Lignin-silica-titania hybrids as precursors for Si-Ti-C-O fibers

Lignin-silica-titania and lignin-titania hybrid fibers have been prepared b y sol-gel processing from lignin, tetraethoxysilane, and titanium tetrakis( 2,4-pentanedionate) using a mixture of 2,4-pentanedione and tetrahydrofuran as solvent and H2SO4 as catalyst. Amounts of H2O and H2SO4, to add to the solutions with the Si-to-Ti atomic ratios of 0-1.0, were determined for ach ieving favorable spinnability of fibers from the solutions. The FT-IR spect rum of the fibers indicated the formation of hybrid fibers. The hybrid fibe rs, cured in air to avoid coalescense, could be converted into Si-Ti-C and TiC fibers upon pyrolysis at 1500 degrees C in Ar.