1st Edition

Sol-Gel Materials Chemistry and Applications

    Sol-Gel processing methods, first used historically for decorative and constructional materials, were extensively developed in the last century for applications such as glasses, ceramics, catalysts, coatings, composites and fibres. Today they are reaching their full potential, enabling the preparation of new generations of advanced materials not easily accessible by other methods yet using mild, low-energy conditions. The topic is therefore increasingly included in advanced undergraduate, MSc and PhD programmes in the areas of chemistry, physics and materials science. This concise introductory text, written at the advanced undergraduate/first-year postgraduate level, is also suitable as an introduction to the development, mechanisms, chemistry, characterisation methods and applications of the technique. It provides readers with an extensive yet concise grounding in the theory of each area of the subject and details the real and potential applications and the future prospects of sol-gel chemistry.

    1. Alkoxide Sol-Gel Process 2. The Historical Development of Sol-Gel Processing 3. Silica Sol-Gels - Reaction Mechanisms 4. Hydrolosis 5. Condensation 6. Overall Kinetics of Hydrolosis and Condensation 7. Non-Hydrolytic Sol-Gel Processing 8. Gelation 9. Ageing 10. Drying 11. Densification 12.The Chemistry of Sol-Gel Silicates 13. Chemical Control of the Sol-Gel Process 14. Additives for Structuring and Processing 15. Ormosils 16. Hybrid Materials 17. Surface Modification 17. Metal Oxide Gels 18. Hydrolosis and Condensation Reactions of Metal Salt Precursors 19. Effects of the Counter-Ion 20. Reactions of Metal Alkoxide Precursors 21. The Non-Hydrolotic Sol-Gel Method for Metal Oxides 22. The Characterisation of Sol-Gel Materials 23. Chemical Characterisation Methods 24. Application of Sol-Gel Silicates 25. Optical Materials 26. Chemical Sensors 27. Catalysts 28. Coatings 29. Membranes 30. Applications of Metal Oxide Sol-Gels 31. Ceramics 32. Catalysts 33. Electronic Materials 34. Flamable Gas Sensors 35. The Future

    Biography

    Wright, John D.; Sommerdijk, Nico A.J.M.

    'This is an excellent book, not only because it is well-structured and written in a sharp and clear style, but also because it successfully summarises a vast and growing multi-disciplinary field.' - Chemistry & Industry