Sol–Gel Technology

Abstract

AbstractThe ability to produce homogeneous high purity materials is of great interest in industrial, engineering, and medical applications. Although its history goes back to the 1800s, the sol–gel method with its unique colloidal synthesis approach and its final nanoscale morphology has been widely investigated during the last four decades. The gel‐structure transition plays a critical role in the formation as well as the current production of various types of sol–gel‐derived materials such as powders, fibers, coatings, composites, and solid monoliths. It is the main aim of this chapter to cover the sol–gel synthesis, production and application of powders, thin films, coatings, hybrids, aerogels, and solid materials and structures produced by sol–gel technology. In particular, two examples of the application of sol–gel techniques are given in detail; one on the production of sol–gel‐based bioglasses (Bioglass®), and the other on alkoxide‐derived calcium phosphates for biomedical applications.