Provided is a composition including colloidal silica particles; and a solvent, in which a viscosity at 25° C. is 4 mPa.Math.s or lower. The colloidal silica particles are a composition in which a plurality of spherical silica particles are linked in a beaded shape or a composition in which a plurality of spherical silica particles are linked in a planar shape. The solvent includes a solvent A1 having a boiling point of 190° C. to 280° C. Provided is also a film forming method using the above-described composition.

A method of fabricating the organic-inorganic hybrid coating layer includes: preparing a gel mixture including an organic precursor and colloidal silica particles; preparing a first mixed solution by heating the gel mixture; preparing a second mixed solution by adding quantum dots to the first mixed solution; and coating the second mixed solution on a substrate and irradiating light thereon to form a polymer matrix in which the organic precursor and the colloidal silica particles are crosslinked, and preparing a coating layer in which the quantum dots are dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the organic precursor may include at least one of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (DPPA) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA).

A method of fabricating the organic-inorganic hybrid coating layer includes: preparing a gel mixture including an organic precursor and colloidal silica particles; preparing a first mixed solution by heating the gel mixture; preparing a second mixed solution by adding quantum dots to the first mixed solution; and coating the second mixed solution on a substrate and irradiating light thereon to form a polymer matrix in which the organic precursor and the colloidal silica particles are crosslinked, and preparing a coating layer in which the quantum dots are dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the organic precursor may include at least one of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (DPPA) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA).

A modified starch product includes a quantity of particles, each having a starch core with an intermediate polymer coating and an exterior coating of a nano-silica. A method for manufacturing a modified starch product including admixing to a silicate and water to form a nano-silica solution; admixing an original starch and a polymer to form particles with a starch core having an intermediate polymer layer; admixing the nano-silica solution and the starch particles having an intermediate polymer layer to form a suspension of the modified starch product; dewatering the suspension of the modified starch product; and drying the modified starch product to form the modified starch having particles including the starch core with the intermediate polymer coating and the exterior coating of a nano-silica. A rubber formulation includes a quantity of elastomer and a quantity of the modified starch. The particles are substantially evenly distributed throughout the elastomer.

A flame deposition method is disclosed for forming hydrophobic nanotextured surfaces with improved adhesion and durability for long-term use. The method according to present disclosure can produce nanotextured surfaces with contact angles greater than 140°. Coatings thus prepared exhibit enhanced durability, maintaining water contact angles of greater than 120° after approximately 200,000 abrasion cycles using a cloth wipe resistance test.

A flame deposition method is disclosed for forming hydrophobic nanotextured surfaces with improved adhesion and durability for long-term use. The method according to present disclosure can produce nanotextured surfaces with contact angles greater than 140°. Coatings thus prepared exhibit enhanced durability, maintaining water contact angles of greater than 120° after approximately 200,000 abrasion cycles using a cloth wipe resistance test.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400° C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 μm to 15 μm. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400° C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 μm to 15 μm. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.

There is provided a method of preparing silica nanocapsules, the method comprising mixing a surfactant with water at a temperature that is above the gel-to-liquid transition temperature of the surfactant to form a mixture, passing the mixture one or more times through at least one pore to obtain a dispersion of vesicles, and adding a silica precursor to the dispersion of vesicles to form silica nanocapsules. Also provided is a silica nanocapsule formed from a vesicle template, and a method of delivering one or more types of molecules to a subject. In a specific embodiment, hollow silica nanocapsules having substantially lens-shaped are synthesized by employing dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB) or dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DODAC) as the vesicle template and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silica precursor.

The present invention introduces natural and environmentally acceptable (friendly) chemical compositions for fire-fighting liquids and additives, as well as additives for enhanced oil recovery, oil & gas operation facilities and ships, oil refineries and petrochemical industry, drilling and drilling operations, corrosion protection, de-scaling and scaling prevention, cleaning of raw wool, cotton, textile and fabrics, general industrial cleaning and paint/coating removal, leather, fur and skin industries, sewage and effluent treatment, agriculture, meat, fish and poultry industries, olive oil, vegetable oils, and fruit juice industries, health and beauty and pharmaceutical industries, microbial control and insecticide/biocide, soil remediation, and heat and energy conducting fluids.