Patent ID: 8329501

Claim:
A method comprising: formulating an ink of particles wherein about 50% or more of all the particles are microflakes each containing at least one element from group IB, IIIA and/or VIA and having a non-spherical, planar shape with irregular, jagged circumferential outline, wherein overall amounts of elements from group IB, IIIA and/or VIA contained in the ink are such that the ink has a desired stoichiometric ratio of the elements; coating a substrate with the ink to form a precursor layer; and processing the precursor layer in a suitable atmosphere to form a dense film; wherein at least one set of the particles in the ink are inter-metallic microflake particles containing at least one group IB-IIIA inter-metallic alloy phase; wherein liquid group IIIA material is included in the ink.