Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for converting sputter-deposited TiNx or TiOxNy layers into TiOx layers via activation with electromagnetic radiation. An intermediate layer including TiOxNy, 0<y≦1 is formed on a substrate. The intermediate layer is exposed to the radiation, which is preferentially absorbed by the intermediate layer in an amount sufficient to heat the intermediate layer to a temperature of 500-650 degrees C. while keeping the substrate at a significantly lower temperature. A flash light operated with a series of millisecond or sub-millisecond length pulses may be used in this regard. The converting removes nitrogen from, and introduces oxygen into, the intermediate layer, causing the layer to expand beyond its initial thickness. At least some of the final layer may have an anatase phase, and it may be photocatalytic. These layers may be used in low-maintenance glass, antireflective, and/or other applications.

An object of the present invention is to provide a treatment method excellently flattens an object to be treated in a case where the treatment method is applied to an object to be treated having a metal layer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a treatment liquid for an object to be treated. The method for treating an object to be treated according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for treating an object to be treated having a step A of performing an oxidation treatment on an object to be treated having a metal layer so as to form a metal oxide layer and a step B of bringing a treatment liquid into contact with the object to be treated obtained by the step A so as to dissolve and remove the metal oxide layer, in which the treatment liquid contains an organic solvent and an acidic compound, and a content of the organic solvent is 50% by mass or more with respect to a total mass of the treatment liquid.

In an exemplary embodiment, a quartz glass crucible 1 includes: a cylindrical crucible body 10 which has a bottom and is made of quartz glass; and crystallization-accelerator-containing coating films 13A and 13B which are formed on surfaces of the crucible body 10 so as to cause crystallization-accelerator-enriched layers to be formed in the vicinity of the surfaces of the crucible body 10 by heating during a step of pulling up a silicon single crystal by a Czochralski method. The quartz glass crucible is capable of withstanding a single crystal pull-up step undertaken for a very long period of time, such as multi-pulling, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Method for producing a photochromic material and a component including the photochromic material, where the method comprises the steps of:-first the formation on a substrate of a layer of an essentially oxygen free metal hydride with a predetermined thickness using a physical vapor deposition process; and -second exposing the metal hydride layer to oxygen where the oxygen reacts with the metal hydride, resulting in a material with photochromic properties.

Method for producing a photochromic material and a component including the photochromic material, where the method comprises the steps of:-first the formation on a substrate of a layer of an essentially oxygen free metal hydride with a predetermined thickness using a physical vapor deposition process; and -second exposing the metal hydride layer to oxygen where the oxygen reacts with the metal hydride, resulting in a material with photochromic properties.

A method for applying a polydimethylsiloxane coating having a thickness in the range of from about 35 nm to about 85 nm on a tissue sealing plate. The method includes: placing the electrically conductive component into a plasma deposition chamber; supplying an ionizable media into the plasma deposition chamber; igniting the ionizable media to generate a first plasma at a first power level to prepare the electrically conductive component to receive the coating; supplying the ionizable media and a precursor composition into the plasma deposition chamber; and igniting the ionizable media and the precursor composition to generate a second plasma at a second power level thereby forming the coating on the electrically conductive component.

A layer of or including substoichiometric zirconium oxide is sputter deposited on a glass substrate via a substoichiometric zirconium oxide inclusive ceramic sputtering target of or including ZrO.sub.x. The coated article, with the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer on the glass substrate, is then heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in an atmosphere including oxygen, which causes the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer to transform into a scratch resistant layer of or including stoichiometric or substantially stoichiometric zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO.sub.2), and causes the visible transmission of the coated article to significant increase.

A layer of or including substoichiometric zirconium oxide is sputter deposited on a glass substrate via a substoichiometric zirconium oxide inclusive ceramic sputtering target of or including ZrO.sub.x. The coated article, with the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer on the glass substrate, is then heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in an atmosphere including oxygen, which causes the substoichiometric ZrO.sub.x inclusive layer to transform into a scratch resistant layer of or including stoichiometric or substantially stoichiometric zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO.sub.2), and causes the visible transmission of the coated article to significant increase.

Techniques are provided for making a coated article including an antibacterial and/or antifungal coating. In certain example embodiments, the method includes providing a first sputtering target including Zr; providing a second sputtering target including Zn; and co-sputtering from at least the first and second sputtering targets in the presence of nitrogen to form a layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yN.sub.z on a glass substrate. These layers may be heat-treated or thermally tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. In other examples, two discrete layers of Zn and Zr may be formed. The coating may be heated or tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. Coated articles made using these methods may have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties.

Techniques are provided for making a coated article including an antibacterial and/or antifungal coating. In certain example embodiments, the method includes providing a first sputtering target including Zr; providing a second sputtering target including Zn; and co-sputtering from at least the first and second sputtering targets in the presence of nitrogen to form a layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yN.sub.z on a glass substrate. These layers may be heat-treated or thermally tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. In other examples, two discrete layers of Zn and Zr may be formed. The coating may be heated or tempered to form a single layer including Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z. Coated articles made using these methods may have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties.