SOLVENT-FREE SYNTHESIS OF BINARY INORGANIC OXIDES

The non-hydrolytic sol-gel route has been used in the solvent-free syn thesis of binary inorganic oxides based on silicon, aluminium and tita nium. Where necessary, iron(III) chloride was used as a catalyst. Clea r evidence for the formation of true, amorphous binary systems was obt ained only in the case of aluminosilicates. A crystalline aluminosilic ate was obtained after calcination at 1000 degrees C. A titanium-silic on binary system gave only crystalline rutile and anatase following ca lcination, with no evidence for either crystalline silica or a binary oxide.