Transparent coatings find numerous applications in modern devices. For example, transparent coatings can be used for coating windshields, air craft windows, cell phone screens, tablet screens, computer screens, weapon heads, field deployed sensors, lasers, light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. These coatings need to be transparent, scratch resistant, have high hardness, corrosion resistance, and generally provide protection from the environment.

There is also an increasing demand for transparent semi-conductor devices. For example, traditional solar cells are fabricated on silicon which is opaque. Only one surface of such solar cells is available for receiving light and generating electricity therefrom. There is also a demand for other semi-conductor devices such as p-n junction devices, LEDs, other diodes, transistors, etc. Moreover, high power high temperature semi-conductor devices produce a substantial amount of heat which needs to be dissipated for proper operation of the semi-conductor devices. 

The patents’ details generally discuss methods for fabricating transparent films and devices; and in particular methods for fabricating transparent nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) coatings, and transparent NCD devices.

Benefits

• Optically transparent, scratch resistant ultrathin film of diamond on glass for protective applications

Description

A method for coating a substrate comprises producing a plasma ball using a microwave plasma source in the presence of a mixture of gases. The plasma ball has a diameter. The plasma ball is disposed at a first distance from the substrate and the substrate is maintained at a first temperature. The plasma ball is maintained at the first distance from the substrate, and a diamond coating is deposited on the substrate. The diamond coating has a thickness. Furthermore, the diamond coating has an optical transparency of greater than about 80%. The diamond coating can include nanocrystalline diamond. The microwave plasma source can have a frequency of about 915 MHz.

This system was constructed as an alternative for detection of obscured objects and material. Depending on the geometry of the given situation a flat-panel source can be used in tomography, radiography, or tomosynthesis. Furthermore, the unit can be used as a portable electron or X-ray scanner or an integral part of an existing detection system. UNCD field emitters show great field emission output and can be deposited over large areas as the case with carbon nanotube ​“forest” (CNT) cathodes. Furthermore, UNCDs have better mechanical and thermal properties as compared to CNT tips which further extend the lifetime of UNCD based FEA.

Benefits

• Prototype based on nitrogen incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond film 
• Emission current densities of the order of 6mA/cm² could be obtained at electric fields as low as 10 V/lm to 20V/lm 

The first layer is seeded with nanodiamond particles. The substrate with the first layer disposed thereon is maintained at a first temperature and a first pressure in a mixture of gases which includes nitrogen. The first layer is exposed to a microwave plasma to form a nitrogen doped ultrananocrystalline diamond film on the first layer, which has a percentage of nitrogen in the range of about 0.05 atom % to about 0.5 atom %. The field emitter has about 10¹² to about 10¹⁴ emitting sites per cm². A photocathode can also be formed similarly by forming a nitrogen doped ultrananocrystalline diamond film on a substrate similar to the field emitter, and then hydrogen terminating the film. The photocathode is responsive to near ultraviolet light as well as to visible light.

Benefits

• Prototype planer filed emission based electron source for RF injectors in accelerators 
• At surface gradients 45–65 MV/m, peak currents of 1–80mA were achieved. 
• Good operation at moderate high vacuum (10^-6 Torr)

The cathode and anode are in the form of electroactive sheets separated from each other by a membrane that is permeable to the electrolyte. One or more of the cathode and anode comprises two or more layers of carbon nanotubes, one of which layers includes electrochemically active nanoparticles and/or microparticles disposed therein or deposited on the nanotubes thereof. The majority of the carbon nanotubes in each of the layers are oriented generally parallel to the layers. Optionally, one or more of the layers includes an additional carbon material such as graphene, nanoparticulate diamond, microparticulate diamond, and a combination thereof.

Benefits

• Unique combination of diamond nanoparticles and other carbon materials 
• Improves the ability to remove heat efficiently from the battery system 

Nanocrystalline diamond coatings exhibit stress in nano/micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS). Doped nanocrstalline diamond coatings exhibit increased stress. A carbide forming metal coating reduces the in-plane stress. In addition, without any metal coating, simply growing UNCD or NCD with thickness in the range of 3-4 micron also reduces in-plane stress significantly. Such coatings can be used in MEMS applications.

