Sol-gel synthesis and investigation of hybrid organic-inorganic borosilicate nanocomposites

Borosilicate sols based on tetraethoxysilane and boric acid (or trimethyl borate) are synthesized. It is demonstrated that the introduction of organic oligomers into borosilicate sols changes the gelation kinetics, affects the composition and structure of the prepared nanocomposites, and makes it possible to produce so-called ormoborosils. Ultrasonic treatment has a strong effect on the gelation kinetics in borosilicate sols, the characteristics of the sol-gel system, and the structure and composition of the borosilicate composites. The phase composition of the synthesized xerogels is investigated by thermal analysis, and the chemical composition is studied by IR spectroscopy. The inference is made that the sol-gel synthesis of borosilicate nanocomposites leads to the formation of multilevel fractally aggregated nanocomposites.