The present invention provides a nitric-oxide containing composite in the form of microparticles, wherein said microparticles comprise: (i) a core which comprises silica; (ii) a layer on said core which comprises a metal-organic framework; and (iii) nitric oxide;
wherein said metal-organic framework comprises organic ligands comprising at least one amine group, said metal-organic framework is uniformly distributed on the surface of said silica core and said nitric oxide is chemisorbed within said metal-organic framework.

Methods are disclosed for dispersing nanoparticles in solvents, involving the use of a cationic species and an anionic species, where at least one of the ionic species is soluble in the nonpolar solvent and the other ionic species has a relatively strong affinity for the surface of the nanoparticles. The cationic species and the anionic species together form a cluster of ion pairs shielding the nanoparticles and enhancing their dispersibility in the nonpolar solvent.

Methods are disclosed for dispersing nanoparticles in solvents, involving the use of a cationic species and an anionic species, where at least one of the ionic species is soluble in the nonpolar solvent and the other ionic species has a relatively strong affinity for the surface of the nanoparticles. The cationic species and the anionic species together form a cluster of ion pairs shielding the nanoparticles and enhancing their dispersibility in the nonpolar solvent.

Embodiments of a article including include a substrate and a patterned coating are provided. In one or more embodiments, when a strain is applied to the article, the article exhibits a failure strain of 0.5% or greater. Patterned coating may include a particulate coating or may include a discontinuous coating. The patterned coating of some embodiments may cover about 20% to about 75% of the surface area of the substrate. Methods for forming such articles are also provided.

Embodiments of a article including include a substrate and a patterned coating are provided. In one or more embodiments, when a strain is applied to the article, the article exhibits a failure strain of 0.5% or greater. Patterned coating may include a particulate coating or may include a discontinuous coating. The patterned coating of some embodiments may cover about 20% to about 75% of the surface area of the substrate. Methods for forming such articles are also provided.

The present invention relates in one aspect to the discovery of novel mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) templated around and comprising benzalkonium chloride (BAC). In certain embodiments, the BAC-SiO.sub.2 mesoporous nanoparticles are capable of sustained release of BAC under acidic conditions, thereby acting as a long release antimicrobial agent. In other embodiments, the BAC-SiO.sub.2 mesoporous nanoparticles can be incorporated into a variety of consumer products as an antimicrobial agent additive, including for example, but not limited to, surgical dressings, bandages, deodorants, soaps, facial cleansers and industrial cleaners.

Provided is a hydrophobic silica powder that can be obtained by the sol-gel process, and that is excellent in charge properties. The hydrophobic silica powder has a hydrophobicity of 50% or more, a saturated water content of 4% or less, and a nitrogen content of 0.05% or more.

The present invention relates to hollow silica particles, which each includes a shell layer containing silica and a space inside the shell layer, in which the hollow silica particles have a peak intensity derived from SiOH at a wavenumber of around 3,746 cm.sup.−1 of 0.60 or less by infrared spectroscopy, a relative permittivity at 1 GHz of from 1.3 to 5.0 and a dielectric loss tangent at 1 GHz of from 0.0001 to 0.05.

The present invention relates to hollow silica particles, which each includes a shell layer containing silica and a space inside the shell layer, in which the hollow silica particles have a peak intensity derived from SiOH at a wavenumber of around 3,746 cm.sup.−1 of 0.60 or less by infrared spectroscopy, a relative permittivity at 1 GHz of from 1.3 to 5.0 and a dielectric loss tangent at 1 GHz of from 0.0001 to 0.05.

A microsphere of oxide has an opening on its surface connected to a hollow core inside, forming a cavity. The oxide the microsphere is made of is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zirconia, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and titania. The microsphere of oxide shows better mass and heat transfer characteristics, and has strength significantly higher than that of existing products with similar structures. A FT synthesis catalyst has the microsphere of oxide as a support and an active metal component disposed on the support. The active metal component is one or more selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ru.