How a Special Coating Stops Materials from Sticking
This patent describes a device with a special coating, made with rare earth elements, that prevents other materials from sticking to it, allowing for precise material placement on other surfaces.
Original patent title: “Nucleation-inhibiting coating containing rare earth compounds and devices incorporating same”
This patent describes a device with a special coating, made with rare earth elements, that prevents other materials from sticking to it, allowing for precise material placement on other surfaces. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a multi-layered device where a "nucleation-inhibiting coating" (NIC) is placed on one surface. This NIC contains a "rare earth element compound." When another material is deposited, it has a much harder time sticking to the NIC compared to other surfaces on the device. This means the NIC remains "substantially devoid of a closed coating" of the deposited material. In contrast, the deposited material can form a "closed coating" on other surfaces or a "discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure" on the NIC. For example, if you wanted to deposit a metal film onto only specific parts of a microchip, you could apply this rare earth NIC to the areas where you don't want the metal to stick, ensuring it only forms on the desired regions.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- It does not cover coatings that inhibit adhesion without using a rare earth element compound as specified.
- It does not cover general anti-fouling or non-stick coatings where the primary mechanism isn't about initial sticking probability during deposition.
- It does not cover methods where the deposited material sticks equally well to all surfaces.
- It does not cover devices where the deposited material forms a complete, uniform layer on the nucleation-inhibiting coating.
- It does not cover coatings that prevent all material from ever forming on the surface, as it allows for a "discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core idea is using a specific "rare earth element compound" in a coating to significantly reduce the "initial sticking probability" of a deposited material. This allows for highly selective deposition, essentially creating a "mask" that actively repels incoming material during its formation.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Manufacturing of semiconductors
Production of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
Fabrication of advanced optical coatings
Creating patterned thin films for sensors
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for manufacturing processes that require precise control over where materials are deposited, especially in thin-film technologies. By preventing unwanted material growth, it can improve the efficiency and yield of creating complex layered structures, such as those found in electronics or sensors.
Filed
May 17, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies involved in advanced materials science and semiconductor manufacturing, such as Intel, TSMC, Samsung, and Applied Materials, are constantly researching and developing new methods for precise material deposition and patterning. While this specific patent's assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → is unknown, the field of selective deposition is a critical area for these industry leaders.
Market impact
The market for high-precision material deposition is significant, particularly in microelectronics. If widely adopted, this technology could enable more intricate device designs and reduce manufacturing defects by ensuring materials only form where intended. It could potentially lower production costs or enable new types of devices requiring extremely fine patterning.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a multi-layered device where a "nucleation-inhibiting coating" (NIC) is placed on one surface. This NIC contains a "rare earth element compound." When another material is deposited, it has a much harder time sticking to the NIC compared to other surfaces on the device. This means the NIC remains "substantially devoid of a closed coating" of the deposited material. In contrast, the deposited material can form a "closed coating" on other surfaces or a "discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure" on the NIC. For example, if you wanted to deposit a metal film onto only specific parts of a microchip, you could apply this rare earth NIC to the areas where you don't want the metal to stick, ensuring it only forms on the desired regions.
The clever bit
The core idea is using a specific "rare earth element compound" in a coating to significantly reduce the "initial sticking probability" of a deposited material. This allows for highly selective deposition, essentially creating a "mask" that actively repels incoming material during its formation.
What it does not cover
- It does not cover coatings that inhibit adhesion without using a rare earth element compound as specified.
- It does not cover general anti-fouling or non-stick coatings where the primary mechanism isn't about initial sticking probability during deposition.
- It does not cover methods where the deposited material sticks equally well to all surfaces.
- It does not cover devices where the deposited material forms a complete, uniform layer on the nucleation-inhibiting coating.
- It does not cover coatings that prevent all material from ever forming on the surface, as it allows for a "discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $54K
Midpoint $34K · 14.6 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How a Special Coating Stops Materials from Sticking (U.S. Patent No. 12,740,286). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12740286/nucleation-inhibiting-coating-containing-rare-earth-compounds-and-devices
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Special Coating Stops Materials from Sticking cover?
This patent describes a device with a special coating, made with rare earth elements, that prevents other materials from sticking to it, allowing for precise material placement on other surfaces.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for manufacturing processes that require precise control over where materials are deposited, especially in thin-film technologies. By preventing unwanted material growth, it can improve the efficiency and yield of creating complex layered structures, such as those found in electronics or sensors.
What does this patent NOT cover?
It does not cover coatings that inhibit adhesion without using a rare earth element compound as specified.
Patent monitoring