Surface-Modified Transition Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, Method of Making the Same, and Curable Composition and Article Including the Same

Abstract

A method of making surface-functionalized transition metal oxide nanoparticles comprises: providing a sol comprising transition metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in an aqueous liquid medium having a pH of less than or equal to 3.5, combining the sol with an extractant composition comprising at least one carboxylic acid and at least one organic amine, and a water-immiscible organic solvent, and separating at least a portion of the organic phase from the aqueous phase and then at least partially removing the water-immiscible organic solvent. The carboxylic acid has from 6 to 30 atoms. The organic amine has is 1° or 2° and has from 6 to 34 carbon atoms. The at least one organic amine is present in an amount sufficient raise the pH to at least 5, thereby forming discrete separable aqueous and organic phases. A surface-modified nanoparticle composition, a curable composition and an article comprising the same are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.