Abstract: A method of producing alkoxysilanes and precipitated silicas from biogenic silicas is provided. In a first step, biogenically concentrated silica is mixed with a liquid polyol to obtain a mixture, and then the mixture is heated. In a second step, a base is added to obtain a reaction mixture. In a third step, the reaction mixture is filtered to remove the carbon enriched RHA or other undissolved biogenic silica and recover the solution of alkoxysilane and alcoholate. In a fourth step, alkoxysilane is purified by filtering, distilling, precipitating or extracting from the original reaction solution to precipitate various forms of silica. In a final step, residual base present in alkoxysilane is neutralized to eliminate the residual alkali metal base.

Abstract: A method of forming a silsesquioxane/Q/siloxane polymer or oligomer system used to form coatings or monoliths, includes the step of mixing silsesquioxane, siloxane and alkoxysilane components having structures as presented below in ratios as presented below with a soluble F? catalyst and water in a suitable solvent so that on stirring at temperatures of ?20° to approximately 100° C. all of the components dissolve producing a solution. A soluble oligomer is formed in equilibribum with single molecules with specific structures including [RSiO1.5]x[R?MeSiO]y[R?Me2SiOSiO1.5]z (where R?R? or R? or R1 or R2 as denoted below) and where x, y and z are mole fractions whose sum is equal to one.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating comprising the steps of dissolving an silsesquioxane (e.g., one that is primarily a cage compound with 8, 10, 12, 14 or related complete cages or with partially condensed cages containing primarily Si(O)4 units in the cage) in a solvent to form an silsesquioxane solution; introducing (e.g., dissolving) an additive in the solution (e.g., the additive being selected from a rare earth compound, an acid, an organic moiety, a precious metal or compound thereof, a transition metal compound, or any combination thereof, or any of their ionic constituents); and optionally mixing a diluent with the solution to form a coating that is applied to a substrate, wherein the resulting coating forms crosslinks between resulting pendant Si(OH)x groups and a substrate surface. The present invention also contemplates coatings and coated articles consistent with the present teachings.

Abstract: A method of producing alkoxysilanes and precipitated silicas from biogenic silicas is provided. In a first step, biogenically concentrated silica is mixed with a liquid polyol to obtain a mixture, and then the mixture is heated. In a second step, a base is added to obtain a reaction mixture. In a third step, the reaction mixture is filtered to remove the carbon enriched RHA or other undissolved biogenic silica and recover the solution of alkoxysilane and alcoholate. In a fourth step, alkoxysilane is purified by filtering, distilling, precipitating or extracting from the original reaction solution to precipitate various forms of silica. In a final step, residual base present in alkoxysilane is neutralized to eliminate the residual alkali metal base.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for providing an agricultural waste product having amorphous silica, carbon, and impurities; extracting from the agricultural waste product an amount of the impurities; changing the ratio of carbon to silica; and reducing the silica to a high purity silicon (e.g., to photovoltaic silicon).

Abstract: A method of forming a coating comprising the steps of dissolving an silsesquioxane (e.g., one that is primarily a cage compound with 8, 10, 12, 14 or related complete cages or with partially condensed cages containing primarily Si(O)4 units in the cage) in a solvent to form an silsesquioxane solution; introducing (e.g., dissolving) an additive in the solution (e.g., the additive being selected from a rare earth compound, an acid, an organic moiety, a precious metal or compound thereof, a transition metal compound, or any combination thereof, or any of their ionic constituents); and optionally mixing a diluent with the solution to form a coating that is applied to a substrate, wherein the resulting coating forms crosslinks between resulting pendant Si(OH)x groups and a substrate surface. The present invention also contemplates coatings and coated articles consistent with the present teachings.

Abstract: A multi-functional silsesquioxane, method of making the same, and coatings incorporating the same, including a polyhedral silsesquioxane including at least one first face and at least one second face that is spaced apart from the at least one first face; at least one first functionality bonded to the at least one first face; and at least one second functionality different from the first functionality, and being bonded to the at least one second face. In one particular respect, silica for the silsesquioxane may be derived from rice hull ash via an octa(tetramethylammonium)silsesquioxane octaani{dot over (o)}n.