Coated article having metamaterial-inclusive layer, coating having metamaterial-inclusive layer, and/or method of making the same

A method of making a coated article including a multi-layer low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the method comprising:

• forming a plurality of sub-stacks on the substrate, each said sub-stack including, in order moving away from the substrate, a barrier layer, a lower contact layer comprising zinc oxide, a continuous and uninterrupted layer comprising Ag over and directly contacting the layer comprising zinc oxide, and an upper contact layer over and directly contacting the layer comprising Ag;
• and
• forming a metamaterial-inclusive layer comprising Ag embedded in a matrix of material, the metamaterial-inclusive layer being closer to the substrate than each of the sub-stacks, the Ag in the metamaterial-inclusive layer being discontinuous.

A method of making a coated article including a multi-layer low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the method comprising:

• forming a plurality of sub-stacks on the substrate, each said sub-stack including, in order moving away from the substrate, a barrier layer comprising an oxide of Ti and/or Zr, a lower contact layer comprising zinc oxide, a continuous and uninterrupted layer comprising Ag over and directly contacting the layer comprising zinc oxide, and an upper contact layer over and directly contacting the layer comprising Ag;
• and
• causing a synthetic layer to self-assemble via heat treatment, the synthetic layer, once self-assembled, comprising discontinuous island-like formations of material including Ag embedded in a matrix, wherein the Ag in the synthetic layer is substantially spherical or ellipsoidal and distributed throughout the matrix.

A method of making a coated article including a multi-layer low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the method comprising:

• forming at least one sub-stack including, in order moving away from the substrate, a barrier layer, a lower contact layer comprising zinc oxide, a continuous and uninterrupted layer comprising Ag over and directly contacting the layer comprising zinc oxide, and an upper contact layer over and directly contacting the layer comprising Ag;
• and
• forming a metamaterial-inclusive layer comprising Ag embedded in a matrix of material, the metamaterial-inclusive layer being closer to the substrate than the at least one sub-stack, the Ag in the metamaterial-inclusive layer being discontinuous.