Coating layers of a nanocomposite comprising a nano-cellulose material and nanoparticles

Abstract

The invention provides articles and methods for making such articles including a substrate coated on at least one region thereof with a layer of nanocomposites nano-cellulose materials and nanoparticles.

1 - 124 . (canceled) 
     
     
         125 . An article comprising a substrate coated on at least one region of the substrate surface with at least one layer of a nanocomposite comprising at least one nano-cellulose material and a plurality of nanoparticles, the interaction between the at least one surface region and the nano-cellulose material being electrostatic. 
     
     
         126 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein said at least one layer of a nanocomposite comprises a layer, a coat or a film of said nano-cellulose material, being in direct contact with a plurality of nanoparticles positioned at an interface or a plurality of interface regions between layers of said nano-cellulose material, and/or at the interface or interface regions between the substrate surface and a layer of a nano-cellulose material directly bound thereto. 
     
     
         127 . The article according to  claim 126 , wherein said at least one layer of a nanocomposite having a thickness of between 5 to 1000 nm, or between 5 and 100 nm, or between 5 and 50 nm, or between 5 and 30 nm, or between 5 and 20 nm, or between 50 to 900 nm, or between 100 to 700 nm, or between 100 to 700 nm, or between 200 to 500 nm. 
     
     
         128 . The article according to  claim 125 , further comprising at least one additional layer of at least one nano-cellulose material being free of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         129 . The article according to  claim 125 , comprising two or more layers of a nanocomposite, or at least 10 layers, or between 10 and 500 layers, or between 10 and 400 layers, or between 10 and 300 layers, or between 10 and 200 layers, between 10 and 100 layers, or between 100 and 500 layers, or between 100 and 400 layers, or between 100 and 300 layers, or between 100 and 200 layers. 
     
     
         130 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein the nano-cellulose material is selected from the group consisting of bacterial cellulose (BC), nanofibrilated cellulose (NFC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). 
     
     
         131 . The article according to  claim 130 , wherein the nano-cellulose material is NCC. 
     
     
         132 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein the nanoparticle material being selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, a metal alloy, an insulator, a semiconductor material and an optically active material and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         133 . The article according to  claim 132 , wherein the nanoparticles material is or comprises a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Group IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIIIB, IB and IIB of block d the Periodic Table. 
     
     
         134 . The article according to  claim 133 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         135 . The article according to  claim 133 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of elements of Group I-VII, Group II-VI, Group III-V, Group IV-VI, Group III-VI and Group IV semiconductors and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         136 . The article according to  claim 135 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from the group consisting of metal alloys and intermetallics of the above metal and/or transition metals. 
     
     
         137 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of metal/metal alloy materials of transition metals. 
     
     
         138 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein the nanoparticles are quantum dots (QD). 
     
     
         139 . The article according to  claim 125 , wherein the substrate material is selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, plastic, metal, and composite materials. 
     
     
         140 . The article according to  claim 139 , wherein the substrate materials being selected amongst aliphatic polymers optionally selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol, starch and starch derivatives and cellulose esters. 
     
     
         141 . A gas barrier layer comprising at least one layer of a nanocomposite of nano-cellulose material and a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein said nanocomposite is provided between two layers or sheets of a substrate material, said barrier being for suppressing or blocking permeation therethrough of moisture and gases selected from O 2 , CO 2 , CO, N 2 , NO x , SO x  and H 2 . 
     
     
         142 . A plastic sheet comprising PLA, said sheet having thereon a coating or layer of a nanocomposite comprising at least one nano-cellulose material and a plurality of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         143 . The sheet according to  claim 142 , adapted for use in any one or more of the following:
 a. the manufacture of containers, medical packs, construction materials, wire-coating materials, agricultural materials, food packaging materials and buffer and insulation materials;   b. the construction of plastic greenhouses, plastic tunnels, and other agricultural and horticultural articles; and   c. improving growth, appearance, disease resistance and desirability of horticultural growths.   
     
     
         144 . A process for forming an article comprising a substrate coated on at least one region of the substrate surface with at least one layer of a nanocomposite comprising at least one nano-cellulose material and a plurality of nanoparticles, the process comprising:
 obtaining a substrate having at least one positively charged surface region;   applying on said positively charged surface region a coat of the nanocomposite; and   allowing said layer of the nanocomposite to solidify.