SOL-GEL PROCESS WITH A PROTECTED CATALYST

摘要

The invention provides a sol-gel process for preparing a mixture of metal-oxide-metal compounds wherein at least one metal oxide precursor is subjected to a hydrolysis treatment to obtain one or more corresponding metal oxide hydroxides, the metal oxide hydroxides so obtained are subjected to a condensation treatment to form the metal-oxide-metal compounds, which process is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a labile protecting group (P9) and a base (B) which are covalently linked, whereby the covalent link between the protecting group and the base is cleavable by exposure to an external stimulus, and wherein the base released after exposure to such external stimulus is capable of catalyzing the condensation of the metal-hydroxide groups that are present in the metal oxide hydroxides so obtained.