{
  "patent_number": "US 12740286",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Special Coating Stops Materials from Sticking",
  "original_title": "Nucleation-inhibiting coating containing rare earth compounds and devices incorporating same",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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.\""
  ],
  "filed": "2021-05-17",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "semiconductors",
    "materials",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "telecommunications"
  ],
  "abstract": "A device having a plurality of layers comprises a nucleation-inhibiting coating (NIC) disposed on a first layer surface in a first portion of a lateral aspect thereof; and a deposited layer comprised of a deposited material, disposed on a second layer surface, wherein an initial sticking probability against deposition of the deposited layer onto a surface of the NIC in the first portion is substantially less than the initial sticking probability against deposition of the deposited layer onto the second layer surface, such that the NIC is substantially devoid of a closed coating of the deposited material and wherein the NIC comprises a compound containing a rare earth element. The deposited layer can comprise a closed coating on the second layer surface in a second portion of the lateral aspect, and/or a discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure on a surface of the NIC.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12740286/nucleation-inhibiting-coating-containing-rare-earth-compounds-and-devices",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12740286/nucleation-inhibiting-coating-containing-rare-earth-compounds-and-devices/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12740286",
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}