcoat includes a layer comprising an oxide of zirconium (e.g., ZrO.sub.2) sandwiched between and contacting first and second layers of or including silicon nitride (e.g., Si.sub.3N.sub.4, SiO.sub.xN.sub.y, SiZrO.sub.xN.sub.y, or the like). The uppermost layer comprising silicon nitride modifies the surface energy of the layer comprising the oxide of zirconium so as to make the uppermost surface of the coating more hydrophilic, thereby reducing or minimizing interaction between zirconium oxide and finger oil to reduce fingerprints on the uppermost surface of the coating.

Described herein is a method of forming a reflective article comprising applying an anti-fog composition to a major surface of a reflective substrate, the anti-fog composition comprising an anti-fog agent and a liquid carrier and having a solid's content between about 15 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the anti-fog composition, and subsequently heating the reflective substrate to a temperature of about 80° F. to about 325° F. for a drying period, and wherein the liquid carrier comprises water and a hydroxyl-containing component.