Reversible multi-responsive and multi-patterned nanocoatings
AssigneesKaneka Corporation, University of Connecticut
InventorsLuyi Sun, Jingjing Liu, Songshan Zheng, Thomas D'Auria, Young Hoon Lim, Tianlei Zhou, Masaya Kotaki
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Abstract
Hybrid organic/inorganic coating compositions of nanometer thickness are described, where the organic layer is a clay-containing layer comprising a clay and a hydrophilic polymer and the inorganic layer is a metal-containing layer comprising a metal with a refractive index greater than 1.5, where the coating compositions allow for the generation and tenability of iridescent color through control of the coat thickness.
Claims34
A composition comprising:
- a. a metal-containing layer comprising a metal having a refractive index of less than 1 or greater than 2 in a visible light range;
- and
- b. one or more clay-containing layers in direct contact with the metal-containing layer, where the clay-containing layer comprises a clay and a hydrophilic polymer,
- wherein the composition transitions from a non-iridescent state to an iridescent state upon exposure to a water-containing liquid.
A method of coating a surface with an iridescence-generating composition, the method comprising:
- applying to a surface a metal-containing layer comprising a metal with a refractive index less than 1 or greater than 2 in a visible light range;
- applying one or more clay-containing layers comprising a clay and a hydrophilic polymer and directly on the metal-containing layer;
- and
- applying a crosslinking agent to the one or more of the clay-containing layers to crosslink at least a portion of the clay with the hydrophilic polymer;
- and
- wherein the composition transitions from a non-iridescent state to an iridescent state upon exposure to a water-containing liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.