Claims
- 1. A method for preparing precursors for producing monolithic metal oxide aerogels, comprising: forming a precursor solution from a monomer and water.
- 2. The method of claim 1, additionally including adding an acid to the thus formed solution to stimulate hydrolysis.
- 3. The method of claim 2, additionally including forming the precursors solution from 0.5 to about 1.5 mole monomer, about 0.5 to about 30 mole water, and 1.0×10−5 to about 0.5 mole acid.
- 4. The method of claim 1, additionally including adding a base after hydrolysis has occurred to expedite condensation of the monomer.
- 5. The method of claim 4, additionally including forming the base from at least water and a base material.
- 6. The method of claim 5, additionally including adding alcohol to the base.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the base comprising of a mixture of about 0.05 mole to about 0.15 mole water, about 0.05 to about 0.15 mole alcohol, and about 1×10−5 to about 5×10−5 mole base material.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the base material is selected from the group consisting of NH4OH, NaOH and Acidic Acid.
- 9. The method of claim 1, additionally including selecting the monomer from the group consisting of tetraethylorthosilicate, tetramethoxy-silane (TMOS), purified TMOS, and condensed silica (LH, JP, ETHANDTT).
- 10. The method of claim 1, additionally including controlling the density or porosity of the aerogel by adjusting the ration of water to monomer in the precursor solution.
- 11. In a method for producing transparent porous glass, the improvement comprising: providing specific refractive indexes by adjusting the ratio of water to monomer in the precursor solution.
- 12. The improvement of claim 11, additionally including forming the precursor solution from a single step or a two step operation.
- 13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein the single step operation is carried out by adding a quantity of water to a quantity of monomer having a ratio of 0.2-0.6 part water to 1.0 part monomer.
- 14. The improvement of claim 13, additionally including adding acid to the water/monomer solution in the ratio of 1.0×10−6 to >0.2 part acid to 1.0 part monomer.
- 15. The improvement of claim 13, additionally including controlling the porosity or density of the transparent porous glass by adjusting the ratio of water to monomer.
- 16. The improvement of claim 12, additionally including selecting the monomer from the group consisting of TEOS, TMOS, purified TMOS, and condensed silica (LH, JP, ETANDTT).
- 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the two step operation is carried out using the single step operation and adding to the water/monomer solution a quantity of base.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the quantity of base is carried out after hydrolysis of the water/monomer solution to expedite condensation of the solution.
- 19. The method of claim 18, additionally including forming the base from a mixture of at least water and a base material in the ratio of 0.10 part water to 3.0×10−5 part base material.
- 20. The method of claim 19, additionally including adding to the mixture of water and a base material a quantity of alcohol is the ratio 0.10 part alcohol to 1.0 part water.
- 21. The method of claim 20, additionally including selecting the base material from the group consisting of NH4OH, NaOH and Acidic Acid.
- 22. In a method for producing monolithic metal oxide aerogels, the improvement comprising: forming the aerogels with densities in the range of 0.3 g/cc to 1.5 g/cc, and wherein the forming operation includes adjusting a ratio of water to monomer in the formation of a precursor solution.
- 23. The improvement of claim 22, additionally including injecting the precursor solution into a sealed mold, and allowing the solution to gel, thereby forming a net-shape aerogel monolith.
Government Interests
[0001] The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.