An electrochromic aperture, which comprises a first transparent substrate (11), a first transparent conductive layer (12), an ion storage layer (13), an ion transfer layer (14), an electrochromic layer (15), a second transparent conductive layer (16), and a second transparent substrate (17). The ion transfer layer (14) is a solid electrolyte layer. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the electrochromic aperture, relating to an etching operation after coating on the ion storage layer (13) and the electrochromic layer (15) is finished. Also provided is a lens modules having the electrochromic aperture.

A process for manufacturing an electrochromic glazing unit includes forming, on one face of a glass sheet, a complete all-solid-state electrochromic stack including in succession a first layer of a transparent conductive oxide; a layer of a cathodically colored mineral electrochromic material to form an electrochromic electrode; a layer of an ionically conductive mineral solid electrolyte; a layer of a cation intercalation material to form a counter electrode; and a second layer of a transparent conductive oxide; then heat treatment of the complete electrochromic stack by irradiation with radiation having a wavelength comprised between 500 and 2000 nm, the radiation originating from a radiating device placed facing the electrochromic stack, a relative movement being created between the radiating device and the substrate so as to raise the electrochromic stack to a temperature at least equal to 300° C. for a brief duration, for example shorter than 100 milliseconds.

A shaped glass article is provided that is ultrathin, has two surfaces and one or more edges joining the two surfaces, and a thickness between the two surfaces. The shaped ultrathin glass article has at least one curved area with a non-vanishing surface curvature with a minimal curvature radius R if no external forces are applied. A method for producing a shaped glass article is also provided that includes providing an ultrathin glass with two surfaces and one or more edges joining the two surfaces, having a thickness between the two surfaces and shaping the ultrathin glass to a shaped ultrathin glass article by forming at least one curved area having a non-vanishing surface curvature with a minimal curvature radius R if no external forces are applied to the shaped ultrathin glass article.

A thin glass article is provided that has a first face, a second face, one or more edges joining the first and second faces, and a thickness between the first and second faces, where the faces and the one or more edges together form an outer surface of the thin glass article. The thin glass article has an ion-exchanged surface layer on its outer surface. The ion-exchanged surface layer is non-uniform, wherein the non-uniform ion-exchanged surface layer has an associated compressive surface stress which varies between a minimum and a maximum value over the outer surface and/or a depth of layer which varies between a minimum and a maximum value over the outer surface. A method for producing a thin glass article and a use of a thin glass article are also provided.

The present invention relates to a Z-type heterojunction photoanode film used for the photocathode protection of a reinforcing bar, the preparation method thereof and a method for the corrosion inhibition of mental materials from concrete structures in marine engineering by using the Z-type heterojunction photoanode film used for the photocathode protection of a reinforcing bar. The preparation method includes steps of preparing Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 on the conducting surface of a clean conductive substrate through the hydrothermal process, preparing Fe.sub.2O.sub.3-PANI composite photoanode film by depositing polyaniline on the surface of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 through the electrochemical synthesis and preparing Ru-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3-PANI composite photoanode film on the surface of the Fe.sub.2O.sub.3-PANI composite photoanode film through the in situ chemical reduction method. The technical solution in the present invention can achieve highly effective photocathode protection of a reinforcing bar from concretes in marine engineering and improve the durability of concrete structures in marine engineering.

Strengthened glass-based substrates having a first outer region compressive stress and a first side having first coating thereon are disclosed. The first coating comprising a material selected to have a first coating Young's modulus value, a first coating thickness, and a first coating stress that is either neutral or compressive, such that the absolute value of first outer region compressive stress is greater than the absolute value of the first coating stress. Methods of making glass-based articles are provided, and glass-based articles having coatings that provide different strength values and/or reliability on different sides of the glass-based articles are also disclosed.

Embodiments of a article including include a substrate and a patterned coating are provided. In one or more embodiments, when a strain is applied to the article, the article exhibits a failure strain of 0.5% or greater. Patterned coating may include a particulate coating or may include a discontinuous coating. The patterned coating of some embodiments may cover about 20% to about 75% of the surface area of the substrate. Methods for forming such articles are also provided.

A simple, highly versatile method for fixing smooth materials that utilizes a water pasting method can be provided by interposing an ionic liquid between smooth materials such as glass or resin not impregnated with an ionic liquid and fixing these smooth materials.

A material includes a glass sheet, one of the faces of which includes a first zone and a second zone, only the first zone being coated with a layer of opaque mineral paint obtained from a water-based paint composition including pigments and an aqueous solution of alkaline silicate, the layer of mineral paint and the second zone of the glass sheet being coated with a thin layer stack including at least one electrically conductive thin layer.

Methods and apparatus are provide for: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and an elastic modulus; and layer(s) having a thickness between first and second opposing surfaces thereof, the first surface of the layer contacting the second surface of the substrate, forming an interface. The layer may exhibit one or more of: a first elastic modulus proximate to the first surface thereof and a second elastic modulus proximate to the second surface thereof, the second elastic modulus being substantially higher than the elastic modulus value, the first elastic modulus being lower than the elastic modulus of the substrate, the second elastic modulus being higher than the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the layer exhibiting an increasing elastic modulus gradient through the thickness thereof from the first elastic modulus to the second elastic modulus.