Quantitative stereological analysis of the pore-size distribution in a colloidal silica sol-gel

Author(s):  
Helen M. Kerch ◽  
Rosario Gerhardt

The pore size distribution of an unsintered colloidal gel has been determined by stereological analysis of ultramicrotomed thin sections (70 nm) of the gel. This is a novel use of the ultramicrotomy technique as the epoxy represents the porous phase of the microstructure rather than just the medium used to maintain a coherent structure during thinning. In order to obtain statistically significant pore size information a nested sampling scheme was carried out, and a total of 36 two-dimensional fields taken at 19,000 X were examined. Pore diameters were measured with a digital image analyzer which measured 15 projected diameters every 12° from the center of the feature. Stereological quantities obtained were average pore diameter (Davg), number of pores per unit area (NA), and number of pores per unit volume (NV).

2001 ◽  
Vol 703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deok-Yang Kim ◽  
Henry Du ◽  
Suhas Bhandarkar ◽  
David W. Johnson

ABSTRACTTetramethyl ammonium silicate (TMAS) is known as a structuring agent in zeolite synthesis. We report its first use to prepare porous silica films for low k dielectric applications in microelectronics. A solution of TMAS 18.7 wt. % was spin coated on silicon substrates with a 3000 Å thick thermal oxide. The spin coated films were subsequently heat-treated at 450°C to obtain porous silica. The use of TMAS solution without gelation led to films of only moderate porosity value of 10%. The addition of methyl lactate, a gelling agent, significantly increased film porosity and improved the pore size distribution. For example, 50% porosity and uniform pore size distribution (average pore size ∼ 40 Å) has been achieved. Dielectric constants (k) of our porous films are as low as 2.5.


2008 ◽  
Vol 368-372 ◽  
pp. 1146-1148
Author(s):  
Feng Cao ◽  
C.Y. Wang ◽  
P.S. Tang ◽  
C.Y. Lu ◽  
H.F. Chen ◽  
...  

The silica-alumina sol bonding agent, prepared by the sol gel route from ethyl silicate and aluminium isopropanol, was utilized in the refractory castables. The influence of structure on the heat transfer has been investigated using different sorts of refractory matrix. The results indicated that the heat conductivity of sol-gel bonded castables was considerably affected by their structure. The phase composition of matrix, porosity, pore size distribution and pore size structure were the most important factors. Thermal conductivity has been measured from the ambient temperature up to 1250 °C. The influence of crystalline phases and the glassy phase formation and the influence of the pore size distribution on the thermal conductivity were also described in this work.


1992 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-P. Korb ◽  
A. Delville ◽  
Shu Xu ◽  
J. Jonas

AbstractThis work shows how the geometrical confinements enhances the nuclear relaxation of a non wetting liquid in a model porous systems. Application of the proposed theory is made to interpret the size and frequency dependences of the 1H relaxation of methylcyclohexane liquid in sol-gel porous silica glasses with narrow pore-size distribution.


1998 ◽  
Vol 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Goebbert ◽  
M. A. Aegerter ◽  
D. Burgard ◽  
R. Nass ◽  
H. Schmidt

ABSTRACTInorganic membranes prepared by the sol gel method are promising candidates for use as filters in separation processes. Conducting supported membranes and coatings have been produced from redispersable nanoscaled crystalline Sb-doped SnO2 powders with a Sb content up to 5 mole % (with respect to Sn). The crystalline particles are monosized (≅4 nm) and fully redispersable in aqueous solution at pH ≥ 8 with a solid content up to 70 wt. %. By thermal treatment at different temperatures and times, the pore size diameter of the material can be adjusted from 4 to 20 nm with a very narrow pore size distribution (∼ ±1 nm) and a total porosity of 63 %, practically independent of the sintering parameters. Uniaxial pressed substrates present similar characteristics with however larger pore size distribution (±5 nm) and 80 % total porosity. Their resistance decreases with sintering temperature and time down to 4 Ω (800 °C 8 h). Fully dispersed aqueous solutions of the powder (25 wt. %) were used to prepare transparent conducting coatings on glass or ceramics by spin-coating. After thermal treatment (1 hour at 550 °C) single layers 200 nm thick exhibited a typical specific electrical resistance ρ = 2.5·10−2 ωcm with transmission in the visible range measured against air of 90%.


2003 ◽  
Vol 766 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hata ◽  
C. Negoro ◽  
S. Takada ◽  
K. Yamada ◽  
Y. Oku ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have shown previously the results from out-of-plane and in-plane X-ray scattering /diffraction measurements together with transmission electron microscope and X-ray reflectance measurements and shown that they are effective in characterization of a periodic porous silica low-k film [1]. In the present work, we report the results on pore-size distribution, pore-diameter anisotropy, and size and macroscopic isotropy of domain structure.


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