The present application provides a self-healing material which comprises silica sol as self-healing agent encapsulated by a polymeric shell. The self-healing material may be further embedded in a concrete mixture to heal micro-cracks in concrete. A method for preparing the self-healing material is also provided.

Disclosed are novel metallic nanoparticles coated with a thin protective carbon shell, and three-dimensional nano-metallic sponges; methods of preparation of the nanoparticles; and uses for these novel materials, including wood preservation, strengthening of polymer and fiber/polymer building materials, and catalysis.

The present disclosure relates to a method of encapsulating microcapsules containing relatively high temperature phase change materials and the microcapsules so produced. The microcapsules are coated with an inorganic binder, film former and an inorganic filler. The microcapsules may include a sacrificial layer that is disposed between the particle and the coating. The microcapsules may also include an inner coating layer, sacrificial layer and outer coating layer. The microcapsules are particularly useful for thermal energy storage in connection with, e.g., heat collected from concentrating solar collectors.

The present application provides a self-healing material which comprises silica sol as self-healing agent encapsulated by a polymeric shell. The self-healing material may be further embedded in a concrete mixture to heal micro-cracks in concrete. A method for preparing the self-healing material is also provided.

A method is provided for synthesizing a core-shell nanoparticle that includes the following steps: providing a polymeric seed (in a solvent) that includes mono-vinyl monomer cross-liniked with a cross-linking agent to form the core of the nanoparticle, the core has an average diameter of from about nanometers to about 10,000 nanometers, and the core has polymer chains with living ends; adding a stabilizer to stabilize the seed and prevent the seed from precipitating out of solution; and grafting a shell species onto the living ends of the core to form the shell of the nanoparticle. A core-first synthesized nanoparticle, along with a rubber composition and tire product are also provided.

A method for producing nanocomposite particles is provided. The method comprises supplying an organic phase fluid an organic phase fluid, an aqueous phase fluid, an amphiphile, and a plurality of hydrophobic nanospecies to a nozzle. An electric field is generated proximate the nozzle such that the fluid exiting the nozzle forms a cone jet that disperses into a plurality of droplets. The plurality of droplets are collected, and nanocomposite particles comprising a self-assembled structure encapsulating at least one hydrophobic nanospecies form by self-assembly.

The present application provides a self-healing material which comprises silica sol as self-healing agent encapsulated by a polymeric shell. The self-healing material may be further embedded in a concrete mixture to heal micro-cracks in concrete. A method for preparing the self-healing material is also provided.

We disclose novel metallic nanoparticles coated with a thin protective carbon shell, and three-dimensional nano-metallic sponges; methods of preparation of the nanoparticles; and uses for these novel materials, including wood preservation, strengthening of polymer and fiber/polymer building materials, and catalysis.

A method of producing nanoparticles comprises effecting conversion of a nanoparticle precursor composition to the material of the nanoparticles. The precursor composition comprises a first precursor species containing a first ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles and a separate second precursor species containing a second ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles. The conversion is effected in the presence of a molecular cluster compound under conditions permitting seeding and growth of the nanoparticles.

A method of producing nanoparticles comprises effecting conversion of a molecular cluster compound to the material of the nanoparticles. The molecular cluster compound comprises a first ion and a second ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles. The conversion can be effected in the presence of a second molecular cluster compound comprising a third ion and a fourth ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles, under conditions permitting seeding and growth of the nanoparticles via consumption of a first molecular cluster compound.