# US 10,500,812 B2 · Film

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- Number: US 10,500,812 B2
- Document ID: US10500812B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/128,484
- Filed: 2015-03-24
- Published: 2017-04-13
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-24
- Assignees: The Australian National University
- Applicants: The Australian National University
- Inventors: Antonio Tricoli; David Russell Nisbet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500812B2

## CPC

- B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)}
- B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric}
- B32B 5/08: the fibres or filaments of a layer being of different substances {, e.g. conjugate fibres, mixture of different fibres}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 7/06: permitting easy separation
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- B32B 27/06: as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08)}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 27/18: characterised by the use of special additives
- B32B 27/30: comprising vinyl {(co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/304: {comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF}
- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- B32B 27/322: {comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE}
- B32B 37/025: {Transfer laminating}
- B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method
- B32B 38/10: Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
- D01D 5/0007: {Electro-spinning (non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728)}
- B32B 37/26: with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
- B32B 2037/243: {Coating}
- B32B 2255/10: on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
- B32B 2255/20: Inorganic coating
- B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating
- B32B 2262/0223: Vinyl resin fibres
- B32B 2262/023: Aromatic vinyl resin, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
- B32B 2262/0276: Polyester fibres
- B32B 2262/14: Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
- B32B 2307/412: Transparent
- B32B 2307/7166: Water-soluble, water-dispersible
- B32B 2307/728: Hydrophilic
- B32B 2307/73: Hydrophobic
- B32B 2307/748: Releasability
- B32B 2405/00: Adhesive articles, e.g. adhesive tapes
- B32B 2457/00: Electrical equipment
- B32B 2457/12: Photovoltaic modules
- B32B 2457/18: Fuel cells
- B32B 2551/00: Optical elements
- B32B 2551/08: Mirrors
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

The present invention provides a film for attaching a nanostructured material to a surface of a substrate, comprising: (a) a removable support; (b) an attaching layer for attaching the film to the surface of a substrate; and (c) the material directly coupled to the support and the attaching layer. Methods for making the film, methods for attaching the material to the surface of a substrate are also provided. The present invention further provides a surface having a material attached thereto by means of the attaching layer. Using the methods disclosed herein, a material having a high specific surface area (SSA) and having particular proper ties (e.g. super-hydrophobicity) can be applied to a substrate including a fuel cell, a conductive electrode, a dye sensitized solar cell, a diffuse reflective mirror, eyewear, a window and a vehicle (e.g. car) windscreen, for example to provide a self-cleaning surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A film for attaching a nanostructured material to a surface of a substrate, comprising:
(a) a removable support;
(b) an attaching layer for attaching the film to the surface of a substrate, wherein the attaching layer has a thickness of less than about 1 μm; and
(c) the nanostructured material directly coupled to the support and the attaching layer, wherein the nanostructured material is not self-sustaining and wherein the nanostructured material has a porosity of at least about 60%.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material is disposed between the support and the attaching layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material and the support are intermixed and disposed on the attaching layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the support is soluble in a solvent which does not dissolve the nanostructured material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the support is removable by radiation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the support comprises at least two layers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the attaching layer has a lower melting point or a lower softening point than the nanostructured material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material comprises nanofibres.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material has a specific surface area of 1 m2/g or greater.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material is super-hydrophobic.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material is super-hydrophilic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material has a thickness of 200 nm or less.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The film of claim 1, wherein the nanostructured material is transparent.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A method for making the film of claim 1, the method comprising
providing a support,
forming a nanostructured material onto and/or into the support, and
depositing an attaching layer onto the nanostructured material, wherein the nanostructured material is not self-sustaining and wherein the nanostructured material has a porosity of at least about 60%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein providing the support comprises forming a reinforcement layer on a backing layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises a step of removing the backing layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises a step selected from the group consisting of electrospinning, nanoparticle aerosol deposition, monolayer self-assembly, layer-by-layer synthesis, sputtering, sol-gel, wet-synthesis, and spray pyrolysis.

### Claim 18

A method for attaching a nanostructured material to a surface, the method comprising
applying a layer of nanostructured material and a support to the surface,
causing the nanostructured material to attach to the surface, and
then removing the support;
wherein the attachment is effected by means of an attaching layer having a thickness of less than about 1 μm and
wherein the nanostructured material is not self-sustaining and wherein the nanostructured material has a porosity of at least about 60%.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the causing step comprises applying heat either directly or indirectly to the attaching layer so that the attaching layer softens and/or melts so as to attach the nanostructured material to the surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises a step of removing the support after attaching the attaching layer to the surface.