Application of alkoxides in sol-gel processes

Over the last three decades an intensive development of the synthetic approaches to various oxide materials has been based on the application of metal alkoxides, M(OR) . In principle, a number of ways leading to the formation of oxides from metal alkoxides are possible — for example, 

The successful application of the sol-gel route has been realized in the International technological practice of many branches of the industries—electronics, optics, construction of engines, nuclear energetics, chemical, and food industry equipment. Among these materials are ferro-, piezo-, and dielectrics, solid electrolytes, refractory materials, membranes, protective and decorative coatings, and also films with special optical and electrophysical properties, like hightemperature superconductors. 

In conclusion, we would like to mention that, in addition to this new direction, a large consumer of metal alkoxides (initially aluminium and titanium) is by tradition the technology of materials, where the alkoxides are used for hy-drophobization and for cross-linking of the polyhydroxocompounds, epoxides and polyester resins, and organosilicon polymers. The products of the partial hydrolysis and pyrolysis of alkoxides — polyorganometalloxanes — are applied as components of the thermally stable coatings [48J. 

Concerning the other areas of application for metal alkoxides, see Chapter 12. 

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