Preparation of inorganic oxides via a non-hydrolytic sol-gel route

Inorganic oxides have been synthesized successfully under mild reaction conditions using a solvent-free non-hydrolytic sol-gel process based on the condensation reaction of "metal" chlorides with oxygen donors such as alkoxides, aldehydes and ethers. Iron(III) chloride was found to be an effective catalyst for the reactions. The order of reactivity of the halides was generally titanium > aluminium > silicon, but in some cases reaction was halted by premature gelation of intermediate species. Silica, alumina and titania were all prepared and characterized by various methods. Calcination studies on the silicas showed these materials to be amorphous up to at least 700 degrees C, but devitrification occurred at 1000 degrees C. Crystallization was studied by X-ray powder diffraction.