The present disclosure provides a stable aqueous composition comprising an aqueous component, a hydrophobic complex comprised of a multivalent metal salt complexed with nanocellulose fibers and lignin, with the composition exhibiting a viscosity sufficient to prevent coalescing and settling of the hydrophobic complex in the aqueous component. The composition may be used to coat surfaces of articles to produce a hydrophobic surface. Once applied to the surface, the aqueous coating is spread to form a wet film covering the surface and is then dewatered and dried to produce a dried hydrophobic coating.

A heat-ray shielding particle dispersing liquid includes heat-ray shielding particles at least containing composite tungsten oxide particles and indium tin oxide particles, the weight ratio of the composite tungsten oxide particles and the indium tin oxide particles in the heat-ray shielding particles being within a range of “composite tungsten oxide particles”/“indium tin oxide particles”=99/1 to 22/78; and a liquid medium.

The invention relates to a method of making hybrid organic-inorganic core-shell nano-particles, comprising the steps of a) providing colloidal organic particles comprising a synthetic polyampholyte as a template; b) adding at least one inorganic oxide precursor; and c) forming a shell layer from the precursor on the template to result in core-shell nano-particles. With this method it is possible to make colloidal organic template particles having an average particle size in the range of 10 to 300 nm; which size can be controlled by the comonomer composition of the polyampholyte, and/or by selecting dispersion conditions.

The invention also relates to organic-inorganic or hollow-inorganic core-shell nano-particles obtained with this method, to compositions comprising such nano-particles, to different uses of said nano-particles and compositions, and to products comprising or made from said nano-particles and compositions, including anti-reflective coatings and composite materials.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

Disclosed are transparent conductors comprising a substrate, and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises a first conductive medium comprising a plurality of metal nanowires, and a second conductive medium comprising a plurality of conductive nanoparticles, and methods for forming the same.

Methods for manufacturing a carbon-containing glass material are disclosed. The method includes flowing a hydrocarbon gas and silane into a reactor, and providing an additive to the reactor. The method includes generating a non-thermal equilibrium plasma based on excitement of the hydrocarbon gas and the silane by a microwave energy, where the non-thermal equilibrium plasma includes a plurality of methyl radicals. The method includes ion-bombarding the glass material with at least the methyl radicals to create an interphase region. The method includes forming a plurality of FLG nanoplatelets within the interphase region based on recombination or self-nucleation of the methyl radicals. The FLG nanoplatelets may be dispersed throughout the interphase region in a non-periodic orientation that at least partially inhibits formation of cracks in the glass material. The method includes doping surfaces of the FLG nanoplatelets with the additive, and intercalating the additive between adjacent graphene layers within the FLG nanoplatelets formed in the glass material.

A process for forming a fingerprint-resistant coating on a substrate comprising activating the substrate by exposure to a plasma, and then depositing on the activated substrate at least one alkyl backbone monolayer, and hydroxyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OH—POSS) nanoparticles.

Embodiments of methods for forming strengthened glass articles comprise providing an exchangeable glass substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between about 60×10-7/° C. to about 110×10-7/° C., depositing at least one decorative porous inorganic layer onto at least a portion of the surface of the glass substrate, wherein the decorative porous inorganic layer comprises a glass transition temperature (Tg)≥450° C., a glass softening temperature (Ts)≤650° C., wherein the difference in CTE values between the glass substrate and the decorative porous inorganic layer is within 10×10-7/° C.; and curing the glass substrate and the deposited decorative porous inorganic layer at a temperature greater than the Ts of the decorative porous inorganic layer; and chemically strengthening the cured glass substrate and the decorative porous inorganic layer thereon via ion exchange at a temperature below the Tg of the decorative porous inorganic layer.

A method comprising: digital printing a heat curable aqueous composition onto a substrate, wherein the composition comprises: (a) at least one water soluble synthetic alkali metal silicate; and (b)(i) at least one pigment or (b)(ii) at least one additive selected from aluminum oxide, ceramic microspheres, recycled ground glass, or calcium carbonate; and wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from glass, ceramic, textile, polymeric, metal, wood, or a combination thereof.

A coated glass or glass ceramic substrate includes a substrate with a surface area and a coating on that surface area. The coating includes a glass matrix and IR-reflecting pigments. The IR-reflecting pigments have a TSR value of at least 20%, as determined according to ASTM G 173. The coating, at a wavelength of 1500 nm, exhibits a remission of at least 35%, as measured according to ISO 13468.