US Patent 9028962 Antimicrobial action of Cu, CuO and Cu

A transparent cover glass for applications such as, but not limited to, touch screen devices that embody antimicrobial properties that include s being antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. The antimicrobial glasses contain nanoparticles of Cu or Cu2O on the surface of the glass. The antimicrobial glasses can further have a fluorosilane coating or other coating on the surface to make the glasses easy-to-clean. Also, glass surfaces having an antibacterial or antimicrobial surfaces and a protective coating on the surface that do not inhibit the antibacterial or antimicrobial properties of the glass are described. The disclosure is further directed to methods of making such articles.