Abstract
Tetraalkylammonium fluoride salts have been employed as catalysts for the synthesis of silica aerogels by a two-step, sol–gel method. Aerogel materials were characterized by N2 physisorption and SEM. The effect of the type of catalyst on the optical transparency of obtained aerogels has been examined. It has been found that such compounds allow the synthesis of silica aerogels with the highest optical transmittance ever reported for such materials. The optimal catalysts are tetrabutyl and tetraoctyl ammonium fluoride, with which aerogels with transparency as high as 96% and extinction coefficient as low as 3.5 m−1 can be prepared.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kistler SS (1931) Nature 127:741. doi:10.1038/127741a0
Teichner SJ, Nicholaon GA, Vicarini MA, Gardes GEE (1976) Adv Colloid Interface Sci 5:245. doi:10.1016/0001-8686(76)80004-8
Pajonk GM (1998) J Non-Cryst Solids 225:307. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(98)00131-8
Tewari PH, Hunt AJ, Lofftus KD (1985) Mater Lett 3:363. doi:10.1016/0167-577X(85)90077-1
Tillotson TM, Hrubesh LW (1992) J Non-Cryst Solids 145:44. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(05)80427-2
Cao W, Hunt AJ (1994) J Non-Cryst Solids 176:18. doi:10.1016/0022-3093(94)90206-2
Pajonk GM, Elaloui E, Chevalier B, Begag R (1997) J Non-Cryst Solids 210:224. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(96)00600-X
Rigacci A, Einarsrund MA, Nilsen E, Picard R, Ehrburger-Dolle F, Chevalier B (2004) J Non-Cryst Solids 350:196. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2004.06.042
Venkateswara Rao A, Pajonk GM, Haranath D, Wagh PB (1998) J Mater Synth Process 6:1. doi:10.1023/A:1022607125715
Venkateswara Rao A, Pajonk GM (2001) J Non-Cryst Solids 285:202. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(01)00454-9
Venkateswara Rao A, Bhagad SD (2004) Solid State Sci 6:945. doi:10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2004.04.010
Hegde ND, Venkateswara Rao A (2006) J Sol–Gel Sci Technol 38:55. doi:10.1007/s10971-006-5348-z
European Standard EN 410/98. Glass in building – determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing. Ref No EN 410 1998 E, European Committee for Standardization
Stolarski M, Walendziewski J, Steininger M, Pniak B (1999) Appl Catal A 177:139. doi:10.1016/S0926-860X(98)00296-8
Tamon H, Kitamura T, Okazaki M (1998) J Colloid Int Sci 197:353. doi:10.1006/jcis.1997.5269
Scherer GW (1998) J Non-Cryst Solids 225:192. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(98)00117-3
Scherer GW (1998) Adv Colloid Interface Sci 76–77:321. doi:10.1016/S0001-8686(98)00051-7
Yoda S, Ohshima S (1999) J Non-Cryst Solids 248:224. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(99)00250-1
Pajonk GM, Venkateswara Rao A, Parvathy NN, Elaloui E (1996) J Mater Sci 31:5683. doi:10.1007/BF01160815
US Patent 5,478,546. Dec. 26, 1995
He L, Powers K, Baney RH, Gower L, Duran RS, Sheth P, Carino SR (2001) J Non-Cryst Solids 289:97. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(01)00698-6
Cerveau G, Corriu RJP, Framery E, Ghosh S, Mutin HP (2002) J Mater Chem 12:3021. doi:10.1039/b205648h
Fennel Evans D, Zawoyski C, Kay RL (1965) J Phys Chem 69:3878. doi:10.1021/j100895a040
Kratochvil B, Yeager HL (1972) Top Curr Chem 27:1
Bel’skii VE, Sakulin GS (1985) Russ Chem Bull 34:204. doi:10.1007/BF01157360
Wang P, Emmerling A, Tappert W, Spormann O, Fricke J (1991) J Appl Cryst 24:777. doi:10.1107/S0021889891002327
Wagh PB, Begag R, Pajonk GM, Venkateswara Rao A, Haranath D (1999) Mater Chem Phys 57:214. doi:10.1016/S0254-0584(98)00217-X
Hunt AJ (1998) J Non-Cryst Solids 225:303. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(98)00048-9
Hunt AJ, Ayers MR (1998) J Non-Cryst Solids 225:325. doi:10.1016/S0022-3093(98)00132-X
Acknowledgements
Financial support of the PENED-03/ED-952 project is gratefully acknowledged. PENED-01/ED-952 project is co-funded: 75% of public financing from the European Union—European Social Fund and 25% of public financing from the Greek State—Ministry of Development—GSRT in the framework of the Operational Program “Competitiveness”, Measure 8.3—Community Support Framework 2000–2006.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Economopoulos, E., Ioannides, T. Synthesis of transparent silica aerogels using tetraalkylammonium fluoride catalysts. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 49, 347–354 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1878-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1878-x