Abstract: Organic-inorganic composite material comprising: colloidal particles of at least one inorganic compound chosen from metal or metalloid oxides and oxyhydroxides, prepared by means of a process of hydrolysis-condensation in a protic or polar solvent, said particles having been surface-functionalised by reaction with an organic compound; and an organic or inorganic polymer. Process for preparing this composite material and optical material comprising a layer of this composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing sols of metal oxides, with an aqueous component, which are stable over time and which notably allow the making of thin films having both remarkable optical and abrasion resistance properties. This method comprises: (i) replacing with water all or part of the alcohol or of the alcohols present in an alcoholic sol of a metal oxide, with a neutral or basic pH, and optionally (ii) adjusting the pH of the thereby obtained aqueous or partly aqueous sol to a value of at least 8. The invention also relates to a method for making films from these sols and, in particular, thin films with optical properties and resistant to abrasion. Applications: making optical components for power lasers, making optical fibers, cathodic tubes, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium oxide-based (MgO) inorganic coating intended to electrically insulate semiconductive substrates such as silicon carbide (SiC), and to a method for producing such an insulating coating. The method of the invention comprises the steps of preparing a treatment solution of at least one hydrolysable organomagnesium compound and/or of at least one hydrolysable magnesium salt, capable of forming a homogeneous polymer layer of magnesium oxyhydroxide by hydrolysis/condensation reaction with water; depositing the treatment solution of the hydrolysable organomagnesium compound or of the hydrolysable magnesium salt, onto a surface to form a magnesium oxide-based layer; and densifying the layer formed at a temperature of less than or equal to 1000° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium oxide-based (MgO) inorganic coating intended to electrically insulate semiconductive substrates such as silicon carbide (SiC), and to a method for producing such an insulating coating. The method of the invention comprises the steps of preparing a treatment solution of at least one hydrolysable organomagnesium compound and/or of at least one hydrolysable magnesium salt, capable of forming a homogeneous polymer layer of magnesium oxyhydroxide by hydrolysis/condensation reaction with water; depositing the treatment solution of the hydrolysable organomagnesium compound or of the hydrolysable magnesium salt, onto a surface to form a magnesium oxide-based layer; and densifying the layer formed at a temperature of less than or equal to 1000° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing sols of metal oxides, with an aqueous component, which are stable over time and which notably allow the making of thin films having both remarkable optical and abrasion resistance properties. This method comprises: (i) replacing with water all or part of the alcohol or of the alcohols present in an alcoholic sol of a metal oxide, with a neutral or basic pH, and optionally (ii) adjusting the pH of the thereby obtained aqueous or partly aqueous sol to a value of at least 8. The invention also relates to a method for making films from these sols and, in particular, thin films with optical properties and resistant to abrasion. Applications: making optical components for power lasers, making optical fibers, cathodic tubes, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable sol-gel solution. The solution may be used to form coating materials for metallic substrates, such as silver-based substrates for use in mirrors. The process includes the steps of preparing a sol-gel solution by bringing one or more molecular metal and/or metalloid precursors into contact with a medium comprising an organic solvent, adding at least one mercaptoorganosilane compound to the solution, hydrolyzing the solution obtained, and then adding one or more complexing agents to the solution.

Abstract: Organic-inorganic composite material comprising: colloidal particles of at least one inorganic compound chosen from metal or metalloid oxides and oxyhydroxides, prepared by means of a process of hydrolysis-condensation in a protic or polar solvent, said particles having been surface-functionalised by reaction with an organic compound; and an organic or inorganic polymer. Process for preparing this composite material and optical material comprising a layer of this composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium oxide-based (MgO) inorganic coating intended to electrically insulate semiconductive substrates such as silicon carbide (SiC), and to a method for producing such an insulating coating. The method of the invention comprises the steps of preparing a treatment solution of at least one hydrolysable organomagnesium compound and/or of at least one hydrolysable magnesium salt, capable of forming a homogeneous polymer layer of magnesium oxyhydroxide by hydrolysis/condensation reaction with water; depositing the treatment solution of the hydrolysable organomagnesium compound or of the hydrolysable magnesium salt, onto a surface to form a magnesium oxide-based layer; and densifying the layer formed at a temperature of less than or equal to 1000° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable sol-gel solution comprising, in succession, the following steps: a) preparing a sol-gel solution by bringing one or more molecular metal and/or metalloid precursors into contact with a medium comprising an organic solvent; b) adding at least one mercaptoorganosilane compound to the solution obtained in a); c) hydrolyzing the solution obtained in b); and d) adding, to the solution obtained in c), one or more complexing agents chosen from carboxylic acids, ?-diketone compounds and hydroxamate compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for electronic use including a flexible support covered successively by a porous oxide layer and a polycrystalline or amorphous silicon layer. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing thin, semiconducting films photosensitized by one or more chromophores, which comprises at least one cycle comprising, in succession, the following steps: a) a step of depositing, on a support, at least one film of a solution obtained by sol-gel polymerization of one or more precursors of a semiconducting oxide or semiconducting oxides, said semiconducting oxide or oxides being chosen from metal oxides, metalloid oxides and mixtures thereof; b) a drying step carried out on the film obtained at a); c) an acid, basic or neutral treatment step carried out in liquid or gaseous medium on the film obtained at b); and d) a step of photosensitizing the film obtained at c) by one or more chromophores, by bringing this film into contact with a solution containing the chromophore(s). Application to the production of electrodes for photovoltaic cells and to light-emitting diodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pn-semiconductor material that can be obtained by a method comprising in succession the following steps: a step in which a substrate made of a porous oxide ceramic is functionalized by chemical grafting of one or more compounds containing at least one group that can be polymerized with one or more precursors of an electrically conducting polymer and at least one group able to be chemically grafted onto said substrate; a step in which said substrate thus functionalized is impregnated with a solution containing said precursor(s); and a step in which said precursor or precursors are polymerized. Application of these materials to photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inorganic polymer material based on tantalum oxide, notably with a high refractive index and mechanically resistant to abrasion, its method of manufacture, in particular making use of precursors based on chlorinated derivatives of tantalum, and optical materials such as antiglare materials and reflecting materials manufactured from this material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an optic material by depositing on a substrate at least two layers of inorganic polymeric material, each of these layers containing at least one metal oxide or metalloid oxide, the deposited layers being densified cross-linked by exposure to ultraviolet rays. The invention also concerns the optic material which may be prepared using this method. The optic materials which may be prepared using said method are in particular multilayer materials such as antireflective materials and reflective materials.