Core-shell-core nanoparticles of an iron-cobalt alloy core, a silica shell and a manganese bismuth alloy core or nanoparticle on the surface of the silica shell (FeCo/SiO.sub.2/MnBi) are provided. The core-shell-core nanoparticles are alternative materials to rare-earth permanent magnets because of the hard magnetic manganese bismuth in nanometer proximity to the soft magnetic iron cobalt.

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 nanoshell is disclosed, comprising a star polymer occlusion complex comprising i) an amphiphilic unimolecular star polymer having a crosslinked core covalently linked to 6 or more independent polymer arms, and ii) a cargo material occluded in the star polymer; and a shell comprising an inorganic material in contact with a peripheral surface of the star polymer occlusion complex.

A semiconductor nanocrystal including a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with an improved photoluminescence quantum efficiency. Also disclosed are populations of semiconductor nanocrystals, compositions and devices including a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting light with an improved photoluminescence quantum efficiency. In one embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light upon excitation with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 65%. In another embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising zinc, cadmium, and sulfur and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material. In a further embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core comprises a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 60% upon excitation. In a further embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal including a core comprises a first semiconductor material comprising zinc, cadmium, and selenium and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 60% upon excitation.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

A colored platelet including a substrate, an adhesion layer, a color pigment layer, and a secure layer and a method of producing the colored platelet are described. The disclosed colored platelet can provide a superior bright color effect in a coating composition. The color effect can depend on the material used for the substrate and/or the color pigment layer.

A semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting blue light upon excitation. Also disclosed are devices, populations of semiconductor nanocrystals, and compositions including a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting blue light upon excitation. In one embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting blue light including a maximum peak emission at a wavelength not greater than about 470 nm with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 65% upon excitation. In another embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting blue light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 65% upon excitation. In a further embodiment, a semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light including a maximum peak emission in the blue region of the spectrum upon excitation.

A thixomolding material includes: a metal body that contains Mg as a main component; and a coating portion that is adhered to a surface of the metal body via a binder and contains SiC particles containing SiC as a main component. A mass fraction of the SiC particles in a total mass of the metal body and the SiC particles is 2.0 mass % or more and 40.0 mass % or less. The binder may contain waxes. A content of the binder may be 0.001 mass % or more and 0.200 mass % or less.

A method for surface treatment of a metal material in a powder state is provided, the method including obtaining a powder formed from a plurality of particles of the metal material to be treated; and subjecting the powder to an ion implantation process by directing a beam of singly-charged or multi-charged ions towards an outer surface of the particles, the beam being produced by a source of singly-charged or multi-charged ions, whereby the particles have an overall spherical shape with a radius (R). There is also provided a material in a powder state formed from a plurality of particles having a ceramic outer layer and a metal core, the particles having an overall spherical shape.