Synthesis of Micro- and Mesoporous SiO2 Based Ceramic Materials (Using Sol-gel Technology)

The aim of research is to develop an area of micro- and mesoporous ceramic materials of ternary - TiO 2 -ZrO 2 -SiO 2 system. Ceramic system TiO 2 -ZrO 2 -SiO 2 has been synthesized via a sol-gel technology by hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and zirconia propoxide and titanium isporopoxide solutions. The sols have been polymerized at room temperature to obtain gels and dried at 100 °C for 72 hours. Xerogel has been milled for 1 or 6 hours and axially pressed for nanoporous ceramic samples. Powders have been sintered at 800 °C or 1000 °C in air. 1 M hydrochloric acid and distilled water have been used as a catalyst to advance the hydrolysis and condensation reactions. All samples have been characterized by X-ray (XRD) diffraction, particle size distribution, crystallite size distribution, compressive strength. Porosity and specific surface area of nanoporous ceramic samples have been determined by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms.