Abstract: Methods for coating a substrate are disclosed, the methods comprising providing a substrate, providing pre-formed nanoparticles of an inorganic material, providing at least one precursor of a first metal oxide, and depositing a coating on at least one surface of the substrate by contacting the surface with the precursor of the metal oxide and pre-formed nanoparticles. Also disclosed are substrates coated using such a method. The coated substrates are coloured. Preferably the metal oxide is a doped metal oxide to modify the thermal properties of the coating. The preferred nanoparticles are of platinum group metals or coinage metals.

Abstract: A film consisting of a titanium dioxide host matrix comprising silver oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: The use of an aerosol transport operation for producing a nanoparticle film or a nanocomposite film on a substrate, wherein the substrate is heated.

Abstract: The present invention presents a metallic nanoparticle-ligand-photosensitiser conjugate, a method of making such conjugate, and a method of using such mixture for killing or preventing the growth of microbes.

Abstract: The present invention presents a mixture comprising charge-stabilized metallic nanoparticles and a photosensitizer, a method for making such mixture, and a method of using such mixture for killing or preventing the growth of microbes.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (APCVD) for producing a film of thermochmmic transition metal-doped vanadium (iN) oxide on a substrate. Specifically, the invention prevides a method of producing a film of thermochromic transition metal-doped vanadium (IV) oxide on a substrate by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition comprising the steps of: (i) reacting together (a) a vanadium precursor, (b) a transition metal dopant precursor, and (c) an oxygen precursor in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition reactor to form thermochromic transition metal-doped vanadium (IV) oxide, and (ii) depositing the thermochromic transition metal-doped vanadium (IV) oxide onto the substrate. A preferred transition metal dopant is tungsten. The invention also provides transition metal-doped vanadium (TV) oxide, films thereof and substrates (e.g., glass substrates) coated with a film of transition metal-doped vanadium (IV) oxide.