Hybrid organic-inorganic nano-particles

Abstract

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.

1 . Hybrid organic-inorganic core-shell nano-particles obtained by a method comprising the steps of:
 a) forming colloidal organic particles as a template;   b) adding at least one inorganic oxide precursor; and   c) forming an inorganic shell layer from the precursor on the template to result in core-shell nano-particles.   
     
     
         2 . The core-shell nano-particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal organic particles formed according to step a) are based on an organic synthetic polyampholyte and have an average particle size of 5-500 nm as measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) by copolymerizing monomers comprised of:
 (i) 8-20 mole % of at least one monomer M1 selected from the group consisting of amino-functional (meth)acrylates and (meth)acrylamides;   (ii) 1-4 mole % of at least one monomer M2 selected from (meth)acrylic monomers with a carboxylic acid group; and   (iii) 76-91 mole % of at least one monomer M3 selected from C1-C18 alkyl (meth)acrylates.   
     
     
         3 . The core-shell nano-particles according to  claim 1  further comprising a functional compound. 
     
     
         4 . A coating composition for making an anti-reflective layer on a substrate, wherein the coating composition comprises the core-shell nano-particles according to  claim 1 , at least one solvent and optionally at least one binder. 
     
     
         5 . The coating composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the binder is at least one inorganic oxide precursor selected from the group of metal salts, metal chelates and organo-metallic compounds of Si, Al, Ti, and Zr. 
     
     
         6 . The coating composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the inorganic oxide precursor comprises an alkoxy silane. 
     
     
         7 . A process for making an anti-reflective coated transparent substrate comprising the steps of applying the coating composition according to  claim 4  to a substrate; and drying and curing the applied coating layer on the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . A product which comprises the core-shell nano-particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of encapsulating agents, catalyst supports, filler materials, and optical coating components.