A nanostructured material system for efficient collection of photo-excited carriers is provided. They system comprises a plurality of plasmonic metal nitride core material elements coupled to a plurality of semiconductor material elements. The plasmonic nanostructured elements form ohmic junctions at the surface of the semiconductor material or at close proximity with the semiconductor material elements. A nanostructured material system for efficient collection of photo-excited carriers is also provided, comprising a plurality of plasmonic transparent conducting oxide core material elements coupled to a plurality of semiconductor material elements. The field enhancement, local temperature increase and energized hot carriers produced by nanostructures of these plasmonic material systems play enabling roles in various chemical processes. They induce, enhance, or mediate catalytic activities in the neighborhood when excited near the resonance frequencies.

Disclosed are a vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition and a method of preparing the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite. According to the present invention, a method of preparing a straight vinyl chloride based nanocomposite having a nanomaterial uniformly dispersed therein, by using the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition when a vinyl chloride monomer is suspension polymerized in the presence of a protective colloidal agent and a polymerization initiator after preparing a water dispersion suspension using the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition based on a hydrophilic composition is provided.

Disclosed are a vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition and a method of preparing the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite. According to the present invention, a method of preparing a straight vinyl chloride based nanocomposite having a nanomaterial uniformly dispersed therein, by using the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition when a vinyl chloride monomer is suspension polymerized in the presence of a protective colloidal agent and a polymerization initiator after preparing a water dispersion suspension using the vinyl chloride based nanocomposite composition based on a hydrophilic composition is provided.

Provided is a viscous dispersion liquid useful for forming a semiconductor porous film (porous semiconductor layer) by low-temperature deposition. The viscous dispersion liquid contains water as a dispersion medium, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, wherein the viscous dispersion liquid has a solid content concentration of 30% by mass to 60% by mass, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles include anatase crystalline titanium dioxide nanoparticles having an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 nm, and brookite crystalline titanium dioxide nanoparticles having an average particle diameter of 5 nm to 15 nm, and the viscous dispersion liquid has a viscosity of 10 Pa.Math.s to 500 Pa.Math.s at 25 C.

Provided is a titanium dioxide pigment having minimal yellow color and minimal yellowing due to exposure, i.e., good yellowing resistance and high pigment performance such as brightness. Also provided is a titanium dioxide pigment which has a reduced amount of volatile moisture and which does not readily decompose when blended with a resin or the like. In the present invention, a compound including 0.05-20% by mass of phosphorus and an alkaline earth metal is present on surfaces of titanium dioxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.15-1.0 m. The titanium dioxide pigment is manufactured by mixing an alkaline earth metal compound, a phosphate compound, and titanium dioxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.15-1.0 m, and bonding the compound including phosphorus and an alkaline earth metal to the titanium dioxide particles.

The present invention relates to partial decarboxylation of polyitaconic acid polymers or copolymers. The partially decarboxylated resins are suitable for use in preparation of dispersions as well as for anti-scaling applications.

A porous plate-shaped filler is a plate shape having an aspect ratio of 3 or more, and has a minimum length of 0.1 to 50 m and a porosity of 20 to 90%. Furthermore, the porous plate-shaped filler 1 includes plate-shaped pores 2 having an aspect ratio of 1.5 or more. Consequently, in the porous plate-shaped filler, a thermal conductivity is low. The heat insulation film includes the porous plate-shaped filler, whereby a heat insulation effect of the heat insulation film can improve.

Provided are surface-treated fine particles which, when added to coatings for the production of films, exhibit excellent reactivity with respect to organosilicon compounds and resins that are matrix components of the coating films, and thereby allow the films to exhibit excellent performance. Oligomer-modified fine particles include inorganic oxide fine particles having a surface modified with an oligomer, the oligomer being derived from a metal alkoxide represented by Formula (1): R.sub.nM.sub.1(OR).sub.z-n (1) wherein M.sub.1: one or more elements selected from Si, Ti, Zr and Al; R and R: one or more groups selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups and vinyl groups; n: an integer of from 0 to (z2); and z: the valence of M.sub.1. The oligomer has a polymerization degree of 3 or more. The oligomer has a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 10000.