A method of preparing a metal nanorod. The method includes seeding a metal nanoparticle within the lumen of a nanotube, and growing a metal nanorod from the seeded metal nanoparticle to form a metal nanorod-nanotube composite. In some cases, the nanotube includes metal binding ligands attached to the inner surface. Growing of the metal nanorod includes incubating the seeded nanotube in a solution that includes: a metal source for the metal in the metal nanorod, the metal source including an ion of the metal; a coordinating ligand that forms a stable complex with the metal ion; a reducing agent for reducing the metal ion, and a capping agent that stabilizes atomic monomers of the metal. Compositions derived from the method are also provided.

A composite particle includes a discrete, hollow, ceramic spheroid and a fluoropolymer layer disposed thereon. The fluoropolymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of a perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether; a perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether; at least one fluoroolefin independently represented by formula C(R).sub.2CFRf, wherein Rf is fluorine or a perfluoroalkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine; or a combination thereof. Methods of making the composite particles, composite materials, and articles including them are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a simple and economical process for preparation of metal-coated non-metallic nano/micro particles. The nano/micro particles are composed of a core and metallic coat over the core using silver or other transition/noble metals. The core of the non-metallic nano/micro particles are selected from inorganic material such as silica, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, or emulsion grade polyvinyl chloride and other polymers prepared by emulsion process including porous polymers. The metal coating is selected from the transition/noble metals such as copper, nickel, silver, palladium, platinum, osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, and such other metals and their combinations that are easily reducible to elemental metal.

There is described a process for depositing carbon on a surface, comprising, while contacting a mixture of CO.sub.2 and Br.sub.2 with a polar substrate presenting apposed surfaces, exposing a sufficient area of said mixture in the region of said apposed surfaces to light of sufficient intensity and frequency to result in deposition of carbon on at least some of said apposed surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.

A composite particle includes a discrete, hollow, ceramic spheroid and a fluoropolymer layer disposed thereon. The fluoropolymer is an amorphous homopolymer or copolymer of a perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether; a perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether; at least one fTuorookfe independently represented by formula C(R).sub.2CFRf; wherein Rf is fluorine or a perfluoroalkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine; or a combination thereof. Methods of making the composite particles, composite materials, and articles including them are also disclosed.

A silica particle includes a silica particle body and a titania coating layer formed on a surface of the silica particle body through a reaction of a titanium compound having a structure in which a hydrocarbon group bonds to a titanium atom through an oxygen atom. The silica particle has absorption at a wavelength of about 400 nm or more and about 800 nm or less in an ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum.

A process of growth in the thickness of at least one facet of a colloidal inorganic sheet. By sheet is meant a structure having at least one dimension, the thickness, of nanometric size and lateral dimensions great compared to the thickness, typically more than 5 times the thickness. By homostructured is meant a material of homogeneous composition in the thickness and by heterostructured is meant a material of heterogeneous composition in the thickness. The process allows the deposition of at least one monolayer of atoms on at least one inorganic colloidal sheet, this monolayer being constituted of atoms of the type of those contained or not in the sheet. Homostructured and heterostructured materials resulting from such process as well as the applications of the materials are also described.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for coating primary particles with secondary particles using dual asymmetric centrifugal forces wherein, the primary particles comprise (a) at least one metal, or (b) at least one ceramic; the secondary particles comprise at least one metal or salt thereof; and wherein the secondary particles are more malleable than the primary particles.