SOL-GEL SYNTHESIS OF POTASSIUM TITANYL PHOSPHATE - SOLUTION CHEMISTRYAND GELATION

The solution chemistry and aggregation mechanisms involved in sol-gel synthesis of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) are studied in detail. The chemistry of the metal precursors are shown to be critical for the formation of the desired KTP phase. The precursor solution as well as some preparation intermediates were studied by several spectroscopic methods to determine the structure of the organometallic species prese nt in these solutions. The structural evolution taking place in the so lution after hydrolysis was studied using photon correlation spectrosc opy and small angle X-ray scattering techniques. The influence on the gelation of several preparation parameters such as, the precursors che mistry, the mixing order of the metal alkoxides, the solvent/KTP ratio and the water/KTP molar ratio was also examined.