Capped photochromic silver halides for incorporation into a plastic matrix

摘要

A photochromic composition for incorporation into a light-transmitting polymer is described. Silver halide crystallites are capped with an organic capping group using multivalent metal ions integrated into the surface of the silver halide crystallite to provide crystallite surface sites that provide a handle between the organic capping group and the silver halide crystallites. The size of the capped silver halide crystallites are less than about 1000 ANGSTROM . A reverse micelle technique is used to control the size of the silver halide crystallite while integrating the multivalent ions and bonding the organic capping group. The capped crystallites are soluble in organic solvents and, as such, are readily incorporated into a polymer matrix.