Patent ID: 8512810

Claim:
A method of forming linear particle strings comprising: providing a dispersion medium containing a plurality of nanoparticles; incorporating the dispersion into a coating material to form a coating mixture, wherein the nanoparticles comprise about 1% weight fraction or less of the coating mixture; applying the coating mixture to a substrate substantially in one direction with a shear force in the direction; and curing the substrate and the coating mixture by a heat treatment, wherein the nanoparticles are arranged into a plurality of substantially parallel, non-collinear linear particle strings on the substrate in the direction of application primarily by the shear force, wherein there is at least one said parallel, non-collinear linear particle string positioned per every 10 micron×10 micron area of coated substrate surface; wherein the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, indium-tin oxide, zinc oxide and zirconium oxide, wherein the coating material comprises polyurethane, and wherein the dispersion medium comprises methoxypropyl acetate.