Abstract: The following relates generally to user selection of parameters to approximate desired properties of light scattering. More specifically, in some embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided. In some embodiments, in a forward configuration, the GUI accepts an input parameter that is a physical property or optical property of a nanoparticle material (e.g., nanoparticle size, shape, etc.), and outputs an optical effect of the nanoparticle material (e.g., a color, a graph of a reflectance fraction vs. wavelength, etc.); whereas, in an inverse configuration, the GUI accepts the optical effect as the input, and outputs a physical property or optical property of the nanoparticle material.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments are closed-cell metal oxide particles and methods of preparing the same. In at least one embodiment, a closed-cell metal oxide particle comprises a metal oxide matrix defining an array of closed-cells. Each closed-cell encapsulates a media-inaccessible void volume. The outer surface of the closed-cell metal oxide particle is defined by the array of closed-cells.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments are hybrid metal oxide particles and methods of preparing the same. In at least one embodiment, hybrid metal oxide particles comprise a continuous matrix of a first metal oxide having embedded therein an array of metal oxide particles comprising a second metal oxide. In at least one embodiment, the hybrid metal oxide particles are substantially non-porous.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for determining structural color from parameters of an array of nanopartides. The techniques include inputting structural and optical parameters and performing a probabilistic simulation to determine the structural color. An evolutionary optimization may be performed to determine parameters of the array of nanoparticles according to desired properties of structural color. The evolutionary optimization may employ the probabilistic simulation and further adjust one or more parameters of the array to approximate the desired properties of the structural color. Based on applying the probabilistic simulation, the technique may generate an output describing a value, or a range of values, for the one or more parameters of the array of nanoparticles that are selected to approximate the desired properties of the structural color.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a polymer binder and a sphere selected from porous metal oxide spheres formed from metal oxide particles and having, e.g., an average porosity of from 0.10 to 0.90; polymer spheres formed from a multimodal distribution of polymer particles; or mixtures thereof, are described herein. The sphere enhances the reflective characteristics of the coating compositions with respect to electromagnetic radiation. In particular, the coating compositions when dried, can exhibit UV reflectance, visible light reflectance, IR reflectance, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Colored coating compositions comprising a polymer binder and a sphere selected from porous metal oxide spheres formed from metal oxide particles and having an average porosity of from 0.10 to 0.90; polymer spheres formed from a multimodal distribution of polymer particles; or mixtures thereof, wherein the colored coating composition when dried, exhibits visible light absorbance at a wavelength range from 400 nm to 800 nm. The sphere has an average particle size diameter of from 1 micron to 5 microns, or from 3 microns to 5 microns and exhibits a structural color which may be angle-dependent or angle-independent.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a polymer binder and a sphere selected from porous metal oxide spheres formed from metal oxide particles and having, e.g., an average porosity of from 0.10 to 0.90; polymer spheres formed from a multimodal distribution of polymer particles; or mixtures thereof, are described herein. The sphere enhances the reflective characteristics of the coating compositions with respect to electromagnetic radiation. In particular, the coating compositions when dried, can exhibit UV reflectance, visible light reflectance, IR reflectance, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing sun protection factor (SPF) of a sunscreen composition, use of porous metal oxide spheres (e.g., microspheres) for increasing SPF of a sunscreen composition and preparation of sunscreen compositions comprising the porous spheres.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a coating composition comprising (i) a solvent, (ii) a resinous binder and (iii) a structural colorant comprising spherical photonic structures and corresponding coatings, coated automotive parts and methods thereof.

Abstract: A cosmetic or personal care formulation includes a carrier and porous metal oxide spheres wherein, the porous metal oxide spheres have, e.g., an average diameter of about 0.5 ?m to about 100 ?m and an average porosity of about 0.10 to about 0.80; the porous metal oxide spheres have one or more population of pores each having an average pore diameter, wherein each population has a different average pore diameter and wherein the average pore diameters are, e.g., from about 50 nm to about 999 nm.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

Abstract: Colored coating compositions comprising a polymer binder and a sphere selected from porous metal oxide spheres formed from metal oxide particles and having an average porosity of from 0.10 to 0.90; polymer spheres formed from a multimodal distribution of polymer particles; or mixtures thereof, wherein the colored coating composition when dried, exhibits visible light absorbance at a wavelength range from 400 nm to 800 nm. The sphere has an average particle size diameter of from 1 micron to 5 microns, or from 3 microns to 5 microns and exhibits a structural color which may be angle-dependent or angle-independent.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a polymer binder and a sphere selected from porous metal oxide spheres formed from metal oxide particles and having, e.g., an average porosity of from 0.10 to 0.90; polymer spheres formed from a multimodal distribution of polymer particles; or mixtures thereof, are described herein. The sphere enhances the reflective characteristics of the coating compositions with respect to electromagnetic radiation. In particular, the coating compositions when dried, can exhibit UV reflectance, visible light reflectance, IR reflectance, or a combination thereof.