MICROSTRUCTURE OF AL2O3 XEROGELS AND AEROGELS FROM ALUMINUM-TRI-SEC-BUTOXIDE MODIFIED WITH ETHYLACETOACETATE

Microstrucutre of Al2O3 xerogels and aerogels prepared from aluminum-tri-sec-butoxide (Al(O-seo-Bu)(3)) modified with ethylacetoacetate (EAcAc) was investigated for controlling the microstructure of Al2O3. The specific surface area and the pore volume of heat-treated xerogels decreased with an increase in the EAcAc/Al(O-sec-Bu)(3) molar ratio, whereas the size of pores was not affected by the ratio. The specific surface area of aerogels decreased monotonously with an increase in the heat-treatment temperature up to 1000 degrees C and was larger than that of xerogels in the whole temperature range of heat treatment, while that of xerogels decreased with increasing temperature due to sintering and drastically decreased at 1000 degrees C.