Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to ruggedized switchable glazings, and/or methods of making the same. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments includes an outer substrate, a low-E UV blocking coating deposited on an inner surface of the outer substrate, a first PVB or EVA laminate, a first PET layer, a first TCO layer, the PDLC layer, a second TCO layer, a second PET layer, a second PVB or EVA laminate, and an inner substrate. The substrates may be glass substrates. The low-E UV blocking coating may include at least two layers of or including silver and/or may include one or more IR layers. Thus, certain example embodiments may advantageously reduce one or more problems associated with residual haze, color change, flicker, structural changes in the polymer and/or the LC, degradations in state-switching response times, delamination, etc. The PDLC stack of certain example embodiments may be used in connection with any form of coated article, such as, for example, windows, windshields, IG units, etc.

A coated glazing includes a transparent glass substrate, and a coating located on the glass substrate. The coating is provided with at least the following layers in sequence starting from the glass substrate: a first layer having a refractive index of more than 1.6, an optional second layer having a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the first layer, a third layer based on tin dioxide doped with antimony, niobium and/or neodymium, and a fourth layer based on titanium dioxide, wherein the fourth layer is photocatalytic.

A coated article includes a low-emissivity (low-E) coating supported by a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) for use in a window, where the low-E coating is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in order to improve the coating's and thus the coated article's electrical, optical and/or thermal blocking properties. Exposing the low-E coating to UV radiation, e.g., emitted from a UV lamp(s) and/or UV laser(s), allows for selective heating of a contact/seed layer which transfers energy to the adjacent IR reflecting layer.

A coated article is provided with a low-emissivity (low-E) coating on a glass substrate. The low-E coating includes an infrared (IR) reflecting layer between at least a pair of dielectric layers. The IR reflecting layer may be of silver or the like. The coating is designed so as to provide a highly transparent coated article that is thermally stable upon optional heat treatment and which can be made to have a low emissivity in a consistent manner. The coating is designed to have improved IR reflecting layer quality, and thus reduced tolerances with respect to manufacturability of desired emissivity values. The coated article may be used in monolithic window applications, IG window applications, or the like.

Methods of protecting a substrate from light-induced degradation are described. The methods comprise providing a substrate and disposing onto the substrate a plurality of layers deposited by layer-by-layer self-assembly. At least a portion of the layers comprise an organic light absorbing compound, an organic light stabilizing compound, or a combination thereof dispersed within a polyelectrolyte. Also described are articles comprising a substrate and a plurality of layers deposited by layer-by-layer self-assembly wherein at least a portion of the layers comprise an organic light absorbing compound, an organic light stabilizing compound, or a combination thereof dispersed within a polyelectrolyte. Random copolymers suitable for use in the method and articles are also described.

A heat ray-shielding film has excellent heat-shielding performance and a color tone, and exhibits weather resistance. A heat ray-shielding laminated transparent base material and a heat ray-shielding resin sheet material use the heat ray-shielding film. The heat ray-shielding film and the heat ray-shielding resin sheet material are expressed by a general formula M.sub.yWO.sub.z, and contain a composite tungsten oxide particle having a hexagonal crystal structure, selected wavelength absorbing material, and thermoplastic resin. The selected wavelength absorbing material has a transmission profile in which a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 420 nm can be set to 40% or less when a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 550 nm is 90% or more, and a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 460 nm is 90% or more.

There is disclosed a tin-containing metal oxide nanoparticle, which has an index of dispersion degree less than 7 and a narrow particle size distribution which is defined as steepness ratio less than 3. There is disclosed dispersion, paint, shielding film and their glass products which comprise the said nanoparticles. Besides, there are also disclosed processes of making the tin-containing metal oxide nanoparticle and their dispersion. The tin-containing metal oxide nanoparticles and their dispersion disclosed herein may be applied on the window glass of houses, buildings, vehicles, ships, etc. There is provided an excellent function of infrared blocking with highly transparent, and to achieve sunlight controlling and thermal radiation controlling.

To provide an infrared cut filter that has a wide view angle and excellent infrared shieldability and in which the generation of defects is suppressed, and a solid-state imaging device. An infrared cut filter has: a transparent base 1; an infrared absorbing film 2 that contains an infrared absorbing agent; and a dielectric multi-layer film 3, the infrared absorbing film 2 has a maximum absorption wavelength in a wavelength region of 600 nm or greater, and a ratio B/A of, to absorbance A at the maximum absorption wavelength before the infrared absorbing film 2 is dipped in at least one organic solvent selected from propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl lactate, acetone, and ethanol, absorbance B at the wavelength at which the absorbance A is measured after the infrared absorbing film 2 is dipped in the organic solvent for 2 minutes at 25 C. is 0.9 or greater.

A heat ray-shielding film has excellent heat-shielding performance and a color tone, and exhibits weather resistance. A heat ray-shielding laminated transparent base material and a heat ray-shielding resin sheet material use the heat ray-shielding film. The heat ray-shielding film and the heat ray-shielding resin sheet material are expressed by a general formula M.sub.yWO.sub.z, and contain a composite tungsten oxide particle having a hexagonal crystal structure, selected wavelength absorbing material, and thermoplastic resin. The selected wavelength absorbing material has a transmission profile in which a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 420 nm can be set to 40% or less when a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 550 nm is 90% or more, and a transmittance of a light of a wavelength of 460 nm is 90% or more.

A superstrate for forming a planarization layer on a substrate can include a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a chamfered edge between the first surface and the second surface. An opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge. In another embodiment, an opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge and a portion of the second surface. The superstrate can be used for more planarization or other processing sequences without causing extrusion defects.