Patent ID: 7645436

Claim:
A method of making a nanocomposite comprising combining: from about 10% to about 80% by weight with regard to the weight of nanocomposite, of at least one metal oxide compound; from about 10% to about 60% by weight with regard to the weight of nanocomposite, of at least one organofunctional silane; from about 0.5 to about 80% by weight with regard to the weight of the nanocomposite, of at least one boron oxide compound, and/or an effective amount of at least one of an acid catalyst and salt/complex catalyst compound to facilitate a reaction between the metal oxide compound and the organofunctional silane, and a liquid to provide a host metal oxide sol; adding from about 0.001% to about 80% by weight with regard to the nanocomposite, of at least one of guest metal nanoparticle, guest metal phosphate nanoparticle, guest metal oxide nanoparticle, precursors of these guest nanoparticles and guest metal-chalcogenide precursors to the said host metal oxide sol to provide a host guest metal oxide sol; and chalcogenizing the said host guest metal oxide sol to provide a nanocomposite comprising the host metal oxide sol and guest metal-chalcogenide nanoparticles.