Editors: | F. Kongoli, M.A. Alario Franco, J. Etourneau, S. Kalogirou, F.D.S. Marquis, R. Martins, K. Poeppelmeier, B. Raveau, Y. Shimakawa, M. Takano |
Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
Publication Year: | 2019 |
Pages: | 130 pages |
ISBN: | 978-1-989820-08-7 |
ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
Pigments can be classified into two families: the organic ones, related to carbon chemistry and the inorganic ones; both of them have advantages and drawbacks. The variety of colours available in organic pigments is greater and these colours are more resistant to exposure to sunlight or chemicals. Organic pigments, however, are easier to stabilize and disperse and they exhibit brighter colours.
In order to combine the advantages of both organic and inorganic types, UGIEL - a spin-out company from the ICMCB/CNRS laboratory - developed and patented green chemistry routes to graft and texture gold onto a wide range of support with nanometric precision. This results in a new generation of fully inorganic or hybrid organic-inorganic pigments with a wide range of colourful appearances and functionalities, relying on the inalterability and the biocompatibility of gold.
First, a brief historical overview of nanosized gold and silver pigments will be given [1]. Then, microstructural features of UGIEL pigments will be described and related to their colourful appearances and applications.