Hydrophilic coatings, methods for depositing hydrophilic coatings, and improved deposition technology for thin films

A substrate with a first surface bearing a coating that comprises a compound region, the compound region comprising a photocatalyst, the photocatalyst being a first material, the compound region also comprising a dielectric material, the dielectric material being a second material, wherein said first and second materials are different materials, the coating having a total thickness of less than about 250 angstroms, wherein the coating has a photocatalytic reaction rate characterized by an acetone decomposition slope of at least about 0.03.

A glass sheet having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises a compound region, the compound region comprising titania and silica, wherein the compound region is a sputtered mixed oxide film having been produced by co-sputtering first and second targets, where the first target carried a sputterable material consisting essentially of titanium and the second target carried a sputterable material consisting essentially of silicon and aluminum, said co-sputtering having been carried out reactively in a single sputtering bay containing an oxidizing atmosphere, the sputtered mixed oxide film having a thickness of at least about 40 angstroms but less than about 250 angstroms, the sputtered mixed oxide film defining an exposed outermost face of the coating, the glass sheet being part of a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit having a between-pane space, the first major surface of the glass sheet being an exterior surface of the unit and thus facing generally away from the between-pane space.

A glass sheet having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises a compound region, the compound region comprising a photocatalyst, the photocatalyst being a first material, the compound region also comprising a dielectric material, the dielectric material being a second material, wherein said first and second materials are different materials, wherein the compound region includes at least three films each having a thickness of between about 10 angstroms and about 45 angstroms, wherein at least one of said films is an exposed outermost film of the coating, the coating having a total physical thickness of less than about 250 angstroms, the glass sheet being part of a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit having a between-pane space, the first major surface of the glass sheet being an exterior surface of the unit and thus facing generally away from the between-pane space.

A sheet-like substrate having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises a hydrophilic film, the hydrophilic film comprising a compound that includes atoms of titanium, silicon, and oxygen, the hydrophilic film having an outermost face with an average surface roughness Ra of less than 1.8 nm, wherein the hydrophilic film has a physical thickness of less than about 300 angstroms.

A glass sheet having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises an outermost hydrophilic film, the hydrophilic film comprising a compound that includes atoms of titanium, silicon, and oxygen, wherein the glass sheet when uncoated has a first visible transmittance, wherein the glass sheet when bearing the coating has a second visible transmittance, and wherein the second visible transmittance is less than about 3% greater than the first visible transmittance.

A glass sheet having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises a sputtered hydrophilic film, the sputtered hydrophilic film comprising a compound that includes atoms of titanium, silicon, and oxygen, the sputtered hydrophilic film having a refractive index of greater than 1.45 but less than 2.25, and wherein the sputtered hydrophilic film has a physical thickness of between about 30 angstroms and about 200 angstroms.

A glass sheet having generally-opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface bearing a coating that comprises an amorphous hydrophilic film, the amorphous hydrophilic film comprising a compound that includes atoms of titanium, silicon, and oxygen, wherein the amorphous hydrophilic film has a thickness of less than about 250 angstroms.