Effect of metal cations on the kinetics of formation and structure of gels formed during the acid hydrolysis of Tetraethoxysilane

Abstract

The hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane are studied at low pH values in the presence of doping additives (cations of various metals). The period of gel formation is found via viscometry, and the activation energy is calculated. It is shown that the doping additives affect both of these parameters. A change in particle size during the hydrolytic polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of metal cations is studied via dynamic light scattering