Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing structured optical materials. It also relates to a device for producing structured optical materials, and to use of the method. In order to create a novel, continuous method for the production of structured optical materials, which is more economical than the known production method, it is proposed within the scope of the invention that optical material be applied to a carrier, a carrier or protective film be laminated onto the optical material, the resulting laminate be exposed to light and thereby structured, and subsequently a delamination of at least one of the films be performed.

Abstract: A composition with non-Newtonian behaviour which comprises a matrix former and nanoscale solid particles whose surface charge has been increased by reaction with an acid or base, and a process for the preparation thereof. The process is suitable for adjusting the rheology of materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic film with an interference multilayer system applied thereon that comprises at least two layers. Said layers can be obtained by hardening and/or applying thermal treatment to a coating composition containing nanoscale inorganic solid particles having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups, thereby forming a layer that is crosslinked by means of the polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups. The films can be used as an optical laminating film.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide particles or coatings for splitting water, which are largely protected from corrosive damage. To this end, the particles or the coating consist(s) of a nucleus or a sub-layer and a shell or top layer, the nucleus or the sub-layer forming a reactive unit and consisting of a material which, on input of energy from sunlight, releases electrons capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the shell or top layer forming a protective unit capable of keeping the cleavage products away from the surface of the reactive unit and simultaneously having conductive fractions. Surprisingly, it has been found that corrosive damage to the reactive particles is (largely) prevented by the targeted separation of the reaction particles and the cleavage products over the kinetic range of the released electrons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing structured optical materials. It also relates to a device for producing structured optical materials, and to use of the method. In order to create a novel, continuous method for the production of structured optical materials, which is more economical than the known production method, it is proposed within the scope of the invention that optical material be applied to a carrier, a carrier or protective film be laminated onto the optical material, the resulting laminate be exposed to light and thereby structured, and subsequently a delamination of at least one of the films be performed.

Abstract: A polymer film with an optical interference system. The optical interference system comprises at least two layers of different refractive index, which layers comprise nanoscale inorganic particles having organic surface groups that are polymerizable and/or polycondensable. The layers are at least partially crosslinked through the organic surface groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alternative composite mask that is substantially composed of a transparent support film coated with a transparent polymer matrix that contains light-absorbing pigment particles or metal particles having an average particle size d50 ranging between 0.5 and 10 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to solid or gel-type nanocomposite material which can be polymerised, containing a) 4.9 95.9 wt. % of a soluble polymer; b) 4-95 wt. % of a partially or totally condensed silane selected from the group of epoxyalkoxysilanes, alkoxysilanes and alkylalkoxysilanes, the silane having an inorganic condensation degree of between 33-100% and an organic conversion degree of between 0-95%; c) 0-60 wt. % of an acrylate; d) 0.1-50 wt. % of surface modified nanometric particles selected from the group of oxides, sulphides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides, carbides, arsenides, antimonides, nitrides, phosphides, carbonates, carboxylates, phosphates, sulphates, silicates, titanates, zirconates, aluminates, stannates, plumbates and a mixed oxides; e) 0-50 wt.-% of a plasticizer; f) 0-5 wt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for microstructuring electronic components, which yields high resolutions (?200 nm) at a good aspect ratio while being significantly less expensive than photolithographic methods. The inventive method comprises the following steps: i) a planar unhardened sol film of a nanocomposite composition according to claim 1 is produced; ii) a target substrate consisting of a bottom coat (b) and a support (c) is produced; iii) sol film material obtained in step i) is applied to the bottom coat (b) obtained in step ii) by means of a microstructured transfer embossing stamp; iv) the applied sol film material is hardened; v) the transfer embossing stamp is separated, whereby an embossed microstructure is obtained as a top coat (a).

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element having a gradient structure, wherein a potential difference is generated in a nanocomposite material comprising nanoscale particles in a matrix material to cause a directed diffusion of the nanoscale particles in the matrix material and a concentration gradient of the nanoscale particles in the matrix material.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a microstructured surface relief by applying to a substrate a coating composition which is thixotropic or which acquires thixotropic properties by pretreatment on the substrate, embossing the surface relief into the applied thixotropic coating composition with an embossing device, and curing the coating composition following removal of the embossing device. The substrates obtainable by this method, provided with a microstructured surface relief, are particularly suitable for optical, electronic, micromechanical and/or dirt repellency applications.

Abstract: A substrate has an abrasion-resistant diffusion barrier layer system having: a hard base layer including a coating composition based on a polymer containing reactive surface groups; and a nanostructured topcoat obtained by applying a nanoscale composition comprising sol particles and/or particulate solids to the basecoat and then curing it. The system features good abrasion resistance and diffusion barrier effect, and is particularly suitable as a protective coat for plastic substrates.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a microstructured surface relief by applying to a substrate a coating composition which is thixotropic or which acquires thixotropic properties by pretreatment on the substrate, embossing the surface relief into the applied thixotropic coating composition with an embossing device, and curing the coating composition following removal of the embossing device. The substrates obtainable by this method, provided with a microstructured surface relief, are particularly suitable for optical, electronic, micromechanical and/or dirt repellency applications.

Abstract: Substrates provided with a microstructured surface have a surface layer which (a) comprises a composition comprising condensates of one or more hydrolysable compounds of at least one element M from main groups III to V and/or transition groups II to IV of the Periodic Table of the Elements, at least some of these compounds containing not only hydrolysable groups A but also non-hydrolysable, carbon-containing groups B and the total molar ratio of groups A to groups B in the parent monomeric starting compounds being from 10:1 to 1:2, from 0.1 to 100 mol % of the groups B being groups B′ containing on average from 5 to 30 fluorine atoms which are attached to one or more aliphatic carbon atoms distanced from M by at least two atoms, and (b) has a microstructuring of such kind that the contact angle with respect to water or hexadecane is at least 5° higher than the contact angle of a corresponding smooth surface.

Abstract: Inorganic multilayered optical systems are produced by applying to a glass substrate a flowable composition containing nanoscale solid inorganic particles containing polymerizable or polycondensable organic surface groups, polymerizing and/or polycondensing those surface groups to form an organically crosslinked layer, applying to the organically crosslinked layer and polymerizing/polycondensing a flowable composition producing a different refractive index from the first layer (optionally repeated one or more times), and one-step thermal densifying and removing the organic components. The systems so produced are suitable as interference filters and antireflection systems.

Abstract: Described are nanostructured molded articles and layers which are produced by a wet chemical process comprising the following steps: a) provision of a free-flowing composition containing solid nanoscaled inorganic particles having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups; b) introduction of said composition of step a) into a mold; or b2) application of said composition of step a) onto a substrate; and c) polymerization and/or polycondensation of the surface groups of said solid particles with formation of a cured molded article or a cured layer.

Abstract: Optical components have a material-distribution gradient due to nanometer-size particles embedded in a solid matrix. The components are manufactured by forming a dispersion of nanometer-size particles in a liquid, curable matrix material, causing the particles to migrate in the matrix material on the basis of a potential difference to form a distribution gradient, and subsequently curing the matrix material, retaining the distribution gradient. The method is suitable for use in the manufacture of optical lenses with a refractive index gradient.