Ceramics-Silikáty 49, (1) 40 - 47 (2005)

Conventional and hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing have been used to synthesis of monodispersed nanosize boehmite, copper, titanium and niobium oxides from their alkoxides. The prepared powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermal analysis showed that the degree of crystallization of boehmite, prepared by hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing from aluminum 2-butoxide, increases by increasing processing temperature. Pure tenorite phase was formed in either conventional or hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing from copper 2-pyridylethoxide. Conventional sol-gel processing of titanium oxide from titanium 2-ethoxyethoxide resulted to formation of a mixture of rutile and anatase phases, whereas hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing ends up to formation of pure anatase phase. Single phase Nb₂O₅ is formed in either conventional or hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing from niobium 2-ethoxyethoxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical, nanosize and homogenous particles for the oxides prepared by hydrothermally assisted sol-gel processing.