Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of producing an ultrafine particle dispersed glassy material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving a polymer composite and an organometallic fixation reagent in an organic solvent to produce a film-forming composition, the polymer composite comprising a polymer having ultrafine particles dispersed therein, the particles being selected from the group consisting of: (i) a noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium and silver; (ii) Cu 2 O; (iii) metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, yttrium, tungsten, tin, germanium, indium and gallium; and (iv) oxides of the metals disclosed in (iii); (b) applying the film-forming composition to a surface of a substrate; (c) drying the applied composition to produce a film; and (d) firing the film to produce a glassy material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of producing an ultrafine particle dispersed glassy material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving a polymer composite and an organometallic fixation reagent in an organic solvent to produce a film-forming composition, the polymer composite comprising a polymer having ultrafine particles dispersed therein, the particles being selected from the group consisting of: (i) a noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium and silver; (ii) Cu 2 O; (iii) metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, yttrium, tungsten, tin, germanium, indium and gallium; and (iv) oxides of the metals disclosed in (iii); (b) applying the film-forming composition to a surface of a substrate; (c) drying the applied composition to produce a film; and (d) firing the film to produce a glassy material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of firing the film occurs at a temperature between about 300°-800° C. for a time period sufficient to produce a glassy oxide around the dispersed ultrafine particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fixation reagent is selected from the group consisting of metallic acid esters, organic metal complexes and organic acid metallic salts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer composite is produced by the steps of: forming a thermodynamically unstable polymer layer having a surface; depositing a metal selected from the group of (i), (ii) and (iii) on the surface of the unstable polymer layer; and then stabilizing the unstable polymer layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of firing the film occurs at a temperature not less than about 300° C. in an atmosphere including an inert gas and oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the atmosphere contains less than about 1.0 volume percent oxygen and wherein the method further comprises the step of heat treating the fired film in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the atmosphere includes at least about 1 volume percent oxygen and wherein the method further includes the step of heat treating in a mixed gas including an inert gas and a reducing gas.