Sol-Gel Processing and Applications

Abstract

The traditional sol/gel method uses an alcohol, most often ethanol, as a reaction medium. During the last years a process has been introduced that instead of the organic solvent utilizes a water-in-oil microemulsion in the reaction. The process allows incorporation of high concentrations of inorganic electrolytes into the final silica gel. The mechanism of reactions, its influence on the colloidal structure of the microemulsion and an example of the process to prepare spinel structures of lithium manganates are described.