A method for preparing a sol-gel film is disclosed. The method comprises providing a sol-gel composition comprising one or more sol-gel film precursors and a crystallization aid, and processing the sol-gel composition by solution processing to form the sol-gel film. In certain embodiments, the sol-gel film comprises one or more metal oxides. A preferred crystallization aid includes triphenylphosphine oxide. A composition for making a sol-gel film, a sol-gel film, a device including a sol-gel film and a method for making such device are also disclosed.

A coating method is disclosed including disposing a coating composition into a fluidly communicating space defined by an internal surface of an article. The fluidly communicating space includes at least one aperture, which is sealed, forming an enclosed space. The internal surface and the coating composition are heated under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. The at least one aperture is unsealed, re-forming the fluidly communicating space. Another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition is disposed into a reservoir which is connected in fluid communication with the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. Yet another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition and the article are disposed in a vessel, which is sealed, forming the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition.

A solution deposition method includes: applying a liquid precursor solution to a substrate, the precursor solution including an oxide of a first metal, a hydroxide of the first metal, or a combination thereof, dissolved in an aqueous ammonia solution; evaporating the precursor solution to directly form a solid seed layer on the substrate, the seed layer including an oxide of the first metal, a hydroxide of the first metal, or a combination thereof, the seed layer being substantially free of organic compounds; and growing a bulk layer on the substrate, using the seed layer as a growth site or a nucleation site.

A sol-gel method for forming durable, scratch-resistant coatings on glass substrates. Zirconia coatings, for example, are formed from a solution of zirconium oxychloride octahydrate in an organic, polar, aprotic solvent such as dimethylformamide. Annealed coatings, which optionally include an additive such as graphene, have a low coefficient of friction and can exhibit high hardness and hydrophobicity.

A solution deposition method including: applying a liquid precursor solution to a substrate, the precursor solution including an oxide of a first metal, a hydroxide of the first metal, or a combination thereof, dissolved in an aqueous ammonia solution; evaporating the precursor solution to directly form a solid seed layer on the substrate, the seed layer including an oxide of the first metal, a hydroxide of the first metal, or a combination thereof, the seed layer being substantially free of organic compounds; and growing a bulk layer on the substrate, using the seed layer as a growth site or a nucleation site.

Disclosed is an antibacterial product including at least one antibacterial part, wherein the antibacterial part includes a surface layer containing silver sintered under a nitrogen atmosphere or silver oxide sintered under an oxygen atmosphere. The antibacterial product prevents the proliferation of bacteria arising due to use thereof, kills bacteria, sterilizes and purifies contaminated water, and exhibits an antibacterial effect against harmful bacteria within at most 6 hr, and preferably an early antibacterial effect within 3 hr, especially 2 hr.

A coating method is disclosed including disposing a coating composition into a fluidly communicating space defined by an internal surface of an article. The fluidly communicating space includes at least one aperture, which is sealed, forming an enclosed space. The internal surface and the coating composition are heated under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. The at least one aperture is unsealed, re-forming the fluidly communicating space. Another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition is disposed into a reservoir which is connected in fluid communication with the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. Yet another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition and the article are disposed in a vessel, which is sealed, forming the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition.

The present invention provides copper substrate coated with a lead-lanthanum-zirconium-titanium (PLZT) ceramic film, which is prepared by a method comprising applying a layer of a sol-gel composition onto a copper foil. The sol-gel composition comprises a precursor of a ceramic material suspended in 2-methoxyethanol. The layer of sol-gel is then dried at a temperature up to about 250 C. The dried layer is then pyrolyzed at a temperature in the range of about 300 to about 450 C. to form a ceramic film from the ceramic precursor. The ceramic film is then crystallized at a temperature in the range of about 600 to about 750 C. The drying, pyrolyzing and crystallizing are performed under a flowing stream of an inert gas.

A nanoscale calcinated silicate film fabricated on a gold substrate for highly effective, matrix-free laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) analysis of biomolecules. The calcinated film is prepared by a layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition/calcination process wherein the thickness of the silicate layer and its surface properties are precisely controlled. The film exhibits outstanding efficiency in LDI-MS with extremely low background noise in the low-mass region, allowing for effective analysis of low mass weight samples and detection of large biomolecules including amino acids, peptides and proteins. Additional advantages for the calcinated film include ease of preparation and modification, high reproducibility, low cost and excellent reusability. Experimental parameters that influence LDI on calcinated films have been systemically investigated. Presence of citric acid in the sample significantly enhances LDI performance by facilitating protonation of the analyte and reducing fragmentation. The wetting property and surface roughness appear to be important factors that manipulate LDI performance of the analytes. This new substrate presents a marked advance in the development of matrix-free mass spectrometric methods and is uniquely suited for analysis of biomolecules over a broad mass range with high sensitivity.

Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the buffer layer or layers may be dispensed separately to the substrate web, rather than being mixed prior to their application. The web and/or the dispensed solutions may be heated by a plurality of heating elements.