Chapter 4 - Hydrothermal and Solvothermal Syntheses

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the foundation of hydrothermal and solvothermal syntheses of materials, hydrothermal biochemistry, supercritical water oxidation process, technique and methods, and ionothermal synthesis. Hydrothermal and solvothermal syntheses are important branches of inorganic synthesis. Hydrothermal synthesis refers to the synthesis through chemical reactions in aqueous solution above boiling point of water and solvothermal synthesis in nonaqueous solution at relatively high temperatures. The development of hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques has a history, beginning with the synthesis of minerals and the extraction of elements from minerals. Nowadays, these techniques have widely been applied in the syntheses of conventional and advanced materials, treatment of wastes, and mimicking geothermal and bioehydrothermal processes. Zeolite and quartz industries further promote the basic studies of hydrothermal and solvothermal chemistry, and more and more scientists realize the importance of developing hydrothermal and solvothermal reactions, upon which effective syntheses would be established.