Provided are: silica-coated particles which have satisfactory dispersibility in resins and liquid materials, have functional groups capable of reacting with resins, and also has satisfactory slipperiness as well as water repellency; and a method for producing the silica-coated particles. Silica-coated particles, in which the surface of each of solid particles (A) is coated with silica (B), a part or the whole of a hydroxyl group on the surface of the silica (B) is reacted with at least one component (C) selected from an organoalkoxysilane and a hydrolysate thereof and an organosilazane, wherein the amount of the silica (B) is 0.5 to 100 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the solid particles (A).

Provided are: silica-coated particles which have satisfactory dispersibility in resins and liquid materials, have functional groups capable of reacting with resins, and also has satisfactory slipperiness as well as water repellency; and a method for producing the silica-coated particles. Silica-coated particles, in which the surface of each of solid particles (A) is coated with silica (B), a part or the whole of a hydroxyl group on the surface of the silica (B) is reacted with at least one component (C) selected from an organoalkoxysilane and a hydrolysate thereof and an organosilazane, wherein the amount of the silica (B) is 0.5 to 100 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the solid particles (A).

A functional element includes functional titanium oxide. The functional titanium oxide includes crystal grains of one or more of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5). The functional titanium oxide includes the property that at least a portion of crystal grains of one or more of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) changes into crystal grains of titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) when the functional titanium oxide is heated to 350° C. or higher.

A functional element includes functional titanium oxide. The functional titanium oxide includes crystal grains of one or more of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5). The functional titanium oxide includes the property that at least a portion of crystal grains of one or more of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) changes into crystal grains of titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) when the functional titanium oxide is heated to 350° C. or higher.

The present invention provides a titanium compound sol solution capable of enabling manufacturing of a film high in transparency and having an excellent photocatalyst effect by low-temperature processing, and a coating film using the same. The present invention is a titanium compound sol solution containing a particulate incomplete condensate obtained by condensing an alkoxy titanium, an α-substituted β-diketone, and a solvent.

The present invention provides a titanium compound sol solution capable of enabling manufacturing of a film high in transparency and having an excellent photocatalyst effect by low-temperature processing, and a coating film using the same. The present invention is a titanium compound sol solution containing a particulate incomplete condensate obtained by condensing an alkoxy titanium, an α-substituted β-diketone, and a solvent.

Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.

Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.

Nanoparticles including inorganic oxide particles and having good dispersibility, a dispersion of nanoparticles including said nanoparticles, and a production method of said nanoparticles are provided. Surfaces of inorganic oxide particles is functionalized with a functionalizing agent including niobium compound having a specific structure and a silane compound having a specific structure. The inorganic oxide particles are preferably titanium oxide particles or zirconium oxide particles. Average primary particle size of the nanoparticles measured by X-ray diffraction method is preferably 3 nm or more and 20 nm or less.

Nanoparticles including inorganic oxide particles and having good dispersibility, a dispersion of nanoparticles including said nanoparticles, and a production method of said nanoparticles are provided. Surfaces of inorganic oxide particles is functionalized with a functionalizing agent including niobium compound having a specific structure and a silane compound having a specific structure. The inorganic oxide particles are preferably titanium oxide particles or zirconium oxide particles. Average primary particle size of the nanoparticles measured by X-ray diffraction method is preferably 3 nm or more and 20 nm or less.