Sol-Gel Processing of Thin Films with Metal Salts

Abstract

Metal salts are a good alternative to metal alkoxides in the sol-gel process. Typically, metal salts are less expensive, and, in some case, metal alkoxides are not available for the desired cation. In forming multicomponent thin films starting with metal salt solutions, a popular approach is called the Pechini method or the modified-Pechini method. In this approach, there is typically a complexing agent or chelating agent. Ethylene glycol and citric acid are a good combination that leads to polymerized gels with stoichiometric amounts of the components. Another common complexing agent is ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). In this way, multicomponent gels with fixed ratios of cations are produced, which lead to multicomponent oxide thin films.

A Review on Perovskite-Type LaFeO3 Based Electrodes for CO2 Reduction in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells: Current Understanding of Structure–Functional Property Relationships

“…The second approach of producing a composite electrode is the precursor infiltration method. In this case, cation containing salts, predominantly nitrates, are mixed together with surfactants, chelating, and complexing agents to form a polymeric precursor solution. , This solution is then infiltrated inside the porous structures and sintered after to form the desired phase and structure (Figure ). Even though this approach is much more costly and time-consuming, it allows control of the catalyst particle size as well as backbone coverage, so materials with precisely controlled structures and extremely high activity can be produced.…”

Sol–Gel Ceramics for SEIRAS and SERS Substrates

“…The use of salts of transition or other metals is also possible. When the salt is dissociated, the metal ion is solvated, forming a bond with a water molecule, followed by deprotonation of the cation and the formation of either hydroxide or an oxide [60].…”