Computer-aided microscopic examination of the structure of sol-gel glassesprepared in the form of thin films

For the studies described here, the sol-gel matrices were prepared by way o f acid hydrolysis. Thin films were procuded in the form of thin layers cove ring the microscopic glasses. The optical microscope was used for examinati on of the sol-gel glass surfaces. The sol-gel materials produced from TEOS with various molar ratios R (ratio of the number of solvent moles to the nu mber of TEOS moles) have been examined. The microscopic images were acquire d by a computer and their Sobel transforms were calculated. The analysis of the experimental data showed that the sol-gel prepared with the molar rati o equal to 32 (R = 32) are stable, do not crack and have smooth surface.