Hybrid vehicle systems

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/202,076, filed Aug. 29, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/167,863, filed Jul. 3, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/963,380, filed Dec. 21, 2007, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

This invention relates to aqueous hybrid metal oxide polymeric vehicle systems.

Photocatalytically-active, self-cleaning aqueous coating compositions and methods are known in the art. Compositions containing a metal peroxide have been used to form clear, colorless adhesive coatings on substrates, including micro particulate substrates. Coating compositions with nanoparticles have been used to bind the nanoparticles to a substrate.

In one aspect, a composition includes an aqueous carrier and the condensation product of an organofunctional silane and a transition metal peroxide. In certain implementations, the composition includes crystalline nano-sized particles. The nano-sized particles include a transition metal oxide. At least some of the nano-sized particles are less than about 10 nm in diameter. In some embodiments, the transition metal of the transition metal peroxide is the same as the transition metal of the transition metal oxide. The transition metal can be selected from the group consisting of titanium, zinc, and combinations thereof.

In some implementations, the composition includes an additive selected from the group consisting of an organometallic compound, a wetting agent, an organic compound, a metal, and combinations thereof. In some cases, the composition includes a filler. The filler can be substantially inert. The filler can include, for example, carbon nanotubes. The weight of the filler can be greater than the weight of the transition metal in the composition.

In another aspect, a process for preparing a composition includes providing a first mixture, and boiling the first mixture at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a composition. The first mixture includes an organofunctional silane, a transition metal peroxide, and an aqueous carrier. The composition that is formed includes the aqueous carrier and the condensation product of the organofunctional silane and the transition metal peroxide.

In some implementations, the composition formed by boiling the first mixture at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure further includes crystalline nano-sized particles. The nano-sized particles include a transition metal oxide. At least some of the nano-sized particles are less than about 10 nm in diameter. In some cases, the first mixture includes at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an organometallic compound, a wetting agent, an organic compound, a metal, a metal salt, a filler, and combinations thereof. The first mixture can be in the form of a colloidal suspension. The organofunctional silane may be, for example, bis(triethoxysilyl)methane, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-diethoxydisiloxane, octochloro-trisiloxane, tetraethoxysilane, or any combination thereof.

In certain implementations, the process further includes combining an aqueous solution including a peroxide with a colloidal suspension including an amorphous metal hydroxide in an aqueous carrier to form a colloidal suspension. The colloidal suspension includes the transition metal peroxide. The process can also include combining a transition metal salt and an acid with an aqueous carrier to form a second mixture, substantially neutralizing the second mixture, filtering the second mixture to form an amorphous metal hydroxide, and suspending the amorphous metal hydroxide in an aqueous carrier to form the colloidal suspension.

Other implementations include compositions prepared according to the above-described processes.

In another aspect, a process for preparing an article includes providing a composition including an aqueous carrier and the condensation product of an organofunctional silane and a transition metal peroxide, applying the composition to a surface of a substrate, and removing the aqueous carrier to form an article with a coating on the surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the coating is removed from the substrate to form nano-sized particles in powder form.

In some implementations, the composition includes crystalline nano-sized particles. The nano-sized particles include a transition metal oxide. A thickness of the coating can be less than about 10 nm. The coating is covalently bonded to the surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate is porous. In certain embodiments, the substrate is particulate.

In one aspect, a composition includes an aqueous carrier and the condensation product of a silicon peroxide and a transition metal peroxide. In another aspect, preparing a composition includes providing a first mixture, and boiling the first mixture at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a composition. The first mixture includes a silicon peroxide, a transition metal peroxide, and an aqueous carrier. The composition that is formed includes the aqueous carrier and the condensation product of the silicon peroxide and the transition metal peroxide. In another aspect, preparing an article includes providing a composition including an aqueous carrier and the condensation product of a silicon peroxide and a transition metal peroxide, applying the composition to a surface of a substrate, and removing the aqueous carrier to form an article including a hybrid metal oxide coating on the surface of the substrate.

In certain implementations, the composition includes crystalline particles less than about 10 nm in diameter. The particles can include a hybrid metal oxide, a transition metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The composition can include silicon oxide and transition metal oxide. A weight percentage of the silicon oxide, based on total metal oxide, can be at least about 50 wt %, at least about, 95 wt %, or at least about 99 wt %. A weight percentage of the transition metal oxide, based on total metal oxide, can be at least about 95 wt %. In some cases, the condensation product includes silicon, titanium, zirconium, or any combination thereof in some implementations, the composition formed by boiling the first mixture at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure includes crystalline particles less than about 10 nm in diameter. The crystalline particles can include a hybrid metal oxide, a transition metal oxide, or any combination thereof. The first mixture can be in the form of a colloidal suspension. In some cases, an aqueous solution including a peroxide is combined with a colloidal suspension including an amorphous metal hydroxide and a silicon hydroxide in an aqueous carrier to form a colloidal suspension including the transition metal peroxide and the silicon peroxide. In some embodiments, a silicon chloride, a transition metal chloride, and an acid are combined with an aqueous carrier to form a mixture. The mixture can be neutralized and filtered to form an amorphous metal hydroxide and a silicon hydroxide. The amorphous metal hydroxide and a silicon hydroxide can be suspended in an aqueous carrier to form a colloidal suspension including amorphous metal hydroxide and silicon hydroxide.

In some implementations, preparing the composition includes providing a mixture including a silicon peroxide, a transition metal peroxide, and an aqueous carrier. The mixture can be boiled, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a composition including the aqueous carrier and the condensation product of the silicon peroxide and the transition metal peroxide. In certain implementations, the composition includes crystalline nano-sized particles including a transition, metal oxide.

In one aspect, a composition includes an aqueous carrier and the condensation product of an organofunctional silane and a transition metal peroxide. In certain implementations, the composition includes crystalline nano-sized particles. The nano-sized particles include a transition metal oxide. At least some of the nano-sized particles are less than about 10 nm in diameter. In some embodiments, the transition metal of the transition metal peroxide is the same as the transition metal of the transition metal oxide. The transition metal can be selected from the group consisting of titanium, zinc, and combinations thereof.

In some implementations, the composition includes an additive selected from the group consisting of an organometallic compound, a wetting agent, an organic compound, a metal, and combinations thereof. In some cases, the composition includes a filler. The filler can be substantially inert. The filler can include, for example, carbon nanotubes. The weight of the filler can be greater than the weight of the transition metal in the composition.

In another aspect, a process for preparing a composition includes providing a first mixture, and boiling the first mixture at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a composition. The first mixture includes an organofunctional silane, a transition metal peroxide, and an aqueous carrier. The composition that is formed includes the aqueous carrier and the condensation product of the organofunctional silane and the transition metal peroxide.