Core-shell nanoparticles

1. A process for forming an anti-reflective coating on a substrate, the process comprising:

(i) providing a coating composition comprising core-shell nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have an average size of 10-200 nm and comprise (a) a core material which is thermo-labile at a temperature of 150° C. to 600° C., the core material comprising a cationic vinyl copolymer composition comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylate and copolymers thereof having cationic groups incorporated therein during polymerization; and (b) a shell material comprising metal oxide deposited onto the cationic vinyl copolymer composition;

(ii) applying the coating composition to a substrate to thereby obtain an applied coating;

(iii) curing the applied coating; and

(iv) subjecting the applied coating to an elevated temperature of at least 150° C. sufficient to remove some or all of the core material from the core-shell nanoparticles in the applied coating.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein steps (iii) and (iv) are carried out simultaneously.

3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein steps (iii) and (iv) are practiced by heating the applied coating to cause the core material to be at least partially thermally degraded.

4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate is inorganic and wherein curing is carried out at 200-700° C.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the resulting coating has a thickness of 50-300 nm.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from latexes, diblock-copolymers, triblock copolymers, and combinations thereof.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein metal oxide is silica.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises binder.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a binder comprising inorganic material.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have a potential void fraction, resulting from partially or fully removing the core material from the nanoparticle, of 5% to 90%.

11. A substrate at least partially provided with an anti-reflective coating as obtained with the process according to claim 1 .

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein steps (iv) and (v) are practiced simultaneously by subject the coating composition to a temperature of from 150° C. to 600° C.

13. A process for forming an anti-reflective coating on a substrate, the process comprising:

(i) forming core-shell nanoparticles having an average size of 10-200 nm by depositing a shell material comprising silica onto a core material which is thermo-labile at a temperature of 150° C. to 600° C. and comprises a cationic vinyl copolymer composition comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylate and copolymers thereof having cationic groups incorporated thereinto during polymerization;

(ii) forming a coating composition comprising the core-shell nanoparticles;

(iii) applying the coating composition to a substrate to thereby obtain an applied coating;

(iv) curing the applied coating; and

(v) subjecting the applied coating to an elevated temperature of at least 150° C. sufficient to remove some or all of the core material from the core-shell nanoparticles in the applied coating.

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein steps (iv) and (v) are carried out simultaneously.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein steps (iv) and (v) are practiced by heating the applied coating to cause the core material to be at least partially thermally degraded.

16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the substrate is inorganic and wherein curing is carried out at 200-700° C.

17. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the resulting coating has a thickness of 50-300 nm.

18. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the polymer is selected from latexes, diblock-copolymers, triblock copolymers, and combinations thereof.

19. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises binder.

20. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises a binder comprising inorganic material.

21. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the nanoparticles have a potential void fraction, resulting from partially or fully removing the core material from the nanoparticle, of 5% to 90%.

22. A substrate at least partially provided with an anti-reflective coating as obtained with the process according to claim 13 .

23. The process according to claim 13 , wherein steps (iv) and (v) are practiced simultaneously by subject the coating composition to a temperature of from 150° C. to 600° C.