| abstract |
The present invention is a process for producing metal oxide nanoparticles by the non-hydrolytic sol-gel method. Starting from two different precursors, a metal halide and a metal alkoxide, or a mixed metal halide alkoxide, the reaction mixture is heated stepwise by means of microwave radiation, wherein the reactants, solvents and surface modifying agents are not included in the reaction mixture from the beginning, but successively be added between the heating phases. After precipitation by means of nonpolar precipitating agents, nanoparticles are obtained which are particularly readily dispersible in polar protic solvents.n n n The invention also encompasses both the nanoparticles themselves and their use for the production of metal-oxide semiconductor sensors, of functional coatings on metallic or non-metallic substrates, and of catalysts. Furthermore, the invention encompasses the use of the metal oxide nanoparticles as additives in the processing of plastics (polymers), as adsorbents for liquids or gases and as absorbents for electromagnetic radiation. |