Aerogel thin film synthesis by a supercritical fluid-assisted sol–gel route in a single processing unit

Abstract

Our low-T, supercritical fluid-assisted, sol–gel deposition method allows “one-pot” (single reactor vessel) processing; a metal alkoxide precursor is dissolved in a supercritical solvent, sol–gel hydrolysis and polymerisation reactions proceed on a wet substrate yielding a gel film deposit, which is then dried under supercritical conditions.