Review of research articles reveals the production of nanomaterials by low temperature Sol-Gel Synthesis is a simple process. Few are described from available reports.
Nano-composites powder by Sol-Gel Synthesis
Nano-composites are important class of materials and find applications like optical, refectories, high alumina cement oxidation catalysts, etc. These materials exhibit improved properties such as great thermal stability, hardness, etc. Recently, wide varieties of glass or glass-ceramic monoliths, nano-structured powders, etc. are synthesized through sol-gel technique, since it has the advantages of low temperature processing, high chemical homogeneity and purity.
NiAl2O4 / SiO2 Nano-Composite by Sol-Gel Synthesis
Nano-composite of NiAl2O4 / SiO2 glassy matrix were prepared by insitu reaction sol-gel process using precursor chemicals of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), Al(NO3)3.9H2O and NiNO3.The precursors were mixed, according to their respective molecular weight percentages, using the following chemical composition formula: 5% NiO 6% Al2O3 89% SiO2. The ratio of water to TEOS is maintained as 16 : 1. The solution was stirred for 2 hrs at 338 K and then allowed to form gel at same temperature. The xerogel was heat treated at a temperature of 1073K for two hours. The nucleation of NiAl2O4 crystals appeared at 1073 K and further heated to 1163 K for the growth of the crystals. The sample heated at 1073 K and above showed the characteristic peaks confirmed crystalline NiAl2O4 phase in the SiO2 amorphous matrix.