Two Layer Ag Process For Low Emissivity Coatings

• US 20140170434A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intermolecular Incorporated
• Inventors: Hassan, Mohd Fadzli Anwar, Boyce, Brent, Ding, Guowen, Le, Minh Huu, Sun, Zhi-Wen Wen, Wang, Yu, Xu, Yongli
• Application Number:
  US13/715,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20140170434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/552
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/10 Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12056 Entirely inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12611 Oxide-containing component

Abstract

Two layer silver process comprising a silver layer deposited on a doped silver layer can improve the adhesion of the silver layer on a substrate, minimizing agglomeration to provide a high quality silver layer. The doped silver layer can comprise silver and a doping element that has lower enthalpy of formation with oxide than that of silver, leading to better bonding with oxygen in the substrate.

Claims

1. A method for making a coated article, the method comprising:

providing a transparent substrate;

forming a first layer over the transparent substrate, wherein the first layer comprises silver and a doping element, and wherein the doping element comprises at least one of Ti, Si, Cr, Zr, Mn, Fe, Ta, and Pt; and

forming a second layer over the first layer, wherein the second layer is in direct contact with the first layer, and wherein the second layer comprises silver.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising forming a seed layer over the transparent substrate, wherein the seed layer has a (002) crystallographic orientation, and the first layer is formed over and in direct contact with the seed layer.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the doping element is 5 wt % or less.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first layer is less than 3 nm.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the enthalpy of oxide formation of the doping element is less than that of Zn.

6. A method for making a coated article, the method comprising:

providing a transparent substrate;

forming a first layer over the transparent substrate, wherein the first layer comprises zinc oxide;

forming a second layer over the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises silver and a doping element, and wherein the doping element comprises at least one of Ti, Si, Cr, Zr, Mn, Fe, Ta, and Pt; and

forming a third layer over the second layer, wherein the third layer is in direct contact with the second layer, and wherein the third layer comprises silver.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the first layer has a (002) crystallographic orientation, and the second layer is in direct contact with the first layer.

8. A method as in claim 6 wherein the concentration of the doping element is 5 wt % or less.

9. A method as in claim 6 wherein the thickness of the second layer is less than 3 nm.

10. A method as in claim 6 wherein the enthalpy of oxide formation of the doping element is less than −

50 kJoules/mol.

11. A method as in claim 6 wherein the thickness of the third layer is less than 10 nm.

12. A method as in claim 6 further comprising depositing a fourth layer over the transparent substrate, wherein the fourth layer is operable as an antireflective layer.

13. A method as in claim 6 further comprising depositing a fifth over the third layer, wherein the fifth layer is operable as a barrier layer.

14-20. -20. (canceled)