Methyl tert-butyl ether as a new solvent for the preparation of SiO2–TiO2 binary aerogels

Abstract

SiO₂–TiO₂ binary aerogels have been synthesized for the first time using methyl tert-butyl ether as supercritical fluid. It has been shown that the aerogels prepared in methyl tert-butyl ether and isopropanol contain nanocrystalline anatase and that amorphous SiO₂–TiO₂ aerogels with a homogeneous distribution of their components can be obtained in CO₂. A considerable contribution to the large specific surface area of the aerogels is made by micropores, especially when supercritical drying is carried out in CO₂ and isopropanol.