Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A novel alkoxide-free method for the sol-gel synthesis of germania aerogels is proposed. The method is based on the hydrolysis of GeCl4 by propylene oxide in concentrated acetic acid which is used as a solvent. The proposed protocol allows one to obtain monolithic amorphous germania aerogels constructed of a three-dimensional network of nanoscale (⁓20 nm) particles and possessing specific surface area of about 80 m2/g. The addition of hydrochloric acid to the reaction mixture results in the synthesis of nanocrystalline GeO2 (hexagonal system) aerogels. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and low temperature nitrogen adsorption.
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411954246