The invention relates to a method for obtaining a magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) sol solution, comprising the steps of providing a magnesium alkoxide precursor in a non-aqueous solvent and adding 1.85 to 2.05 molar equivalents of non-aqueous hydrofluoric acid, characterized in that the reaction proceeds in the presence of a second magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of magnesium, or of a catalytic amount of a strong, volatile acid; and/or an additive non-magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of lithium, antimony, tin calcium, strontium, barium, aluminium, silicium, zirconium, titanium or zinc. The invention further relates to sol solutions, method of applying the sol solutions of the invention to surfaces as a coating, and to antireflective coatings obtained thereby.

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.

The present invention provides highly densified hybrid sol-gel coatings with surfaces functionalised with highly adherent inorganic chemistries. The invention also provides methods for preparing the hybrid sol-gel coatings of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments of the hybrid sol-gel coating and of the method of preparation, respectively, are provided in the dependent claims Preferably, the present invention provides a highly densified hybrid sol-gel coating based on the interconnectivity of two hybrid networks formed from a methacrylate silane and a transition metal complex.

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.

Embodiments described herein may be useful for optofluidic devices. For example, optofluidic devices using dynamic fluid lens materials represent an ideal platform to create versatile, reconfigurable, refractive optical components. For example, the articles described herein may be useful as fluidic tunable compound micro-lenses. Such compound micro-lenses may be composed of two or more components (e.g., two or more inner phases) that form stable bi-phase emulsion droplets in outer phases (e.g., aqueous media). In some embodiments, the articles described herein may be useful as light emitting droplets. Advantageously, the plurality of droplets may be configured such that light rays may modified (e.g., via stimulation of the droplets, exposure to an analyte such as a pathogen) to have a detectable emission intensity and/or angle of maximum emission intensity under a particular set of conditions.

Colloids comprising inorganic nanocrystals dispersed in a molten salt or a liquid metal are provided. The molten salt may comprise an ion which is a Lewis acid or a Lewis base in the presence of the inorganic nanocrystals. Solid composites formed from the colloids are also provided. Methods of using the colloids as media for inducing chemical transformations using the inorganic nanocrystals are also provided.

A device for generating bubbles or droplets may include a cavity comprising a first pressurized phase, at least one input capillary of a second phase, and an output capillary coaxially aligned with the at least one input capillary. The opening of the tip of the at least one input capillary has an internal diameter of less than half the internal diameter of the output capillary. The cross section of the cavity may be selected so that, in use, the average speed field in the cavity is quasi-static.

The invention discloses a biologically active zirconia denture has a gradient structure, the gradient structure consisting of a biomimetic nano-gradient biologically active outer surface layer, the nano-gradient outer surface layer is composed of zirconia nanocrystals and a plurality of nanopores penetrating gradiently through the layer, a micron-gradient biocompatible inner layer, the micron-gradient inner surface layer is composed of zirconia microncrystals and a plurality of micronpores penetrating gradiently through the layer, a dense micron-gradient biocompatible matrix structure, a uniform gradient transition is formed at the interface between the nano-gradient outer layer and the micron-gradient inner layer, and the micron-gradient inner layer and the matrix. The invention has the advantages of high strength, high toughness, low friction coefficient, low abrasion to the teeth, good biocompatibility and biological activity.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining a magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) sol solution, comprising the steps of providing a magnesium alkoxide precursor in a non-aqueous solvent and adding 1.85 to 2.05 molar equivalents of non-aqueous hydrofluoric acid, characterized in that the reaction proceeds in the presence of a second magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of magnesium, or of a catalytic amount of a strong, volatile acid; and/or an additive non-magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of lithium, antimony, tin calcium, strontium, barium, aluminium, silicium, zirconium, titanium or zinc. The invention further relates to sol solutions, method of applying the sol solutions of the invention to surfaces as a coating, and to antireflective coatings obtained thereby.

Embodiments described herein may be useful for optofluidic devices. For example, optofluidic devices using dynamic fluid lens materials represent an ideal platform to create versatile, reconfigurable, refractive optical components. For example, the articles described herein may be useful as fluidic tunable compound micro-lenses. Such compound micro-lenses may be composed of two or more components (e.g., two or more inner phases) that form stable bi-phase emulsion droplets in outer phases (e.g., aqueous media). In some embodiments, the articles described herein may be useful as light emitting droplets. Advantageously, the plurality of droplets may be configured such that light rays may modified (e.g., via stimulation of the droplets, exposure to an analyte such as a pathogen) to have a detectable emission intensity and/or angle of maximum emission intensity under a particular set of conditions.