Overview of Sol-Gel Science and Technology

Sol-gel science and technology continues to interest researchers decades after its discovery. The reaction is easy to perform, does not require special conditions can be done on the bench top in a beaker, and does not require high temperatures. The sol-gel reaction consists of a series of simple hydrolysis and condensation reactions. This reaction can be influenced by several factors quantity of acid catalyst, amount of water used, incorporation of a network modifier, and varying solvent effects. This work presents an overview of sol-gel science and technology, discusses the advantages of sol-gel reactions, and describes the factors that can influence changes in the final sol-gel material.