Patent ID: 8741819

Claim:
A composite particle comprising: at least one inorganic microparticle; at least one inorganic nanoparticle; and at least one linking compound comprising a metal atom M, wherein the at least one linking compound is covalently bound to at least one inorganic nanoparticle through M and covalently bound to at least one inorganic microparticle through M, wherein the at least one inorganic nanoparticle has an average particle size in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers, and wherein the at least one inorganic microparticle has an average particle size in a range of greater than about 0.1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers; and wherein the at least one linking compound is of the formula M(Z) n (R) m wherein each metal atom M is Ti; each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of —OR′ and —X; wherein R′ is C 1 -C 6 selected from linear, branched, and cyclic groups, or combinations thereof and optionally which may be substituted, and each X is a halide; each R is C 1 -C 18 selected from linear, branched, and cyclic groups, or combinations thereof, or which may be substituted; n is 0 or 1; and m is 1 or 2; and M is additionally covalently bound to at least one inorganic microparticle and to at least one inorganic nanoparticle.