Kovio, Inc.

Cabot Corporation

The Clorox Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Sicpa Holding Sa

Thin Film Electronics Asa

Cabot Security Materials, Inc.

Scott T Haubrich

Klaus Kunze

Joerg Rockenberger

Fabio R Zurcher

Mark J Hampden-Smith

Brent Ridley

Toivo T Kodas

Karel Vanheusden

James E Rader

Aaron Stump

Richard Porticos

James F Caruso

Allen B Schult

Mark H Kowalski

Chuck Edwards

Anthony R James

David John Sayler

Eric Young Park

Robert W Flagler

Michael J Hall

Boli Zhou

Karen S Hefter

Shumanta Mitra

Hou Tee Ng

Alfred I-Tsung Pan

Yoocharn Jeon

Douglas J Minkler

Rimple Bhatia

Mao Takashima

Hyungrak Kim

Chris Gudeman

Gene Park

Chris Spindt

Nassrin Sleiman

James C Dunphy

Alfred I Pan

Fabio Zürcher

Richard Einhorn

Sharon Olsen

Hyungrak Kiim

Yu Chen

Ned J Hardman

David E Dericotte

Miodrag Oljaca

Yoocham Jeon

Brian N Hubert

Pascal I Pinceloup

Colin Bulthaup

Nathan E Stott

Jainisha Shah

Mark Hanpden-Smith

Eden Michele Anthanasee Green

David Anderson

Matthew Sturgeon

Heng Yu

Ralph E Kornbrekke

Steven R Cordero

Aaron D Stump

Richard A Einhorn

James Brewster

Gary Darsey

Ned Jay Hardman

Steven Cordero

The present invention provides photoluminescent iron-doped barium stannate materials absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light and exhibiting strong near-infrared (NIR) luminescence. Such materials exhibit increased integrated photoluminescence intensity in comparison to known BaSnOand iron-doped barium stannate materials, and therefore they are particularly useful for the production of photoluminescent security ink compositions and transparent covert security features with improved anti-counterfeiting resistance that can be used for protection of documents and articles against counterfeit and illegal reproduction.

Photoluminescent iron-doped barium stannate material, security ink composition and security feature thereof

Multi-component particles comprising inorganic nanoparticles distributed in an organic matrix and processes for making and using same. A flowing aerosol is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains a liquid vehicle and at least one precursor. At least a portion of the liquid vehicle is removed from the droplets of precursor medium under conditions effective to convert the precursor to the nanoparticles or the matrix and form the multi-component particles.

Multi-component particles comprising inorganic nanoparticles distributed in an organic matrix and processes for making and using same

Metal ink compositions, methods of forming such compositions, and methods of forming conductive layers are disclosed. The ink composition includes a bulk metal, a transition metal source, and an organic solvent. The transition metal source may be a transition metal capable of forming a silicide, in an amount providing from 0.01 to 50 at. % of the transition metal relative to the bulk metal. Conductive structures may be made using such ink compositions by forming a silicon-containing layer on a substrate, printing a metal ink composition on the silicon-containing layer, and curing the composition. The metal inks of the present invention have high conductivity and form low resistivity contacts with silicon, and reduce the number of inks and printing steps needed to fabricate integrated circuits.

Metal inks for improved contact resistance

The present invention relates to colored reflective features, e.g., reflective security features or reflective decorative features, that optionally exhibit color shifting and to inks and processes for making such features. The features, as well as the inks optionally used to form the features, comprise nanoparticles and a colorant that preferably modifies a spectrum of light that is reflected by a reflective layer formed from the nanoparticles. The processes involve forming the features from one or more inks using a direct write printing process.

Colored reflective features and inks and processes for making them

A particulate composition comprises a plurality of particles wherein at least one of the particles comprises at least two different crystalline and/or glass phases, each phase comprising a host lattice and a dopant sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The different phases simultaneously produce different responses on exposure to photons of the same energy, whereby the output from the particulate composition when exposed to said photons is the sum of the responses from the different phases.

Particulate compositions having plural responses to excitation radiation

A composition for the fabrication of reflective features using a direct-write tool is disclosed. The composition comprises metal nanoparticles having an average particle size less than 300 nm and which carry thereon a polymer for substantially preventing agglomeration of the nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles exhibit a metal-polymer weight ratio of 100:1 to 10:1. The composition further includes a vehicle for forming a dispersion with the metal nanoparticles. A number of electronic devices comprising a reflective layer formed from the composition are also disclosed. One example case provides an electronic device having a reflective electrode. The reflective electrode comprises a percolation network of the metal nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of the polymer and having an average particle size of less than 300 nm, wherein the reflective electrode is reflective in the visible light range and does not diffract incident light.

