The invention relates to a method for providing a composition selected from the group consisting of aqueous pastes, inks, paints and coating formulations with retroreflective properties, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation without retroreflective properties, said aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation having a viscosity η.sub.1 of between 0.25 and 1000 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate of 0.01 s.sup.-1; b) providing an aqueous pseudoplastic gel composition comprising a thickener; c) admixing the aqueous ink, paint or coating formulation provided in step (a) with the aqueous pseudoplastic gel composition provided in step (b) in a weight ratio of between 30 : 70 to 70 : 30; and d) admixing the mixture obtained in step (c) with 0 - 2 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation with retroreflective properties, of a thickener.

Composite coatings that passively cool when exposed to the sky are provided. The composite coatings are suitable for increasing atmospheric condensation on a surface of a substrate. In particular, the composite coatings may be suitable for capturing atmospheric water. Also provided are methods for producing the composites coatings, methods for coating the surface of substrates with the composite coatings, methods for condensing and collecting atmospheric water, and systems for collecting condensed atmospheric water.

A composition for coating an overhead conductor is disclosed comprising: (i) a reflective agent; (ii) a photocatalytic agent comprising ≥70 wt % anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) having an average particle size (“aps”) ≤100 nm; (iii) a non-aqueous solvent; and (iv) one or more alkyl silicate binders.

As climate change and global energy consumption manifest in rising global temperatures and heat-islands, cooling living environments has become an urgent challenge. In developed settings, air-conditioning of buildings consumes energy, generates heat and releases greenhouse gases—exacerbating cooling needs. In developing regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, inadequate power infrastructure for cooling buildings has led to rising casualties during summers. Passive cooling technologies, which are sustainable alternatives to active cooling methods are provided. Systems and methods for passive radiative cooling coatings are provided as an effective approach for passive daytime radiative cooling of buildings.

A radiative cooling composition comprises a first component having >55% reflectance in a wavelength range of 0.2 to 2.5 μm and a second component having >0.85 peak thermal emissivity for at least one wavelength in a range of 4-35 μm. A third pigmented component of the composition is configured to emit at least a fraction of absorbed energy, and in certain embodiments the pigmented component comprises at least one phosphor.

A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a storage device for storing instructions for performing a matching protocol, and one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to, receive, by one or more data processors, target image data of a target coating, the target image data generated by an electronic imaging device, and apply the target image data to a matching protocol to generate application instructions. The system further includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured expel the coating composition based on the application instructions.

An article includes a reflector having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface; and a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector; wherein the third surface of the reflector is open. A method of making an article is also disclosed.

This invention refers to a paint composition with prolonged release biocides to repel, reduce, and control insects, characterized by: a) A cbp vehicle, preferably a water-based acrylic vinyl paint; b) At least one pyrethroid biocide or its mixture, selected from: b1) microencapsulated deltamethrin as an active ingredient; b2) microencapsulated cypermethrin as an active ingredient; Where said pyrethroid biocides are activated or catalyzed through (PBO) piperonyl butoxide, and Wherein said microcapsules of the active ingredients are obtained through a microencapsulation process by interfacial polymerization, and/or a microencapsulation by ionic gelation process, for a prolonged release with regards to the biocidal active ingredients' interval.

A system for creating targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle compositions comprising a stock reaction mixture that is a fluid combination of at least one vanadium source combined with at least one dopant source. Each dopant source contains at least one target dopant element. The ratio of the number of vanadium atoms in the vanadium source to the number of target dopant element atoms in the dopant source is less than or equal to 10:1. A solvent that is compatible with said stock reaction mixture is selected. A pressure regulator increases the pressure of the solvent and the stock reaction mixture to between 0 and 5,000 psi. A heating element increases the temperature of the solvent to between 50 and 500° C. A mixing unit receives and mixes a continuous flow of stock reaction mixture with solvent to heat the stock reaction mixture and initiate formation of the targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle composition.

According to some embodiments, a structural colorant is provided including a semi-continuous structure formed by multiple layers of a first polymer. In some embodiments, air gaps are interspersed between the layers of the first polymer. In some embodiments, a second polymer is interspersed between the layers of the first polymer. In some embodiments, the semi-continuous structure has a center and at least two planes of symmetry through its center.