Benefits

• Excellent chemical, mechanical and electrical properties, low intrinsic stress gradient 
• Could be applicable in many fields, including bio-medicine, optics, and sensors and actuators for space applications 

The mixture of gases include a source of a p-type or an n-type dopant. The plasma ball is disposed at a first distance from the diamond substrate. The diamond substrate is maintained at a first temperature. The plasma ball is maintained at the first distance from the diamond substrate for a first time, and a UNCD film, which is doped with at least one of a p-type dopant and an n-type dopant, is disposed on the diamond substrate. The doped UNCD film is patterned to define UNCD electrical contacts on the diamond substrate.

Benefits

• Efficient x-ray position detector for synchrotron applications

A method of forming a p-n junction device comprises providing a base layer including a p-type diamond. A monolayer or few layer of a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) is disposed on at least a portion of the base layer so as to form a heterojunction therebetween. The TMDC monolayer is an n-type layer such that the heterojunction between the intrinsic and p-type diamond base layer and the n-type TMDC monolayer is a p-n junction.

Benefits

• Efficient, p-n junction diodes for power electronics and rectification applications

The system includes graphene and graphene oxide formed by an exfoliation process or solution processing method to dispose graphene and/or graphene oxide onto a Substrate. The system further includes an opposing wear member disposed on another Substrate and a gas atmosphere of an inert gas like N2, ambient, a humid atmosphere and a water Solution.

Benefits

• Easy to apply using spray process in air 
• Easily scalable to large area 
• Cost effective, eliminates hazardous waste 
• Virtually eliminates friction and wear 
• Works in dry and humid environment 

The Invention 

Pulsed thermal imaging is widely used for nondestructive evaluation of advanced materials and components. Thermal imaging methods to analyze single-layer materials are well developed. However, a general method for analyzing multi-layer materials and coatings/films has not been developed due to the complexity of material systems and lack of an analytical solution. This technology provides a general method, test system including a filter, and numerical algorithm for automated analysis of thermal imaging data for multi-layer coating materials. 

Argonne’s pulsed thermal imaging-multilayer analysis method can accurately measure coating thermal conductivity and heat capacity (and/or thickness) distributions over an entire component’s surface. The method analyzes a temporal series of measured thermal imaging data to determine the properties for all coating layers based on a multilayer model. Argonne’s invention is currently the only method that can analyze coatings of more than one layer, is fully automated to produce 2D layer property images, and has validated high accuracy.

Argonne’s approach includes an infrared filter for flash lamps to eliminate the flash’s infrared radiation, ensuring accurate detection of surface temperature during pulsed thermal imaging tests. 

Key to Argonne’s thermal multi-layer analysis method is the numerical algorithm used for automated analysis of thermal imaging data for multi-layer materials, implemented in dedicated, Argonne-created software that allows for complete data-processing automation without the need of user intervention.

Benefits 

• Allows fast 2D imaging of multi-layer material properties of an object from one surface 
• All-in-one solution that includes method, optical filter, and analytical software for thermal multi-layer material analysis 
• Imaging is nondestructive and fast 
• Eliminates infrared radiation to assure data accuracy 
• Automated analysis of imaging data 

Applications and Industries 

• Multi-layer coating materials development 
• Manufacturing quality control 
• Coating degradation monitoring 
• Medical applications 

Developmental Stage 

Proof of Concept: the technology has been tested and proven to work for coated engine parts. 

Argonne Inventions 

• IN-05-125, Optical Filter for Flash Lamps in Pulsed Thermal Imaging View the patent.
• IN-14-032, Method and Apparatus for Material Thermal Property Measurement by Flash Thermal Imaging View the patent.
• IN-06-017, Method for Thermal Tomography of Thermal Effusivity from Pulsed Thermal Imaging View the patent