Polymeric metal oxide materials and their formation and use

摘要

A method of treating a metal alkoxide solution to form metal oxide prepolymer molecules therein is characterized by irradiating the solution with light energy having a wavelength selected to break the metal-alkoxy group bond in said metal alkoxide, thereby to form the metal oxide prepolymer molecules in the solution. The prepolymer is converted into polymeric metal oxide gel. The stoichiometry of the oxide is high. A gel of carbon content below 4 atomic % can be achieved by the step of decarbonizing the gel, preferably using light to produce ozone.