Article having nano-scaled structures and a process for making such article

Abstract

A process for producing an article having modified optical, chemical, and/or physical properties is disclosed. The process comprises (a) fluidizing a starting material; (b) forcing the fluidized starting material toward the article, the article having a certain temperature; and (c) passing the fluidized starting material through a high energy zone, the passing step can occur before the forcing step; after the forcing step but before the fluidizing material comes in contact with the surface of the article; and/or after the forcing step and after the fluidized material comes in contact with the surface of the article. The properties of the article are modified because the article has nano-scaled structures distributed on the surface of the article and/or at least partially embedded in the article.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A process for producing an article comprising: 
 (a) fluidizing a starting material;    (b) forcing the fluidized starting material toward the article, the article having a certain temperature; and    (c) passing the fluidized starting material through a high energy zone, the passing step can occur before the forcing step; after the forcing step but before the fluidizing material comes in contact with the surface of the article; and/or after the forcing step and after the fluidized material comes in contact with the surface of the article,    whereby the finished article has nano-scaled structures distributed in the surface of the article and/or at least partially embedded in the article.    
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  said fluidizing is accomplished via atomizing the starting material into an aerosol; evaporating the starting material into a gas phase; or subliming the starting material into a gas phase.  
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2  said fluidizing is accomplished via atomizing the starting material into an aerosol.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the starting material is selected from the group comprising organometallics or solutions thereof; inorganic salts; or metal oxides or suspensions thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the forcing the fluidized material toward the surface of the article is accomplished using a moving gas stream.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature of the surface of the article is between 25° F. and 3000° F.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the article is selected from the group comprising polymers, glass, and ceramics.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the article is glass.  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the temperature of the surface of the article is between 700° F. and 2100° F.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the high energy zone is selected from the group comprising hot wall reactors, CVPD reactors, combustion deposition reactors, plasma chambers, and laser beams.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10  wherein the high energy zone is a hot wall reactor.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the size of the nano-scaled structures in the finished article are spherical.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-scaled structures in the finished article are in contact with each other.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1  further comprising adding a coating layer to the article after the nano-scaled structure comes in contact with the surface of the article.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1  further comprising heating the finished article.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15  wherein the nano-scaled structures on the surface of the article and/or at least partially embedded in the article are at least partially dissolved.  
     
     
         17 . A process for producing an article comprising: 
 (a) fluidizing an organometallic solution by atomizing the organometallic solution into an aerosol;    (b) forcing the fluidized starting material toward the article using a moving gas stream, the article having a temperature between 700° F. and 2100° F.; and    (c) passing the fluidized starting material through a hot wall reactor before the forcing step,    whereby the finished article has nano-scaled structures distributed in the surface of the article and/or at least partially embedded in the article.    
     
     
         18 . A three dimensional article comprising nano-scaled structures distributed on the surface of the article and/or at least partially embedded in the article.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the article is selected from the group comprising polymers, glass, and ceramics.  
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19  wherein the article is glass.  
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the nano-scaled structures are solid.  
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the nano-scaled structures spherical.  
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the aspect ratio of nano-structures is 1:1 to 1:500.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the color of the article with nano-scaled structures is different than the same article without nano-scaled structures.  
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the article with nano-scaled structures is harder than same article without nano-scaled-structure.  
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the catalytic or photocatalytic of the article with nano-scaled structures is better than the same article without nano-scaled structure.  
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the texture of the article with nano-scaled structures is different from the same article without nano-scaled structures.  
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the conductivity of the article with nano-scaled structures is greater than the same article without nano-scaled structures.  
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the water contact angle of the article with nano-scaled structures is different from the same article without nano-scaled structures.