Mesoporous nanostructured coatings are disclosed. The coatings comprise particles of a refractory material, the particles having diameters <200 nm, connected by a material that is formed from a precursor that is deposited on the substrate with the particles, typically by oxidation of the precursor. The material that connects the particles enhances their necking and adhesion to the substrate. In preferred embodiments, the coatings are multi-functional, combining anti-reflective properties with a second property such as self-cleaning or anti-soiling. A novel method for making the coatings, based on inkjet technology, is also disclosed.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

The present invention provides a metal-carbon composite of a core-shell structure and a method of synthesizing the same. The method includes preparing a first polymer-covered glass substrate with a nano-thickness metal film deposited thereon; immersing the first polymer-covered glass substrate with the metal film to delaminate one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets from the first polymer-covered glass substrate; transferring the one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets onto a second target substrate; and annealing the one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets to decompose an organic portion of the organic-metal nanosheet into an amorphous carbon-containing shell forming a metal-carbon nanocomposite of a core-shell structure.

A method for producing a reflector on a reflector base made of glass is provided. According to the method, a metal-containing coating fluid is deposited on a coating surface and subjected to a burning-in treatment at a temperature below a softening temperature of the glass forming the reflector layer. Deposition of the coating fluid proceeds using a contactless method by inkjet technology. This makes it possible to deposit a reflector layer in a reproducible way and with tight tolerances having a specified layer thickness, as well as to create clean edges without a printing block or similar device. The coating fluid is moved by a print head equipped with a plurality of nozzles and is movable in a movement plane relative to the coating surface. The coating fluid is sprayed onto the coating surface by the print head under pressure and in the form of droplets emerging from the nozzles.

A window structure includes a metal layer that transmits microwave signals and reflects infrared signals. A microwave signal is a signal that has a frequency in the microwave spectrum of frequencies (a.k.a. the microwave frequency spectrum). The microwave frequency spectrum extends from 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). An infrared signal is a signal that has a frequency in the infrared spectrum of frequencies (a.k.a. the infrared frequency spectrum, which extends from 300 GHz to 430 terahertz (THz)). The metal layer may be a discontinuous metal layer that's an electrically discontinuous metal layer and/or a physically discontinuous metal layer.

A method for forming a pressure sensor is provided wherein an optical fibre is provided, the optical fibre comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a birefringence structure for inducing birefringence in the core. The birefringence structure comprises first and second holes enclosed within the cladding and extending parallel to the core. A portion of the optical fibre comprising the core and the birefringence structure is encased within a chamber, wherein the chamber is defined by a housing comprising a pressure transfer element for equalising pressure between the inside and the outside of the housing. An optical sensor is provided along the core of the optical fibre. Providing the optical sensor comprises optically inducing stress in the core so that the optical sensor exhibits intrinsic birefringence. The chamber is filled with a substantially non-compressible fluid. Consequently, the birefringence structure is shaped so as to convert an external pressure provided by the non-compressible fluid within the chamber to an anisotropic stress in the optical sensor.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

Manufacturing methods for making a substantially rectangular and flat glass preform for manufacturing a Li ion conducting glass separator can involve drawing the preform to a thin sheet and may involve one or more of slumping, rolling or casting the glass within a frame that defines a space filling region and therewith the shape and size of the preform. The thickness of the rectangular flat preform so formed may be about 2 mm or less. The frame may be slotted having a back surface and widthwise wall portion that define the height and width of the space filling region. The flat backing surface and surfaces of the widthwise wall portions are defined may be coated by a material that is inert in direct contact with the heated glass material, such as gold.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its method of formation is disclosed. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprises a solid support, a first noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the solid support, a porous oxide layer comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles is disposed on the first noble metal nanoparticles and a second noble metal nanoparticles is disposed on the porous oxide layer. The porous oxide layer prevents contact between the first noble metal nanoparticles and the second noble metal nanoparticles and has a mean pore size of 2 to 30 nm.

The present invention provides a metal-carbon composite of a core-shell structure and a method of synthesizing the same. The method includes preparing a first polymer-covered glass substrate with a nano-thickness metal film deposited thereon; immersing the first polymer-covered glass substrate with the metal film to delaminate one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets from the first polymer-covered glass substrate; transferring the one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets onto a second target substrate; and annealing the one or more 2D freestanding organic-metal nanosheets to decompose an organic portion of the organic-metal nanosheet into an amorphous carbon-containing shell forming a metal-carbon nanocomposite of a core-shell structure.