Metal nanoparticle compositions for reflective features

A metal nanoparticle composition for the fabrication of conductive features. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously has a low viscosity permitting deposition of the composition by direct-write tools. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously also has a low conversion temperature, permitting its deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on polymeric substrates.

Metal nanoparticle compositions

The invention relates to reflective features formed from multiple inks. In one embodiment, the reflective feature includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, the first and second regions having different surface characteristics; a first reflective element disposed on the first region; and a second reflective element disposed on the second region, wherein the first reflective element is more adherent than the second reflective element to the first region. In another embodiment, the reflective feature includes multiple layers formed from different inks exhibiting enhanced reflectivity and/or durability. The invention is also to processes for forming these features, preferably through a direct write printing process.

Printable reflective features formed from multiple inks and processes for making them

The invention relates to reflective and non-reflective features formed from multiple inks. In one embodiment, the printed feature comprises a substrate having a first region and a second region, the first and second regions having different surface characteristics; a first printed element disposed on the first region; and a second printed element disposed on the second region, wherein the first printed element is more adherent than the second printed element to the first region. In another embodiment, the printed feature comprises multiple layers formed from different inks exhibiting enhanced durability. The invention is also to processes for forming these features, preferably through a direct write printing process.

Printable features formed from multiple inks and processes for making them

Compositions, inks and methods for forming a patterned silicon-containing film and patterned structures including such a film. The composition generally includes (a) passivated semiconductor nanoparticles and (b) first and second cyclic Group IVA compounds in which the cyclic species predominantly contains Si and/or Ge atoms. The ink generally includes the composition and a solvent in which the composition is soluble. The method generally includes the steps of (1) printing the composition or ink on a substrate to form a pattern, and (2) curing the patterned composition or ink. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes the steps of (i) curing either a semiconductor nanoparticle composition or at least one cyclic Group IVA compound to form a thin film, (ii) coating the thin film with the other, and (iii) curing the coated thin film to form a semiconducting thin film. The semiconducting thin film includes a sintered mixture of semiconductor nanoparticles in hydrogenated, at least partially amorphous silicon and/or germanium. The thin film exhibits improved conductivity, density, adhesion and/or carrier mobility relative to an otherwise identical structure made by an identical process, but without either the semiconductor nanoparticles or the hydrogenated Group IVA element polymer. The present invention advantageously provides semiconducting thin film structures having qualities suitable for use in electronics applications, such as display devices or RF ID tags, while enabling high-throughput printing processes that form such thin films in seconds or minutes, rather than hours or days as with conventional photolithographic processes.

Compositions and methods for forming a semiconducting and/or silicon-containing film, and structures formed therefrom

A self-aligning nanowire includes a nanowire portion and an aligning member attached to the nanowire portion. The aligning member interacts with another aligning member on an adjacent self-aligning nanowire to align the nanowires together. A method of aligning nanowires includes providing a plurality of the self-aligning nanowires, suspending the plurality in a carrier solution, and depositing the suspended plurality on a substrate. An ink formulation includes the plurality of suspended self-aligning nanowires in the carrier solution. A method of producing the self-aligning nanowire includes providing and associating the nanowire portion and the aligning member such that the nanowire produced is self-aligning with another nanowire.

Self-aligning nanowires and methods thereof

Processes for the production of metal nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention is to a process comprising the steps of mixing a heated first solution comprising a base and/or a reducing agent (e.g., a non-polyol reducing agent), a polyol, and a polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone with a second solution comprising a metal precursor that is capable of being reduced to a metal by the polyol. In another aspect, the invention is to a process that includes the steps of heating a powder of a polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone; forming a first solution comprising the powder and a polyol; and mixing the first solution with a second solution comprising a metal precursor capable of being reduced to a metal by the polyol.

Production of metal nanoparticles

Methods for forming passivated semiconductor nanoparticles

A process for the production of metal nanoparticles. The process comprises a rapid mixing of a solution of at least about 0.1 mole of a metal compound that is capable of being reduced to a metal by a polyol with a heated solution of a polyol and a substance that is capable of being adsorbed on the nanoparticles.

Growing community of inventors

San Leandro, CA, United States of America

Scott T Haubrich