A process for forming thermoelectric nanoparticles includes the steps of a) forming a core material micro-emulsion, b) adding at least one shell material to the core material micro-emulsion forming composite thermoelectric nanoparticles having a core and shell structure.

A process for forming thermoelectric nanoparticles includes the steps of a) forming a core material micro-emulsion, b) adding at least one shell material to the core material micro-emulsion forming composite thermoelectric nanoparticles having a core and shell structure.

A reflective material comprising a multilayered array of particles encapsulated by a matrix material, the reflective material defining a primary surface, the reflective material exhibiting: (i) visible retroreflection of incident radiation, wherein a wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation decreases from a first visible wavelength at a first angle to the primary surface to a second, shorter wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation as the viewing angle to the primary surface increases; and (ii) Bragg diffraction of the incident radiation, wherein the wavelength of radiation Bragg diffracted normal to the primary surface is longer than the wavelength of visible radiation, such that no visible radiation is retroreflected or Bragg diffracted in a direction normal to the primary surface.

A reflective material comprising a multilayered array of particles encapsulated by a matrix material, the reflective material defining a primary surface, the reflective material exhibiting: (i) visible retroreflection of incident radiation, wherein a wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation decreases from a first visible wavelength at a first angle to the primary surface to a second, shorter wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation as the viewing angle to the primary surface increases; and (ii) Bragg diffraction of the incident radiation, wherein the wavelength of radiation Bragg diffracted normal to the primary surface is longer than the wavelength of visible radiation, such that no visible radiation is retroreflected or Bragg diffracted in a direction normal to the primary surface.

With an aim to provide a method for producing an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics and also provide an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics, the present invention provides a method for producing an oxide particle, wherein the color characteristics of the oxide particle are controlled by controlling a ratio of an M-OH bond between an element (M) and a hydroxide group (OH) or an M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio, where the element (M) is one element or plural different elements other than oxygen or hydrogen included in the oxide particle selected from metal oxide particles and semi-metal oxide particles. According to the present invention, by controlling the M-OH bond or the M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio of the metal oxide particle or the semi-metal oxide particle, the oxide particle with controlled color characteristics of any of reflectance, transmittance, molar absorption coefficient, hue, and saturation can be provided.

The present invention relates to water-dispersable microcapsules comprising an oil phase, e.g. a perfume, containing a photolabile polymer comprising α-ketoacid or α-ketoester group capable of generating a gas upon exposure to light. The gas is able to cause an extension or the breaking of the microcapsule allowing the release of the oil phase and thus increasing the long-lastingness of the odor perception. The present invention concerns also the use of said microcapsules in perfumery as well as perfuming compositions or perfumed articles comprising the invention's microcapsules to provide a prolonged release of fragrant molecules.

The present invention relates to water-dispersable microcapsules comprising an oil phase, e.g. a perfume, containing a photolabile polymer comprising α-ketoacid or α-ketoester group capable of generating a gas upon exposure to light. The gas is able to cause an extension or the breaking of the microcapsule allowing the release of the oil phase and thus increasing the long-lastingness of the odor perception. The present invention concerns also the use of said microcapsules in perfumery as well as perfuming compositions or perfumed articles comprising the invention's microcapsules to provide a prolonged release of fragrant molecules.

A semiconductor nanoparticle includes a core and a shell covering a surface of the core. The shell has a larger bandgap energy than the core and is in heterojunction with the core. The semiconductor nanoparticle emits light when irradiated with light. The core is made of a semiconductor that contains M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and Z. M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, and Au. M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In and Tl. Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te. The shell is made of a semiconductor that consists essentially of a Group 13 element and a Group 16 element.

A semiconductor nanoparticle includes a core and a shell covering a surface of the core. The shell has a larger bandgap energy than the core and is in heterojunction with the core. The semiconductor nanoparticle emits light when irradiated with light. The core is made of a semiconductor that contains M.sup.1, M.sup.2, and Z. M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, and Au. M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In and Tl. Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te. The shell is made of a semiconductor that consists essentially of a Group 13 element and a Group 16 element.

Methods of synthesizing colloidal ternary Group III-V nanocrystals are provided. Also provided are the colloidal ternary Group III-V nanocrystals made using the methods. In the methods, molten inorganic salts are used as high temperature solvents to carry out cation exchange reactions that convert binary nanocrystals into ternary nanocrystals.