Diphasic xerogels: I. Ceramic-metal composites

The sol-gel process has been extended to the preparation of new diphasic xerogels leading to new hybrid ceramic-metal materials. The final component compositions were Al₂O₃, SiO₂, ZrO₂ as oxides and Cu, Pt, Sn, and Ni as metals.The xerogels as examined by XRD, SEM, TEM, consisted or a noncrystalline (in a few cases, microcrystalline) ceramic matrix with small metallic islands (5–50 nm) and micro and macro pores. The fine structure of these materials can be controlled by both preparation steps: the gelation parameters and subsequent thermal treatment.