Interpenetrating Organic/Inorganic Networks of Resorcinol-Formaldehyde/Metal Oxide Aerogels

Abstract

Interpenetrating native and polymer-crosslinked resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) and metal oxide (MOx) networks have been synthesized in one pot through the catalytic effect of gelling solutions of hydrated metal ions on the gelation of RF. Pyrolysis under argon (Ar) induces carbothermal processes that, depending on the chemical identity of MOx, yield either metals in the element form or the corresponding carbides. RF–MOx networks in the xerogel and polymer-crosslinked aerogel (X-aerogel) forms undergo those processes at temperatures up to 400
C lower than in the native aerogel form. In addition to the significance of the RF–MOx interpenetrating networks in the design of new materials (mesoporous and macroporous monolithic metals and carbides), the effect of the compactness of the nanostructure on the activation of the carbothermal processes has important implications for process design engineering.