Room-Temperature Heterogeneous Nucleation for Colored Particulate Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coloring materials using preformed metal nanoparticles are energy-intensive, require complex processes, and are limited to specific substrates, making them unsuitable for large-scale industrial applications and environmentally unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heterogeneous nucleation at room temperature, using a suspension of metallic salts, reducing agents, and particulate substrates to form colored nanoparticles on the substrate surface, allowing for a wide range of substrates and colors with low energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If preformed metal nanoparticles are used to color materials, then a variety of bright colors can be generated without using harmful pigments or dyes, but the concentration of nanoparticles must be finely controlled which limits color intensity and production yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-functionalizing the particulate substrate surface with specific groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, etc.) before nanoparticle formation. This pre-preparation of the substrate surface enables controlled nanoparticle deposition and growth, allowing higher nanoparticle concentrations to be achieved without aggregation, thus improving production yield while maintaining color quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the substrate surface by introducing functional groups that can coordinate with metal ions. This parameter change (surface chemistry modification) enables better control over nanoparticle concentration and distribution, allowing higher color intensity to be achieved without sacrificing production yield
2Object-affected harmful factors
If preformed metal nanoparticles are used to color materials, then bright colors can be achieved, but complex processes with numerous steps and costly energy-intensive infrastructures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple steps into one by combining substrate functionalization, metal ion deposition, and nanoparticle formation into a single integrated process. The functionalized substrate directly captures metal ions from solution, which then reduce to form nanoparticles in situ, eliminating the need for separate nanoparticle synthesis and deposition steps, thus simplifying the overall process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces functional groups on the substrate surface as intermediaries that mediate between the metal ions in solution and the substrate. These functional groups act as binding sites that facilitate controlled nanoparticle formation directly on the substrate, simplifying the process by eliminating the need for separate colloidal suspension handling steps
3Adaptability or versatility
If preformed metal nanoparticles are used to color materials, then color variety can be achieved, but toxic reagents and costly energy-intensive infrastructures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of toxic reducing agents used in conventional nanoparticle synthesis into a benefit by using environmentally benign reducing agents (such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, or hydroquinone) that can still effectively reduce metal ions to form nanoparticles. This maintains color variety while eliminating toxic reagents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the synthesis environment by using aqueous solutions and environmentally friendly reagents instead of toxic organic solvents and harsh chemicals. This parameter change (using green chemistry principles) maintains the ability to produce various colors through different metal nanoparticles while eliminating harmful substances
4Ease of manufacture
If heterogeneous nucleation is catalyzed by heat treatment, then nanoparticle formation can be achieved, but adaptation of parameters is required between laboratory and industrial scales which increases development time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heat treatment) with a chemical field approach by using functionalized substrates that chemically bind metal ions and facilitate nanoparticle formation at room temperature. This substitution of the action mechanism (from thermal to chemical) eliminates the need for temperature parameter optimization between scales, significantly reducing development time while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from elevated temperatures (heat treatment) to room temperature by introducing chemically active functional groups on the substrate. This parameter change (temperature) combined with the introduction of functional groups enables nanoparticle formation without thermal activation, making the process scalable without parameter re-optimization and reducing development time
5Ease of manufacture
If heterogeneous nucleation requires heat treatment, then nanoparticle formation can be achieved, but costly and energy-intensive infrastructures are implied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heat treatment) with a chemical field approach by using functionalized substrates that chemically bind metal ions and facilitate nanoparticle formation at room temperature. This substitution eliminates the need for heating infrastructure, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining ease of nanoparticle formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the substrate to self-catalyze nanoparticle formation through its functional groups that automatically bind metal ions and facilitate reduction without external energy input. This self-service mechanism (substrate-catalyzed reaction) eliminates the need for energy-intensive heating infrastructure while maintaining ease of manufacture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves efficient coloring with low energy consumption, suitable for various substrates and scales, reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining color stability and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
When a metal nanoparticle is subjected to an electromagnetic field whose wavelength is much greater than its size, the free electrons of the conduction band located on the surface of said nanoparticle are subjected to the same field and oscillate collectively and in phase. When the frequency of the incident wave matches the natural frequency of these oscillations, a resonance phenomenon occurs, called surface plasmon resonance.
Implementation Method 2
A method for preparing a colored particulate material by heterogeneous nucleation, comprising the implementation of a single step a) of mixing a suspension at room temperature
Implementation Method 3
at least one reducing agent
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for preparing colored materials by heterogeneous nucleation of metallic nanoparticles, said nanoparticles exhibiting optical properties based on the surface plasmon phenomenon. The invention also relates to said colored materials obtained, as well as compositions comprising them. In particular, the method for preparing colored particulate material by heterogeneous nucleation notably comprises mixing a suspension at room temperature comprising:at least one salt of a metallic element, said metallic element exhibiting a plasmonic effect,at least one reducing agent, andat least one particulate substrate,said suspension mixture forming a colored particulate material.