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US 10,017,384 B1Granted
Property control of multifunctional surfaces
AssigneeNanoclear Technologies Inc.
InventorsHarold Frank Greer, Ryan Morrow Briggs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The physical and chemical properties of surfaces can be controlled by bonding nanoparticles, microspheres, or nanotextures to the surface via inorganic precursors. Surfaces can acquire a variety of desirable properties such as antireflection, antifogging, antifrosting, UV blocking, and IR absorption, while maintaining transparency to visible light. Micro or nanomaterials can also be used as etching masks to texture a surface and control its physical and chemical properties via its micro or nanotexture.
Claims26
A method comprising:
- determining a first lateral dimension of each element in a structure on a surface, the structure comprising a plurality of elements, the determining based on a first physical characteristic of the structure, the first lateral dimension being in a horizontal orientation relative to the surface;
- determining a second lateral dimension of each element, the second lateral dimension being perpendicular to the first lateral dimension and in a horizontal orientation relative to the surface;
- determining a height of each element based on a second physical characteristic of the structure, the height being in a vertical orientation relative to the surface;
- determining a spacing between the elements based on the first and second physical characteristics;
- fabricating the structure comprising the plurality of elements;
- defining a plurality of patterned features on the plurality of elements, the patterned features having dimensions smaller than any of the first lateral dimension, the second lateral dimension, and the height of each element, the patterned features based on a third physical characteristic of the structure;
- determining a first wavelength range comprising wavelengths between a first maximum wavelength and a first minimum wavelength, the first minimum wavelength being less than the first maximum wavelength;
- determining a second wavelength range comprising wavelengths between a second maximum wavelength and the first maximum wavelength, the second maximum wavelength being greater than the first maximum wavelength;
- functionalizing the structure with a self-saturated monolayer of a first functional group;
- functionalizing a first plurality of particles with a second functional group, the second functional group chosen so as to form a covalent or ionic bond with the first functional group;
- and
- forming a monolayer of the first plurality of particles on the structure,
- wherein:
- the structure comprising the plurality of elements and the plurality of patterned features is monolithic,
- the first physical characteristic is transparency to electromagnetic radiation, and
- the first lateral dimension and the second lateral dimension are less than half the first maximum wavelength.
13 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a first lateral dimension of each element in a structure on a surface based on a desired transparency of the structure to incident electromagnetic radiations, the structure comprising a plurality of elements, the first lateral dimension being in a horizontal orientation relative to the surface and being less than half of a wavelength of an electromagnetic radiation to be blocked by the structure;
- determining a height of each element based on a desired reflectivity for the incident electromagnetic radiation, the height being in a vertical orientation relative to the surface;
- determining a spacing between the elements based on the desired transparency and reflectivity;
- fabricating the structure comprising the plurality of elements;
- and
- defining a plurality of patterned features on the plurality of elements, the patterned features having dimensions smaller than any of the first lateral dimension, the second lateral dimension, and the height of each element, the patterned features based on a third physical characteristic of the structure,
- wherein the structure comprising the plurality of elements and the plurality of patterned features is monolithic.
4 more elements
A structure comprising:
- an array of pillars on a surface, each pillar having a first lateral dimension x, a second lateral dimension z, and a height y;
- a plurality of patterned features on each pillar of the plurality of pillars, each patterned feature of the plurality of patterned feature having a width between 5 nm and 40 nm, and a depth between 5 nm and 40 nm;
- and
- a monolayer of particles covering each pillar,
- wherein x is between 50 nm and 250 nm, thereby blocking ultraviolet radiation, y is between 120 nm and 180 nm, thereby reducing reflected radiation, each particle of the monolayer has a diameter less than 200 nm and is made of a material capable of absorbing infrared radiation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.