Relevance of sol-gel methods for synthesis of fine particles

Abstract

Sol-gel techniques are interesting for the synthesis and processing of fine particles if the problems of stabilization of colloidal particles, their agglomeration and the fabrication of green bodies with high density are solved. A new approach for the fine particle fabrication from solution was realized by controlling nucleation, growth and surface reactivity by surface modification through selected organic molecules. A variety of nanopowders (e.g. ZrO2, Al2O3, PZT) have been synthesized, and a scaling-up process has been established. Ceramic green bodies show substantially reduced sintering temperatures.